RazoRock Hawk (SE)

I haven't used it yet. I loaned it to another that has the aluminum Hawk so he can give me a comparison. I'll let you know what he says.

There was a blemish on the top cap

I have a rotation that I don't interrupt mid cycle. I probably won't get to this razor until mid March.

Well that certainly is a crime   I look forward to the comparison although I don't have any SE razors. Looking to possibly make this my first if I can grab one.

At least it's a generous crime!

I wasn't super impressed with the aluminum Hawk (YMMV) so I don't have high expectations with the SS. But... you can't argue how beautiful the craftsmanship is.

More details to come after use

and for the price, I think we're getting a lot for the money, imho.

I still haven't used mine yet! been using my baby smooth for my past few shaves.

Dunno about the stainless version, but the aluminum Hawk is a great shaving razor and an excellent value at ~$26. A $60 stainless Hawk with similar performance characteristics will definitely give the $100-plus SS razors a wake-up call, IMO.

I had my first shave with the SS Hawk this morning and it was fantastic!

Fit: Perfecto! The quality of the machining is spot on and this thing was made with precision. The top cap fits snugly over the blade tabs and there is no play. Handle screws on without issue.

Finish: It is glass blasted and DLC coated. There are 0 imperfections on mine, the head and handle are smooth and there aren't any visible machining marks or rough jagged edges. There are a couple of tool marks under the top cap, but if that is the only imperfection, I can live with it. To me, the DLC coating on this is better than the Uberglide as far as helping to reduce drag. As well, I really like the matt grey / silver look to it. I don't have anything else that looks like it.

Weight: 3.08 oz puts it roughly at the same weight as the AS-D2. It is 3 times heavier than the aluminum Hawk, and 2 times the weight of The General. For me, this is the sweet spot and I don't like razors that are much heavier. It's less than 2/3 the B3 Mongoose.

Shave: I made sure that I had a nice slick lather, a fresh Kai Mild (Pink) and went to work. The Hawk has a nice glide. The DLC coating definitely helps, but the geometry of the head really minimizes the surface area of the head that drags on the skin. For me, it has less drag and is smoother than The General. Finding the angle is a no brainer because of the head geometry and design, there is really only 1 option. No nicks, no weepers, and most importantly no irritation on the lower neck. I really enjoyed using The General, but the SS Hawk is going to put him on the sidelines for a while. I'll probably be using the SS Hawk for the next 2-3 weeks straight.

Price: $59.99 USD and if you add anything ( shave towel at $1.99) the shipping is free in Canada / USA. It is a heck of a good deal.

I'd recommend this to anyone who likes the aluminum Hawk or The General, but would like something a little heavier, but not nearly as heavy as the Mongoose.

At this price, you can't go wrong. If you can get your hands on one, give it a try.

5 shaves with the SS Hawk and no complaints. What really stands out is the amount of audible feedback from this razor. You can really hear the whiskers being mowed down.

I just shaved with the aluminum black version, and it was fantastic. I didn't see any blemishes that others have mention.

My question is, what advantage does the SS have over the aluminum?

Is there any value in my trying the SS if I'm happy with the aluminum?

Thanks

I just shaved with the aluminum black version, and it was fantastic. I didn't see any blemishes that others have mention.

My question is, what advantage does the SS have over the aluminum?

Is there any value in my trying the SS if I'm happy with the aluminum?

Thanks

IMO, there are two advantages to SS, and one is purely a preference thing.

The SS has longer life potential, simply from the potential of longer thread life. That said, with care, there is no reason the aluminum can't last a lifetime.

The other is simply weight preference in your razor. The Hawk is an extremely light razor. If your preference runs to a heavier razor, the SS is going to make you happier.

The performance can also be changed with the addition of a heavier handle, but finding one that balances in a way you like is a factor too.

If you enjoy the shaves you are getting from the one you have now, just keep the threads lubricated a bit, and be careful not to cross thread or over torque the handle. Enjoy it.

I personally ended up not keeping mine, but it was machined well, and well worth the price.

The finish on this is awesome. Matte gunmetal or grey or whatever. The milling is very precise.

That finish is awesome. How does it shave?  How is the feel, i.e. heft and balance?

I haven't used it yet. I loaned it to another that has the aluminum Hawk so he can give me a comparison. I'll let you know what he says.

There was a blemish on the top cap

I have a rotation that I don't interrupt mid cycle. I probably won't get to this razor until mid March.

Really? WEIRDO...

I have the Chrome and SS. The chrome works great, but the SS feels like the perfect wight to me. It's lighter than the Mongoose and RX.

For me personally its perfect. I used the General with a SS handle and liked it, but the SS Hawk is balanced slightly better than the combination of an aluminium head with SS handle.

I would not go any heavier than this for an SE.

I just shaved with the aluminum black version, and it was fantastic. I didn't see any blemishes that others have mention.

My question is, what advantage does the SS have over the aluminum?

Is there any value in my trying the SS if I'm happy with the aluminum?

Thanks

IMO, there are two advantages to SS, and one is purely a preference thing.

The SS has longer life potential, simply from the potential of longer thread life. That said, with care, there is no reason the aluminum can't last a lifetime.

The other is simply weight preference in your razor. The Hawk is an extremely light razor. If your preference runs to a heavier razor, the SS is going to make you happier.

The performance can also be changed with the addition of a heavier handle, but finding one that balances in a way you like is a factor too.

If you enjoy the shaves you are getting from the one you have now, just keep the threads lubricated a bit, and be careful not to cross thread or over torque the handle. Enjoy it.

I personally ended up not keeping mine, but it was machined well, and well worth the price.

It is quite light, and I was thinking about trying the SS for that reason alone..., but I'm going to keep shaving with it until the SS is in stock again.

I just got an aluminum Hawk, mainly because it is so reasonably priced. I haven't been a real fan of razors that use those same blades and I've tried a bunch of them. I found the Mongoose, the RX, and the Cobra to be harsh. The blade feel has always been too pronounced for me in those razors. Today I tried a Feather Professional in the Hawk, and found it to be smooth and comfortable. I typically like aluminum razors (my favorite is an aluminum Wolfman), so the Hawk suited me. Looking forward to giving it another go tomorrow.