The General in brass

Verdigris is not the same as normal tarnish, per se IMO. I have had ammunition (brass alloy cartridges) develop verdigris within a week when left in leather cartridge belt loops that have been vegetable tanned. It was a dark green buildup beyond anything I have ever seen involving brass/copper in normal day to day usage. That is why to this day law enforcement ammunition in the USA usually is in nickel plated cases, a carryover from olden times when spare duty ammunition was stored in cartridge belt loops.

Finally, when's the last time you have heard or read of someone having a reaction to tarnish on an old Gillette or Schick brass razor? Let's not pole vault over a mouse turd here. ;)
 
Bogeyman said:
Verdigris is not the same as normal tarnish, per se IMO. I have had ammunition (brass alloy cartridges) develop verdigris within a week when left in leather cartridge belt loops that have been vegetable tanned. It was a dark green buildup beyond anything I have ever seen involving brass/copper in normal day to day usage. That is why to this day law enforcement ammunition in the USA usually is in nickel plated cases, a carryover from olden times when spare duty ammunition was stored in cartridge belt loops.

Finally, when's the last time you have heard or read of someone having a reaction to tarnish on an old Gillette or Schick brass razor? Let's not pole vault over a mouse turd here. ;)
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Well-said. At the risk of setting another hare running, I'm personally less concerned about things that may happen to, or result from, the metal of the razor, than I am about some of the ingredients in soaps, EDT, A/S, balms and other substances applied to the skin. I don't have a very sensitive skin, but my hide finds one or two things less bearable than others.

That said, I realise that some people have skin reactions or allergies to certain metals, and avoid contact with them in jewellery and suchlike. That clearly doesn't apply to the people I've seen wearing anti-arthritis copper bracelets which have gone a fetching shade of green.
 
My brass General has just arrived, and it looks and feels great.

The only thing I would say is that it would be nice to have a name (maker or model) stamped into it somewhere, like the Hone. I realise that this might increase the cost, and that few other new razors now do this, but it would, in my view, be quite stylish.

First go with it tomorrow.
 
Blademonkey said:
" My brass General has just arrived, and it looks and feels great"

That's good enough for me.....pulled the trigger and ordered one.

130gms of lovely brass on the way :)
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I'm surprised at the speed mine got to me. I ordered and paid for it about 5 minutes after they were released at 4 p.m. UK time on Saturday 1st April, it was in and out of the Reading PA post office that evening, and was delivered to my house by Royal Mail postman at about 11:30 this morning, Wednesday 5th April. I wish everything from North America (and elsewhere too) arrived so fast, but this is exceptional.
 
First time around with this, and it's another first-class razor.

I went for a North American-themed morning, with Razorock's 400 Rubberset-style brush and Don Marco Bergamot Neroli soap. Blade is a thrice-used Schick Proline P-20 from my Hawk, and there aren't any fit or load problems with that blade.

Impressions:-
  • it's heavy (but, of course, we know that.)
  • I prefer longer handles, but the slightly shorter one here is exactly mated to the head, and the whole thing feels good and well-balanced in the hand.
  • it heats up and holds it incredibly well, so if you have very hot water, be careful.
  • as usual with a razor this heavy, minimal pressure is needed, and it whizzes around more smoothly and slickly than even the aluminium model, with marginally less effort.
  • there is considerable audible feedback, which I welcome; much more than the aluminium.
  • two passes WTG and XTG, and it's "job done", with nothing adverse detectable after the liberal application of Fine Fresh Vetiver.
All in all, it's a pleasure to use. I'm not fussed whether razors are light, heavy or in-between, and I use everything from the Fine plastic slant to this, the Hone and a couple of other heavyweights, but in the heavy class, this is an exceptionally nice razor. If you prefer a heavier razor, then you'll probably like this.

I'm tempted to compare the brass and aluminium, but this would be invidious. Both are superb shavers, but they are different in feel and use.

I still haven't worked out what exactly makes these two so good. Setting apart the handle and materials differences, and comparing them side-by-side, the form of the heads looks identical. I guess that it's down to a perfect combination of shape, geometry and blade gap. The new stainless AC SEs with rounded heads (not flat planes like Hawk and Alumi/Mon-goose) such as the Claymore and the Rocnels have thicker or bulkier heads than the slimmer, thinner Generals. Maybe this is significant?

My verdict? I like it very much. My problem? I'm running out of razors to dislike.
 
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