Paradigm Salient Test Drive

Lesser 
Great review!
I am glad you liked it enough to buy one.
I found it so close to my Karve D plate in efficiency that I felt I would not be gaining anything with the Salient in my den. I used to shave daily, but now usually go 1 1/2 - 2 days between shaves, so I need something even more efficient. 
With the $20 discount for BFCM you can purchase a longer handle for the razor.
I do hope Andy considers our feedback and will offer a long handle option. The Salient is a good razor at a good price.

When I tried a Karve a few years ago, it did grab me but I wasn’t as proficient then. Interesting you’d find this about the same as a D plate.

Lesser

The blade exposure of the Salient is very close to the Karve D plate so I found the blade feel and efficiency to be quite similar. The blade gap is smaller on the Salient, so it might have been a tad smoother, but overall I got the same near-BBS, irritation free shave with both razors.

Although I have not tried the Henson razors, I understand that the actual razor blade gap is quite small and the efficiency of the razor is controlled by the blade exposure with the Medium aggressive version having a larger blade exposure, but a similar blade gap.

I revisited the Salient in satin finish today.  I must admit, the finish is beautiful to the naked eye and it glides as well as the polished version in my opinion.

I wanted to post some pics of the finish and of the head geometry and clamping here.  

I adjusted my technique and achieved a BBS with 2.5 passes.  Smooth, efficient and clamped perfectly at the edge.   

I will report back on the length of BBS.

Day 3.  

More of the same, yawn.  Another BBS, let's call it BBS-.  Not a nick, not an irritation.  

I used both the Paradigm 85mm and the Haircut & Shave 95.  Have gotten a touch more used to the 85 mm.  Might get convinced on it eventually but, based on three shaves, I do think it would work better as at 90 mm.  

Same GSB blade, just a different brush (Elite Tourmaline Laced Quartz) and different soap. I always find T+S soaps to give great shaves. 

Tomorrow may finally try another blade.  Thinking of going with a 7 O'Clock Yellow.

I broke down and ordered the Salient.

Third day of Salient.

Boring. Dull.  Just like the two prior days.  Just another BBS shave.  

Nothing more to say, really.

No pic today but I used the Gillette yellows (7 O'Clock Sharp Edge) and they, as usual, gave a touch more efficiency than the Silver Blues. Not a whole lot more, though.  Will probably try. a Super Iridium tomorrow and then send the razor off.  Also used Canadian Shave Soap and my Morris & Forndran Blonde Badger, my single favorite badger brush.  Scent of the day was Ormonde Man (as I discuss in the Fragrance of the day thread).  Not that most of that matters for evaluating the Salient.

Will probably use the razor once more and then send to AJSharp.

Third day of Salient.

Boring. Dull.  Just like the two prior days.  Just another BBS shave.  

Nothing more to say, really.

No pic today but I used the Gillette yellows (7 O'Clock Sharp Edge) and they, as usual, gave a touch more efficiency than the Silver Blues. Not a whole lot more, though.  Will probably try. a Super Iridium tomorrow and then send the razor off.  Also used Canadian Shave Soap and my Morris & Forndran Blonde Badger, my single favorite badger brush.  Scent of the day was Ormonde Man (as I discuss in the Fragrance of the day thread).  Not that most of that matters for evaluating the Salient.

Will probably use the razor once more and then send to AJSharp.

Actually AJ bought a razor and removed himself from the list.   It is headed to ewk next in South Carolina.

Lesser Copy and paste below from last update from dtownvino


Here is the list in order:

jbreakfield -AL - finishing up
Marhos24  -MI
RayClem -IL
Lesser -NY
ewk  - SC

Then returning to its new owner ;-)

rocket  -CO - finishing up
dtownvino -PA - completed
dave in KY -KY completed
Calm_Shaver - NY - self purchase remove
Dragonsbeard - NY - completed
keto -completed
AJSharp - removed due to request of AJ

Lesser Copy and paste below from last update from dtownvino


Here is the list in order:

jbreakfield -AL - finishing up
Marhos24  -MI
RayClem -IL
Lesser -NY
ewk  - SC

Yes, I missed the most current list, as AJSharp also pointed out to me.  I've gotten the address from ewk to send it to him and will get it out no later than Saturday.

Last shave today.  

Another BBS.  No cuts, nicks.  Used a Polsilver Super Iridium. Gave more blade feel than the GSB and Gillette Yellow, and that blade feel worked quite well. Will look forward to using the Super Iridium when my razor arrives.  As the photo shows, however, I do like using a longer handle so went with the H&S 95mm again.

So, for me this pass around was a great and enjoyable success. Thanks again to dtownvino and Andrew at Paradigm Shaveware for being so generous with time and the razor for making it possible.