Karve - Unpopular Opinion

To preface - I’ve been wet shaving for almost a decade. Like most of us, I have a bevy of razors, soaps, aftershaves, brushes etc. 

I’m going crazy. I feel like I’m living on my own planet. Hahaha I purchased a Karve CB (Brass 3.25 handle) with places sb B, C, D in January or so and it arrived in March. Since then, I have continued to struggle to get a good shave out of it. I feel like I am the only one as I see so many people enjoying it. I have tried every angle and about a dozen blades (feather, GSB, Astra sp, personal LB, permasharp, gillette 7oclock yellow, voskhod, gillette nacet, shark ss). I end up with a ton left on my face and it’s not a smooth shave. I originally purchased the C and D only and ended up buying the B after the fact thinking that it’s the blade gap. The razor just feels like it’s scraping my face. I end up grabbing my RR GC .84 and reshaving after I finish with the Karve. Does anyone else feel this way? Is the issue that it simply isn’t efficient enough? Should I try an E plate? Should I just put it out to pasture and move on? I’m leaning in that direction but I want to like it so bad!!!

I get great shaves with the C plate. My beard is medium at best in terms of coarseness, so I don't have much issue with efficiency as I usually shave 4 times a week.

I usually have used GSB or Nacets in mine.

Should have mentioned I have a coarse af beard. It’s like 80 grit sandpaper. Usually I gravitate towards efficient/aggressive razors. Glad you’re enjoying it!!

Should have mentioned I have a coarse af beard. It’s like 80 grit sandpaper. Usually I gravitate towards efficient/aggressive razors. Glad you’re enjoying it!!

In that case maybe you should try an E plate before giving up and moving on.
What are your current favourite razors, that give you the best combination of efficiency and smoothness?

My absolute go to is the gc .84. It’s just perfect for me. If I wasn’t an absolute degenerate and felt the urge to continue buying razors, I could live the the gc for the rest of my life. I also really like the feel of the rockwell on 4 or 5 (dislike the aesthetics). I can get a better shave out of any razor I have. I have a tech that’s far to mild for me but I can get a smooth bbs no problem (5 passes)

You are not alone. I found that as the plates increase, the blade feel increases but efficiency does not. I really do not understand and their popularity.

I struggled with the Karve early in my wet shaving adventure. I sold it and kept the GC84. Since then I have invited razors into my den and sold them based on performance. For example, Using the Blackbird SB cause me to remove the GC and even my RS-10. I eventually sold the Blackbird, but will hopefully purchase one of their titanium versions this fall. I miss it.

My beard is also coarse, and I prefer to shave every other day.

My current den:
- General V2
- paradigm Diamondback
- Yates Hybrid Razor
- Henson Aluminum

These razors have bested many I’ve tried. 3 of the 4 are readily available at different price points. If I had to pick one of those 3... probably the Yates.

As always, YMMV, but this is what I’ve learned.

My absolute go to is the gc .84. It’s just perfect for me. If I wasn’t an absolute degenerate and felt the urge to continue buying razors, I could live the the gc for the rest of my life. I also really like the feel of the rockwell on 4 or 5 (dislike the aesthetics). I can get a better shave out of any razor I have. I have a tech that’s far to mild for me but I can get a smooth bbs no problem (5 passes)

I haven’t heard of many people who couldn’t eventually find a Karve plate that worked for them, either SB or OC...
But you might be one of them, like a couple who have replied here.
Everyone’s beard, skin, technique, etc is different.... therefore YMMV....

It’s interesting that you seem to describe all three plates you’ve tried as being not efficient enough but also not smooth..?
Most people who haven’t found the right plate for them usually complain of one or the other, not both...
Depends whether you’re willing to try another plate or two, maybe SB-E and OC-D.
The brass plates are not that expensive, but it depends on shipping and other potential costs (taxes, etc) to get them delivered to your home.
And if it still doesn’t work for you, you should be able to sell it fairly easily and recoup most of the costs.

Or you could just decide to cut your losses now and move on to a different razor.

PS This forum is full of “degenerates”, we’re all looking for the next “last razor I’ll ever buy”....

I had a Karve and it had enough efficiency, but it wasn’t very smooth for me, especially on the first pass. I tried the D and F SB plates as well as the F OC plate. The D wasn’t beer efficient, but I did not have any trouble with either of the F plates as far as efficiency goes. I tried every angle and I just couldn’t get a first pass without a little bit of tugging. I didn’t have any issues with irritation either, I just didn’t really enjoy using it. I eventually gave up and decided to stick with the razors I like.

I get great shaves with the C plate.  My beard is medium at best in terms of coarseness, so I don't have much issue with efficiency as I usually shave 4 times a week.

I usually have used GSB or Nacets in mine.

Same here. I get a three-pass BBS out of a Karve C plate, without much trouble. It’s a fairly pedestrian shave, in my opinion. Nothing too exciting, but gets the job done just fine.