Above the Tie

Some of the "new" wave of stainless steel razors seem to have disappeared from the market and the forums. I remember, for example, when the Pils razor was the rage. Now rumors of the brand's extinction surface from time to time, and I rarely see the razor mentioned on the forums. 

Which brings me to Above the Tie. Back in the day--a long five to seven years ago--ATT was the cream of the crop for a stainless razor. I know the brand still makes razors, though they've phased out a lot of their "classic" stainless razors in favor of the new Windsor line. I have no affiliation with the company. Am just wondering if they're still "relevant" or if they've been largely supplanted by the newer wave of brands like Timeless, Blackland, Karve, etc.

They are moving to Chinese production and I fear they will fall into obscurity as a result.

I have the copper Windsor H, their blue aluminum special edition razor (H plate), and I bought my wife the women’s aluminum razor but these will more than likely be my last ATT purchases.

I consider the Atlas stainless H2 a classic. I'll always keep mine.

Moving to Chinese production is a huge mistake, in my view. For the sake of quality control and assurance, I avoid buying anything made in China unless it's unavoidable, e.g., an iPhone, an oven mitt, a box of paper clips. The breaking point for me was the discovery some years ago that China was selling pet food bowls to the US made of radioactive steel. If ATT plans to charge what it has been charging for its razors, I would buy from one of the wonderful companies that make razors here in the US for a similar price. Stan built a wonderful business that sold excellent products. In addition to phasing most of them out, now they're moving production to China? I predict ATT will soon be BTG (below the ground). Sorry to say that. Glad I have a few of them, including the wonderful S1.

When I was planning to buy my first fully stainless steel razor the choice was between the ATT and then not known artisan from Canada - James Dufour. I decided to get an R1 ATT then. A few years later I ended up buying a couple of razors from James, but I will always keep an R1 in my den.

It is sad that the manufacturing will no longer happen in the US.

When I was planning to buy my first fully stainless steel razor the choice was between the ATT and then not known artisan from Canada - James Dufour. I decided to get an R1 ATT then. A few years later I ended up buying a couple of razors from James, but I will always keep an R1 in my den.

It is sad that the manufacturing will no longer happen in the US.

You were lucky to get a couple of razors from that rising star. I bought one from him around the same time. It's a wonderful razor. But the prices for a Wolfman now? More power to him. And to those can afford him!

ATT is also not run by the original owner and razor designer anymore. If the business survives it will probably become more like a West Coast Shaving style of vendor and not a razor manufacturer that happens to also sell other shaving accessories.

Some of the "new" wave of stainless steel razors seem to have disappeared from the market and the forums. I remember, for example, when the Pils razor was the rage. Now rumors of the brand's extinction surface from time to time, and I rarely see the razor mentioned on the forums. 

Which brings me to Above the Tie. Back in the day--a long five to seven years ago--ATT was the cream of the crop for a stainless razor. I know the brand still makes razors, though they've phased out a lot of their "classic" stainless razors in favor of the new Windsor line. I have no affiliation with the company. Am just wondering if they're still "relevant" or if they've been largely supplanted by the newer wave of brands like Timeless, Blackland, Karve, etc.

You also have to take reviews that people are gushing over a razor with a grain of salt considering how short of an attention span wet shavers on these forums tend to have with gear. I can't count how many times I've seen someone gushing over a new razor like it is the greatest thing since sliced bread only to see them selling it on a BST or ebay not even a month later.

I have an ATT H1 and H2. From all my Wolfman Razors, Charcoal goods razors, timeless, and vintage razors, they are right up there at the top.

I have a m2 that I bought in 2015 and I still use it. They still produce the original razors, now called classic. I thought they were going to keep producing the current lines in the US and only the new line in China, but I could be wrong. I wouldn’t buy any of their razors produced in China and it doesn’t sound like I’m alone. I hope they change their mind and bring production back to the US.