Okay, after upackaging the razor I prepared for my first shave. Before doing that, I had to read the warning card that came with the razor.
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Now this explains why I got all those scars on my thumb and forefinger.
I immediately took the Oristo out and first thing I noticed was the weight (well first thing after the card warning). This was a heavy razor not unlike the RR Wunderbar. Next thing was the finish. Flawless finish, again, not unlike the Wunderbar.
In disassembling the razor, it did not use the conventional pin on the top cap and holes on the bottom like most razors. Remember this is a Black Mamba clone. There were two round stubs on the bottom plate (the Oristo people call it the “anvilâ€) and corresponding indentations on the top cap (the “retainerâ€). One thing I noticed immediately was that the bottom plate (I mean the anvil) was very heavy. This was partially because it was thick, but also because it didn't have two big holes in it. Blade loading took a while to adjust to, but once done and screwed on to the handle, it felt very well balanced. The handle (they didn't come up with a different name) was very nice. It had a good feel to it and appeared to be a very stylized Bamboo design. Together, the Oristo just felt comfortable in hand. There was a lot of blade exposure and the blade did stick out slightly at each end of the retainer. It is hard to see from these pictures. I just think that they could have just covered the blade ends like the Wunderbar.
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As I usually do for my first shave, I took a used blade out of another razor, which happened to be the Wunderbar that I shaved with last night and instead of using my usual farmer's market soap loaded with bentonite clay, I decided to break out the RR Dead Sea Soap since that was a clone of the Black Mamba.
First pass was WTG and I could immediately feel the blade on my face, but not in an aggressive way (kind of like the Fatip Testina). I adjusted the angle a little and could still feel the blade, but was amazed at how efficient and painless the first pass was. I then went ATG for my second pass and it was so smooth that at times I had to check my angle just to make sure I was taking off whiskers. When I checked after the second pass, I did not have to do a third pass or even a touch up. I think I could have just done touch up for my second pass. Most times, I am satisfied with a DFS after two passes and touch up, but with the Oristo, I got a BBS after two passes and no touch up.
I don't know how the Oristo compares to the Black Mamba since I was not one of the few that was able to get one, but I definitely can compare it to the Wunderbar which I shaved with last night. I would say that they are both equivalent in the finish and in the shave. Build quality is about the same for both, which is excellent.
At this time, I am not sure if the Oristo folks will be putting this razor on the market after fulfilling the pledges, although early in the campaign I asked them that and they did say their intention was to put this into production. Be on the look out for it because it is definitely worth it.
