Phoenix Starling V3 Stainless

Have you compared the Starling v3 to any modern GEM razors?

Has anyone else used one? They sold out pretty swiftly but not many reviews or SOTDs with this razor.

Have you compared the Starling v3 to any modern GEM razors?

The only other modern GEM razor I have is the Blackland Sabre and the Starling V3 is more efficient than the Sabre with either the L1 or L2 plate.
If you go to the trouble of making blade shims (instead of spine shims) for the Sabre (which I did by cutting GEM blades down to size due to the way the Sabre holds the blade) the Sabre can be more efficient than the Starling V3 by using two blade shims with the L2 plate. I have not tried a direct comparison shave to that end but that is how I would rate it based on shave notes for both razors. I am currently working through several new ASR razor acquisitions right now or I would try that direct comparison.

Have you compared the Starling v3 to any modern GEM razors?

Has anyone else used one? They sold out pretty swiftly but not many reviews or SOTDs with this razor.

I acquired one secondhand and have two shaves in so far (one OC, one SB). I can't compare it to other modern GEM razors as I don't currently have any. I did briefly have a Starling V2 but offloaded it as I couldn't get comfortable with it. I do have a titanium Shield Gem razor ordered by haven't gotten to see or try it yet (I hear good things).

As far as the Starling V3 goes, it seems to be a pretty efficient razor overall. Both plates seem to be comfortable, but I've been careful as I heard one YouTuber had some bleeders if you come across slightly on the front edge. I do feel that it could bite you if you get carried away, but this could be me just being overly cautious. This razor is not MMOC efficient or aggressive, but I'd call it upper-mid aggressive. I'm eager to see how it compares to the Shield Gem razor, which I've read is even better than the Sabre.

Good luck in getting one in the future.

Josh

Sent from my SM-S918U1 using Tapatalk

Shield gem by far is the best modern gem razor. Second goes to rocnel gem. Starling v3 looks great and shaves OK but I find the learning curve is alot easier with the other two. Odd but I also find the Saber with either plate hard to get a good shave.

People complained about the V2 Starling having sharp blade stops so I guess to correct the issue, they removed them in the V3. I prefer blade stops but I only miss the blade stops for loading and unloading the blade on the Starling V3. I have no issues during the shaves by not having the blade stops.

I decided that the knurling on the PAA 'Removable Tip FLARE Tip Handle' that came with the V3 was too aggressive and not comfortable for me to hold. Granted there is no way for the handle to slip out of your grip with all that texture. I looked for a heavy handle that had a good grip at the balance point with this heavy head and picked the Rocnel SE-P handle (older version). The head on the Startling is pretty bulky and you need a heavy handle to balance out all that weight. The knurling on the Rocnel handle is less aggressive and more pleasant to hold. I had to use one of the nylon washers that I use with my Yates 921 with the small outer diameter so that the width of the Rocnel handle would not come in contact with the base plate at the bend but instead sit flat in alignment with the other part of the base plate.

I think $99 for a stainless steel razor with two base plates is reasonable. Sure, it isn't a $200+ razor, but it is a more than acceptable shaver to me. I think the success of the V3 will determine if there will be a V4.