Hiya,
Up for review is a Kirby DE razor. This has been a regular in my rotation for a few years now, and it never fails to amuse me. The Kirby shaves differently than other DEs I've used in the past, which probably has to do with it's unusual head design.
The razor looks much more aggressive than it really is. It's actually milder than many open comb types, which surprised me at first. I'd rate it about a 5-6 on the Gillette scale, which would suit quite a few faces.
The handle seems to be silver plated because it tarnishes easily. I believe the head is plated with chrome, and it's always bright and shiny compared to the handle. The knurling has an above average amount of bite, with no problems slipping during the shave. The handle's got a diamond cut pattern, which is one of the better designs. The razor feels good in my hand overall, even with it being a bit handle heavy.
Yeah, I normally prefer razors that are a bit more head weighted because the pressure needed is less than with a lighter head. I also know some people enjoy a heavier handle balance.....just a personal preference is all. With the Kirby, I just have to tweak my technique gently to compensate for the way this performs.
The fit and finish is excellent. You can tell this is a well made and durable piece with attention paid to quality control. Heh, the handle does tarnish easily as I mentioned, but no problem polishing it right up again.
The Kirby weighs in at 69 grams. That's about the same as a slim or super adjustable, and a little less than the fatboy. It's got a chunky, solid sorta feel to it during the shave, or at least the handle does. The scalloped head feels almost dainty because of how slim the profile is, and its the reason for a good bit of this razor's charm.
It feels so strange having that design on my face. I enjoy it a good bit actually, and it's unlike other DEs I've used. It's not difficult to quickly find the right angle, helped by the razor's sorta forgiving nature. Attention to detail is still important though, and you do have to focus properly during the shave.
Pricewise, I really can't tell you much about what these cost. The cased one in good shape I recently acquired ran me just over $40 shipped. I looked at previous completed ebay sales and that may be about right for these. I only saw one other ( about that same price range), but that was it. No idea how rare this model is or even when it was made. The first one I own was found at a flea market just outside Chicago.
As mentioned earlier, the Kirby has been in my rotation for a number of years. There's nothing in my arsenal quite like it for a nice change of pace razor. They seem built at least as well or better than most of the higher end US made Gillettes. Heh, speaking of where things are made, I believe this Kirby was made in France. That's what it says on the razor, although I understand the company was an English one. I'm guessing that Kirby had another factory in France, but who knows. I have no idea when this razor was made.
So if you find one of these things give it a try. Don't feel like it's gonna tear your face off, because that's certainly not the case with the Kirby. I gotta say it's a kick shaving with something that looks as imposing as it does. Yeah, it's a real sleeper.
Martin
Up for review is a Kirby DE razor. This has been a regular in my rotation for a few years now, and it never fails to amuse me. The Kirby shaves differently than other DEs I've used in the past, which probably has to do with it's unusual head design.
The razor looks much more aggressive than it really is. It's actually milder than many open comb types, which surprised me at first. I'd rate it about a 5-6 on the Gillette scale, which would suit quite a few faces.
The handle seems to be silver plated because it tarnishes easily. I believe the head is plated with chrome, and it's always bright and shiny compared to the handle. The knurling has an above average amount of bite, with no problems slipping during the shave. The handle's got a diamond cut pattern, which is one of the better designs. The razor feels good in my hand overall, even with it being a bit handle heavy.
Yeah, I normally prefer razors that are a bit more head weighted because the pressure needed is less than with a lighter head. I also know some people enjoy a heavier handle balance.....just a personal preference is all. With the Kirby, I just have to tweak my technique gently to compensate for the way this performs.
The fit and finish is excellent. You can tell this is a well made and durable piece with attention paid to quality control. Heh, the handle does tarnish easily as I mentioned, but no problem polishing it right up again.
The Kirby weighs in at 69 grams. That's about the same as a slim or super adjustable, and a little less than the fatboy. It's got a chunky, solid sorta feel to it during the shave, or at least the handle does. The scalloped head feels almost dainty because of how slim the profile is, and its the reason for a good bit of this razor's charm.
It feels so strange having that design on my face. I enjoy it a good bit actually, and it's unlike other DEs I've used. It's not difficult to quickly find the right angle, helped by the razor's sorta forgiving nature. Attention to detail is still important though, and you do have to focus properly during the shave.
Pricewise, I really can't tell you much about what these cost. The cased one in good shape I recently acquired ran me just over $40 shipped. I looked at previous completed ebay sales and that may be about right for these. I only saw one other ( about that same price range), but that was it. No idea how rare this model is or even when it was made. The first one I own was found at a flea market just outside Chicago.
As mentioned earlier, the Kirby has been in my rotation for a number of years. There's nothing in my arsenal quite like it for a nice change of pace razor. They seem built at least as well or better than most of the higher end US made Gillettes. Heh, speaking of where things are made, I believe this Kirby was made in France. That's what it says on the razor, although I understand the company was an English one. I'm guessing that Kirby had another factory in France, but who knows. I have no idea when this razor was made.
So if you find one of these things give it a try. Don't feel like it's gonna tear your face off, because that's certainly not the case with the Kirby. I gotta say it's a kick shaving with something that looks as imposing as it does. Yeah, it's a real sleeper.
Martin