Paradigm 2020 Diamondback

AJ
You continue to post up excellent detailed reviews!

Great job!

So the last Shave Off I did between the DB and the 17 4 didn't end to well and it really bothered me because of the irritation I got from the Shave soap and I'm also thinking I may have had a bad blade in the DB because I've done two Shave Off comparisons since then using the 17 4 once again and got dramatically different results so I wanted to revisit that Shave again only this time with a different soap and blade. I felt that not only did I not give a decent representation to the DB but also to Lisa's Naturals soaps which I mentioned I have two other soaps of hers which perform very good for me.  I didn't want anyone to think I was bad mouthing her soaps in any way as a soap maker bad reviews are not what you want to see put up. For me and my skin it was something in the Barbershop scented soap that did not agree with my skin at all and this time her Orange Patchouli soap was great! Also think I had a bad blade in the DB as well. I won't really know as they both went in my blade bank after that shave. 

So I also did a Shave Off comparison using my Ti 1 vs the Diamondback so I'll do 2 quick reports on both Shave Offs.. 


1st Shave Off: 

Paradigm SS Diamondback 
Paradigm SS 17 4 
Feather Blades 
Lisa's Natural Orange & Patchouli Shave Soap 
Eleven Orange Aftershave
AP Shave brush Gelousy knot 

I did a two pass WTG and ATG pass and this shave was like night and day different from the last one in more ways than one. First off I got no irritation from Lisas Shave soap and it performed as always very good in all areas as usual. Also what I noticed immediately was the difference in face feel from the DB. I was on 2 and a half days growth and with my favorited blade in the DB it not only easily took  down my growth and was very smooth in doing so. So I knew right away that the blade that was in the DB in my last Shave Off was not right. In this Shave Off I got a good feel for the razor and I like the balance a lot like most Paradigm razors I've used. As some have wrote up fit and finish on the one in my den is right up there with some of the best out there.. The Paradigm once again delivered a nice comfortable shave with it's signature great balance of both efficiency and smoothness. The DB matched the smoothness of the 17 4 but was more efficient and it not only showed up after the shave but 6 hrs later it was crystal clear that it got me closer than the 17 4 did. At this point I'm really feeling very comfortable and confident in the razor and It also felt good in hand. A little note.. after the last train wreck of a Shave Off I got messages from users saying I can't believe you got a lot of blade feel from the DB as we are not getting that at all and just the opposite so yeah you were right guys this is one smooth shaver but with a nice amount of efficiency.  So if I was calling a winner here I'd have to give it to the Diamondback! 




2nd Shave Off: 

Paradigm Titanium 1 
Paradigm Diamondback 
Once used Feather blades
AOS Peppermint Shave cream
WSP Peppermint aftershave 
Techichi Soap Company Beehive 

So like I mentioned in an earlier post I wanted to compare the DB to my favorite Paradigm the Titanium 1 so I was really looking forward to this match up getting past the last one and going into this one with a lot more confidence in the DB and knowing I'd get a great shave out of it. So with once used Feather blades in both these razors I once again went for a 2 pass WTG and ATG pass with no touch ups to see what kind of results I'd get. This time I had lots of time and I also did more aggressive skin stretching as I already knew what I could get out of the Ti 1 but wanted to push the DB a bit more than I have in the past shaves. Well I started with the DB on my right side of my face and right from the first couple of strokes I could tell it liked the Skin stretching as it was not only very smooth but it was going through my 2 days growth with no real effort at all. The small profile head on both these razors makes for no issues under my nose. So after a very good pass I headed down to my very difficult to shave right side neck with the Ti 1 and feeling a lot lighter which you notice right away you use a little different technique which I'll explain later on in this review. I love this razor and it was a breeze cutting through my growth and my nasty cowlick. The Ti 1 has just a tad  bit more blade feel but it's still very smooth for me especially considering it's efficiency level. So an excellent pass. On to my left side for the N to S pass with the Ti 1 and what can I say other than once this razor is dialed in it's an absolute pleasure to use. Smooth, Efficient and very manuverable. So on to the DB and the last WTG pass on my easier to shave left side neck. At this point I feel like I have this razor dialed in and my 2 days growth offered little resistance to the DB. A quick easy excellent pass.  I lathered up with my AOS Peppermint Shave Cream using my new Techichi Beehive brush which to me is a awesome synthetic for the price of admission with the best backbone of any synthetic in my den. So I started my ATG at the base of my neck on my right side with the Ti 1 and gave my skin a good stretch before heading North and the Ti 1 for me is so predictable and offered no surprises other than an excellent effective pass. Grabbed the Diamondback and continued N and this razor as always seems to lose even more blade feel on the 2nd pass and yet maintain a good amount of efficiency and another excellent pass from the DB and took it right over to the base of my neck on my left side for another smooth effective pass. Last ATG pass with the Ti 1 on my face on my left side and just like that I'm done! 


So to summarize this shave  comparison and it was confirmed after this two pass Shave Off I was left with solid BBS Shave and at the time of the Shave Off it was difficult to tell the difference but as time went on it was noticeable that the DB was just a tad less efficient than the Ti 1 because my stubble started to appear before it appeared in the areas that the Ti had shaved. So with that said I'll also add that the DB for most would be smoother In my opinion  but to me they are both smooth. With the DB and the weight of the razor you need not use any pressure and let the razor do all the work. The Ti for me can be used in the same manner and probably would have achieved very similar results to the DB but with a little bit of pressure used and the light face feel it has that is not an issue it is more efficient and still the king of the Paradigms in that area but the DB is close and more efficient than the 17 4 is and just as smooth. At least that's how I see it matching up all 3 of them in these two Shave Offs.  I have some thoughts at the end of this post on a few things. 


 


So after doing these 2 Shave Offs and reading others comparisons I've got a few questions and thoughts inside myself that I have to get an answer to. One is from a prior Shave Off using the Paradigm Ti 1 vs my Wolfman WR1 SS .94 DC in which the Ti 1 was very, very close but lost out after I had to wait hours to get my final results the WR 1 proved to be slightly and I mean slightly more efficient so my question is seeing that the DB to me is a little bit less efficient than the Ti 1 how's the DB going to compare with my WR1 Ss .94 DC or my WR2 Ti DC 1.25/1.35 or even my WR2 Ti 145/155 DC?   I have seen others say it matches all of the Wolfman razors I've mentioned and I can definitely see the WR2 1.25 being a good match up but it is my thinking that yes on 1 or even 2 days growth you could get an almost comparable shave from all the razors mentioned even if they didn't last as long but and I with more than 2 days growth I think the higher gap Wolfman razors from the WR1 . 94 and from the 1.35 on up would prove to be more efficient than the DB which BTW takes nothing away from the awesome DB and for me it's a keeper but I know in two passes I've gotten Level 2 and 3 BBS Shaves out of those razors on 3 days growth. So I just wanted to be clear on my thoughts on those comparisons. I"m next going to match the DB up with my WR2 Ti 1.35 SB and see how that goes! 

   


 

Another thorough shave off. Great job!

These are all fantastic posts. Really enjoying reading through this thread and look forward to receiving my DB! Beautiful photos btw DragonsBeard

These are all fantastic posts. Really enjoying reading through this thread and look forward to receiving my DB! Beautiful photos btw DragonsBeard

Thank you sir! As I think my photo skills are lacking a lot! LOL

Another thorough shave off. Great job!

You guys are doing some amazing shave offs!

Dragonsbeard that's a lot of work. Well done.

I used the DB all week on one Polsilver blade. All excellent, smooth and comfortable shaves. It took a little adjustment to wield the weighty DB but I quickly got very comfortable with it. Last night I broke out the 17-4 and used the same blade one last time. Another great shave. The smaller and lighter razor was a pleasure to use. I got smooth shaves from both razors and didn't really notice which was a longer lasting shave. They were both smooth after 8-10 hours. My only critique of Paradigm razors ( I have the Ti 1 as well) is the lack of a maker's mark.

Dragonsbeard that's a lot of work. Well done.
 
I used the DB all week on one Polsilver blade.  All excellent, smooth and comfortable shaves. It took a little adjustment to wield the weighty DB but I quickly got very comfortable with it.  Last night I broke out the 17-4 and used the same blade one last time.  Another great shave. The smaller and lighter razor was a pleasure to use.  I got smooth shaves from both razors and didn't really notice which was a longer lasting shave.  They were both smooth after 8-10 hours.  My only critique of Paradigm razors ( I have the Ti 1 as well) is the lack of a maker's mark.

Thank you it was a fun doing the couple of Shave Offs. Personally I’ve found that unless I do an actual side by side sometimes razors seem close in efficiency, smoothness, maneuverability etc but then when I do a side side it’s much easier to feel and see the differences between the two razors. Also blade choice in my case made a huge difference.  I guess I’d like a razor to be marked also but one things for sure you can always tell a Paradigm by their Art Deco style handles which looks like no other razor. I own 3 Paradigms now and have shaved with 2 others and it’s certainly a brand I’m a fan of. Also Andrew is very responsive to his customers which is another plus. Don’t you love that Ti 1 for me is an all around great shaving razor. You’re one of the lucky 51 that has one. Congrats on that!

Fantastic shave-offs Dragonsbeard and I'm glad it worked this time around. The thing with ALL the Paradigms is that they are exceptionally smooth with little to no blade feel such that the resultant shave is definitionally more efficient than one would expect. You get an effortless smooth and very close shave with little risk of nicks or razor burn whether it's Paradigm's Titanium (V1 or V2), 17-4 (steel) or Diamondback (303 steel). This latest release of the 2020 Diamondback pushes the brand's offering in its improved balance and mirror polish. These razors may command a premium in price but they certainly deliver.

Number Six I agree that Andy should engrave a name or logo on the baseplate to complement his characteristic "Art Deco" handles.

A smooth 3 pass shave this morning on 3 days growth. I cannot get over how efficient this thing is for how smooth it shaves.