Paradigm 17-4 SS Razor

Everytime I read that a razor is so smooth but really efficient I say BS they must be shaving off peach fuzz. Tonight I have a new opinion. 1 1/2 day Grey beard growth.
Pre-shave proraso green
Soap proraso green
Wolf Whisker brush
Paradigm razor SS
Blade Gillette Red SS
First pass WTG. My first thought was here we go again smooth shave with zero blade feel, if not for the toast sound I thought I forgot a blade, when I rinse hardly any beard will be removed. WRONG! Took off nearly all the whiskers.
2nd pass XTG. Good sound and again no blade feel. If I would have stopped it would be DFS.
3rd pass ATG It was so smooth I even went across the grain on my neck, which for me is always difficult. Rinse, WOW cotton ball BBS.
IMHO this razor is amazing, beautiful look, shiny, great weight and the best DE First shave I have ever had. YMMV but I now believe a razor can be extremely smooth, easy to maneuver and give an awesome shave.

Are you still loving this razor?

I am. Used it last night and had a 2 pass near BBS shave without having to think about the shave at all. It is in my top 5 razors and I'm glad I got one. I sold the Titanium 2 because I enjoyed the shave with the 17-4 more and 2 of my other top 5 are titanium because I like the feel of the shave better with titanium usually.

Glad to hear it. Doesn't hurt that it's also one of the best looking razors.
Keep me in mind if you ever decide you want to sell it.

I like mine a lot except for the handle. I find it slippery and I hate having to hold my razors with a tight grip.

I like mine a lot except for the handle. I find it slippery and I hate having to hold my razors with a tight grip.

A little alum on my fingers and no slippage

I changed mine to a two-tone Stork Taipan handle.

This is still an incredible instrument.

The quality of the shave, for me, has greatly improved with practice as well. I’ve come to really like a mild blade in it, such as a Gillette Yellow 7 O’Clock,

I’m getting extremely close and comfortable shaves, when using the alum bloc on fingers to pull the skin just ahead of the razor as I move along. As was suggested to me early on, especially with the 17-4, very light pressure applied, especially during later passes, does indeed result in a better, silkier product.

I’ve also found the application of a bit more preshave to really slick-up the face before the XTG pass significantly aids BBS results. Using something like Cremo shave cream (especially on a hot face), to finely buff any more difficult areas, enhances razor feel while minimizing the risk of irritation.

Easily on a very short list of the best razors ever made IMHO.

Very glad to own one...

This is still an incredible instrument.

The quality of the shave, for me, has greatly improved with practice as well. I’ve come to really like a mild blade in it, such as a Gillette Yellow 7 O’Clock,


Easily on a very short list of the best razors ever made IMHO.

Very glad to own one...

The opposite has rang true for me. Feather blades in my 17-4 result in the closest and smoothest shaves I have gotten on this razor. I have been going 7-8 shaves in each Feather. The 17-4 has forced me to sell off just about every other razor I have owned. It's that good.

Absolutely love my 17-4. Easily one of my top 3 razors in efficiency and comfort. Still havent been able to fall in love with the handle though. A little too small and slick for my tastes, but wasnt a dealbreaker by any means. Recently purchased a stainless stork consul that has solved my handle problems.

Switching between the Karve F plate and the 17-4 of late for comparison. One of the finest shavers available. I hope Andy can get tooling all set for another run. There’s something about them. I much prefer the aesthetics of the 17-4 to the Wolfmans.

Easily on a very short list of the best razors ever made IMHO.

Very glad to own one...

+1

Best razor I have tried. I like it better than the Titanium v.1 and v.2. I also prefer it to my my Wolfmen.

Had to revive this thread. Several of my favorite razors are out on loan, so I went back to my 17-4 this morning, after a month or two of inaction. I was reminded that this is the only "mild" (i.e., non-blade-forward) razor that delivers a truly close, long-lasting shave that rivals or exceeds my "aggressive" (i.e., blade-forward) razors, which include the usual Gillette suspects (various Olds, various News, Red Tip, Slim set at 9, none of which can deliver a close shave for me), modern DEs (Ikon Shavecraft Tech, R41 2011, PAA DOC Evolution, ATT H2, Blackbird open comb, Rex Ambassador set at 6.5, Karve/F, Dart, etc.), Gems (MMOC, Sabre 2, etc.), ACs (Asylum RX, ATT SE2, etc.), and others.

I continue to be really impressed at how this 17-4, in my hand, can deliver an effortless, magnificent shave every time, without tugging, concern about angle, effective preparation, etc. I generally enjoy blade-forwardness that this razor doesn't provide but, boy howdy, this one delivers a tremendous shave, every time.