New, Konsul DE Slant Adjustable Razor from Rex supply Company

I talked with Matt. Once he has some more on hand, he's going to send us 1 to pass around on DFS.

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$261.75 with code BF25REX this weekend
Save 87.25 on a pre-order

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving with loved ones, family & friends. Good eats & football as well. 

I was put on to this razor from a shave member here gwsmallwood on the prototype that had gone around for a few shavers to experience and provide some feedback. It was a real nice shave experience with the multiple base plates and caps that were provided to give varying degrees of shave performance & feel for a couple of weeks. To the point. If you liked the Rex Ambassador but, could not get along with the positive blade feel of it, this razor is a much smoother feeling razor in use with giving nearly identical results. The Rex Ambassador outright feels more aggressive throughout its range because of the positive blade exposure yet the Konsul prototype was right behind in shave performance with an overall easier feel to it never feeling rough on my skin. Smooth and easy results everytime while mixing up the base plate & cap options never giving a sense of drag. I don’t have a clue on what Matt Razor Emporium went with overall on the end design and implementation for the Konsul but, I think he was very, very close on the prototype set up for it going to full retail. I think that Razor Emporium/RexCo. really did a great job with the prototype and taking the best strengths from the Rex Ambassador and implementing it with the Slant design and adding a decent amount of adjustability to fine tune the razor to ones liking. Feel is just as good if not better in the hands as the Ambassador with exquisite knurling. I’ve stated it before and I’ll say it here, in my estimation the Rex has the best knurling in the business and the Konsul is right on par with that thought & feeling.

The Rex Ambassador has been a success in RE’s line up with a constant continuation of improvement from Matt and the Rex crew. I think the Konsul is going to be a well received razor for those that admire the Slant design and not just a novelty. Truthfully I am not a fan of the slant design as I really did not perceive nor gain a performance advantage over the traditional DE razor design. However, I actually did enjoy this design implementation. Probably not to the extent of the Ambassador but, enough that I’d recommend it to anyone that couldn’t get the OG to work for them. Additionally, the quality & craftsmanship will be on par with the Ambassador with the same customer service to back it up along with a nice warranty. I might get on it just to support RE when the February release comes around. I’ve nothing but, good things to say about my experiences with Razor Emporium and their products. 

A few pics below of the protype and the cap & base variations….

So you've got cap/base variations because it was the beta testing issue ? 

I'm a slant fan from way back, and have a plethora of them from various countries, time frames. 

Drifted away from them when I got into Wolfman, Charcoal Goods, Blackbird, but I'm intrigued by the Ambassador. I like blade feel, and aggressive.

I don't like adjustables per se, and I cannot see the "Slant" in this razor. At least not to the extent of the Merkur 37C shown for comparison in the video.

Is it a true slant head razor ?

Yes, if one defines a slant by an incremental bend that is imposed by the razors design to create torque on the blade itself, absolutely. I get what your saying in that the bend/twist is not as pronounced as it looks on the Merkur 37C or the RR Wunderbar as those are fixed 3 piece DE’s. The Konsul was more subdued yet on incremental adjustments the twisting or torquing of the blade was more pronounced as you went up the dial adjustment. Still it maintained a fairly neutral bias of blade feel which was/is at a minimum while still producing quality shave results. I experienced a bit more cutting prowess as I went higher up on the adjustment and the Konsul still stayed very well mannered.

Let me put it this way. If you enjoyed the Wunderbar for its blade feel and exposure and rely on that feel for your shave technique or are accustomed to that feel, the Konsul will not give you that desired directness in feel. But, I think it makes up for it exponentially in adjustability as it allows one to increase gap and a slight increase in blade feel without one feeling threatened that a slight mishap can draw blood. To me, it still felt comfortable at its highest setting and it still delivered  a very satisfyingly easy and more importantly close comfy shave. The Rex Ambassador in its highest setting is not as forgiving and for a majority of those that used it found it to be quite harsh, myself included. 5 is the limit for me on the Rex where it walks the fine line of efficient & relative comfort on my skin. There are those that shave with it at max setting but, that’s in the far minority of users. I think the Konsul fits shavers that have average to denser hair growth with acute skin sensitivities for blade feel & harshness. With the prototype, Matt, Rex & Co pretty much have muted that feel to a bare minimum and still kept it efficient enough and quite useable throughout its range of adjustment.

Again, just my experience with the prototype with 2 distinct base plates and I honestly can’t tell you which way Matt at RE went with or even if he tweaked and possibly could have gone with a totally whole new set up. I know for certain that he did not want it to be harsh feeling and in that he succeeded with flying colors.

Happy shaves my friend…. 

Following

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$261.75 with code BF25REX this weekend
Save 87.25 on a pre-order

Just to let you know that coupon code doesn't work. There is no discount for the Konsul at this time

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Had the same question but on the website there is a side by side with the ambassador where you can see the difference.

I cannot see it as a true twisted head (what they used to call them) 'slant' razor. Looks straight to me, or so slight as to be indiscernible. I thought the Merkur 37C was the best until Razorock came out with the Wunderbar, Fell in love with that for a time until I got a Charcoal Goods, then Wolfman. Not so hot for slants anymore.

I forget what the angle is but think he states it in the video.

I believe 2 degrees....

I was one of Matt's beta testers.  I was his abnormal tester, as I prefer really efficient razors for my head shaving, and I prefer positive blade exposure because it makes it easier to find and keep an effective cutting angle on all of the contours of the dome.  I do know which plate and adjuster combo that Matt went with for the final release, and I agree with Gus.  If you liked the idea and the craftsmanship of the Ambassador but found it too aggressive feeling, I think you'll like the Konsul.  Honestly, all 4 of the beta combinations I tried gave me some of the closest and most comfortable shaves I've ever gotten on my neck.

For those of you who balk at the price, I get it.  It's an expensive razor.  But it's 100% stainless steel, made in the U.S.A, and has a lifetime warranty.  I've seen quite a bit of the manufacturing process and I've talked at length with Matt about it.  The price is in line with what it costs to make.  Yes, it's an expensive piece, but don't assume that you're getting price gouged.  It is more expensive to make than the Ambassador.

I'm not exactly sure why it would be more expensive to make than the Ambassador, since they appear to share many components with a different base and top cap, but I understand the need to recoup development costs, and CNC costs should be equivalent over time.  I would assume when the dust settles over several months, they may be similarly priced, with a slight increase for the slant equivalent to other DE examples.

It costs more because none of the 3 most expensive parts (cap, blade tray, guard) are symmetrical.

Cost from a machine shop comes down to time. The longer part takes to work on, the more it costs. Most shops charge between 85 to $150 an hour. When things are symmetrical, you can process them faster than things that are asymmetrical.

We also had to create all new fixtures and jigs for these parts. The cap, blade tray, and guard are all asymmetrical and have to be processed very different and much slower than the Ambassador parts.

They're nearly twice as expensive. The handle is also nearly twice as expensive.

All the costs we incur are part of what's called the bill of materials. Then this price has to have our built-in profit, then we have to allow margin for our wholesale partners around the world who carry our products, and then it's the final retail price.

We don't just think of a price out of thin air and tell the customer. It's a very calculated mathematical equation on a spreadsheet with every single component, all time for machining, tumbling, finishing, assembly, packaging all factored in.

Thanks all,

Matt

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I was one of Matt's beta testers.  I was his abnormal tester, as I prefer really efficient razors for my head shaving, and I prefer positive blade exposure because it makes it easier to find and keep an effective cutting angle on all of the contours of the dome.  I do know which plate and adjuster combo that Matt went with for the final release, and I agree with Gus.  If you liked the idea and the craftsmanship of the Ambassador but found it too aggressive feeling, I think you'll like the Konsul.  Honestly, all 4 of the beta combinations I tried gave me some of the closest and most comfortable shaves I've ever gotten on my neck.

For those of you who balk at the price, I get it.  It's an expensive razor.  But it's 100% stainless steel, made in the U.S.A, and has a lifetime warranty.  I've seen quite a bit of the manufacturing process and I've talked at length with Matt about it.  The price is in line with what it costs to make.  Yes, it's an expensive piece, but don't assume that you're getting price gouged.  It is more expensive to make than the Ambassador.

I'm not exactly sure why it would be more expensive to make than the Ambassador, since they appear to share many components with a different base and top cap, but I understand the need to recoup development costs, and CNC costs should be equivalent over time.  I would assume when the dust settles over several months, they may be similarly priced, with a slight increase for the slant equivalent to other DE examples.

It costs more because none of the 3 most expensive parts (cap, blade tray, guard) are symmetrical.

Cost from a machine shop comes down to time. The longer part takes to work on, the more it costs. Most shops charge between 85 to $150 an hour. When things are symmetrical, you can process them faster than things that are asymmetrical.

We also had to create all new fixtures and jigs for these parts. The cap, blade tray, and guard are all asymmetrical and have to be processed very different and much slower than the Ambassador parts.

They're nearly twice as expensive. The handle is also nearly twice as expensive.

All the costs we incur are part of what's called the bill of materials. Then this price has to have our built-in profit, then we have to allow margin for our wholesale partners around the world who carry our products, and then it's the final retail price.

We don't just think of a price out of thin air and tell the customer. It's a very calculated mathematical equation on a spreadsheet with every single component, all time for machining, tumbling, finishing, assembly, packaging all factored in.

Thanks all,

Matt

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Thanks for the explanation, Matt. Not that I had or some here an issue with pricing (though granted, everyone/anyone can question the why) on the costs of producing a new razor that all it has in common with the Rex is the knurling on the handle & the adjustability of it and perhaps the spring with adjusting plate? I think many don’t take into consideration material costs which is quite significant these days. The metal industry with its scarcity & demand has seen prices skyrocket in the last 12-18 months. Granted, that’s not the only determining factor in establishing pricing as you have clearly explained. Everyone is affected by this global economic crisis and we in the wet shave niche market are not secluded or guarded against this economic upheaval. Those are the facts, put simply. It is what it is and all one can do is wait for the economy to stabilize. However and to be truthful, once prices are up or increase, rarely do we see them come down. Nature of the beast and we are not immune to its ferocious hunger….

Konsul / Ambassador have 11 parts:

Cap
Stem (threaded rod coming off cap)
Blade tray
Spring
Guard
Threaded neck (connects blade tray to handle and the adjustment nut rides on this)
Nut
Threaded insert into handle
Handle
Retaining clip
Knob

Konsul uses 4 unique parts (the most expensive ones) : cap, blade tray, guard and handle.

Matt


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Is that how much it is $100 or $150 more than the Rex?  I was kind of busy and didn't have time to look for the price.

Ambassador at WCS is on sale $210 and Konsul is $349
https://www.razoremporium.com/rex-supply...-de-razor/

Oh thanks Dave, and don't hit the deluxe finish button $499 it looks like.

I was thinking about this statement I made, now I'm wondering what the finish options will be. 
I know from other members that have had razor emporium to polish their razors they do a fabulous job. 
  In fact Razor Emporium  what might be the finish options on these, I probably missed it somewhere?