NEW Flat Bottom DOC Ascension Adjustable Safety Razor! Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements

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NEW Flat Bottom Design Variation

If there is one thing I believe we do well at Phoenix Shaving, I think listening to our customers is it. Though this request or suggestion was in the minority we still considered it...cause that's how we roll.

It seems some folks thought the aluminum 7075 DOC was or might be too light for them but they really liked the look and aesthetic. Obviously I pushed them towards our Stainless Steel DOC but some found that too heavy or not as sexy without the anodize. Clearly I was in a pickle.

I actually thought of combining metals but I didn't really want to screw with the price point we already worked so hard at maintaining...what to do?

This is where it gets serendipitous. With the up and coming release of the new Queen movie, their classic hits have been taking over the classic rock airwaves again and with that comes Fat Bottomed Girls about 10 times a day. Well during one of these Queen Rock Blocks I was wrestling once more with the weight conundrum of the Aluminum DOC while driving to work.

I started singing along with the chorus but accidentally said "Flat Bottomed" and that's when it hit me, like a two ton heavy thing. A Flat Bottomed variation of our Aluminum 7075 Ascension DOC could be it! That would easily add more weight to the head! Truly a Christmas Miracle had occurred that morning in my car...and the Flat Bottomed DOC was born.

More Weight

Well, folks my suspicions were right, though only a little under 5 grams added, this new flat bottom design does make a noticeable difference in the shave and feel. Note, none of these changes effected the geometry found in the original design, it's still there and still adjustable! Still a sexy beast of a razor, just filled out a bit.

NEW Color Too!

This is really a handsome razor, and Man Does It Pop! While I love the Charcoal Grey of the Original Aluminum 7075 Ascension, I really wanted to put a visual emphasis on this new modification in the design and went with Electric Aqua. These slight tweaks really make the Flat Bottom come to life. (I just said words I never ever thought I'd string together.)

My Conclusion

The NEW Fat Bottomed Ascension Aluminum 7075 is a great new variation on our continuously evolving DOC design. If you were looking for a little more weight in the head, this razor is for you! It is really all about options at the end of the day and if we can abide, we always will!

Are you gonna take me home tonight?
Ah, down beside that red firelight
Are you gonna let it all hang out?
Flat bottomed DOCs
You make the Shavn' world go 'round

Now, the Original Listing



Meet the Twist - Adjustable Ascension Double Open Comb Razor! This my friends has been a long time in the works and rightly so, for we believe this to be one of the best damn razors now out there…if not the best. ( Zero Hyperbole )

The entire razor is CNC machined and constructed of 7075 Aluminum. 7075 aluminum has a few differences when compared to 6061 aluminum, it offers greater strength, durability, and all around hardness, if it's good enough for the aviation industry it's more than good enough for us. The tolerances on this bad boy are tighter than tight, ensuring zero blade movement. Rest assured that the blade is locked and loaded!

In the past I have had a tendency to go real crazy and loud with anodize, this time around we decided to keep the anodize simple. The handle and top cap are clear anodize while the bottom cap is Electric Aqua giving it a really clean, sleek, elegant, masculine and sophisticated look. [Not to mention it looks like a prop from a sci-fi film!]

Twist - Adjustable?

Yes my friends, you read right, this razor is indeed an adjustable! First off, though this razor resembles our original DOC I promise you, this is a whole different beast. Unlike the Original DOC, The Ascension is not mild when set snug on the handle but much more aggressive and efficient. Not as aggressive as our DOC Evolution (2015-16), but more than our original DOC (2013), and not in a bad way at all, but in a smooth way. That said, you can easily change and adjust the blade angle with a simple twist of the handle and in turn, customize the quality and feel of the shave. (see what I did there?)

You see, after years of selling the DOC I observed it really didn’t take much to close up the blade gap by over tightening the handle, which many newbs tend to do. Snug rather than tight was always the best way with that razor…and that got me thinking, How Can I Explore This More?

So, once again we went back to the drawing board and unlike the DOC Evolution, we added a little more shape and curvature to the base plate. This would force the blade to act as a form of tension spring which applied just enough push-back to allow for more tight and seamless adjustability in the space of a 1/4 turn of the handle. Note: While a similar technique can be done with other 3 piece razor designs it is really the exaggerated, intentional shape/curvature of the top and bottom cap that will dictate how effective it actually is.

Unlike a traditional adjustable razor, the Ascension does not lock into fixed points. Which I find gives the user even more, subtle control in finding their own unique Sweet Spot. There is more intuition relied upon with this new design that actually feels a bit Zen or Jedi for sure, but once you start using it, I know you will really fall for the twist action.

Other Tweaks

Anyone who has followed us and what we do know that I absolutely love the double open comb design and often wondered out loud, publicly why no one has actually explored it more. I mean the self-lubricating action of the top cap really does function as the Original Grand Shave King Razor claimed.

It captures lather and water in the top cap channels and redistributes a trail of it evenly on the skin during the pass, much like a lawnmower leaves a trail behind it. For this reason both the DOC and Grand are known to be the best buffing razors out there. I really thought including this concept in every razor was a no brainer…

Yet the DOC Evolution of 2015-16 was the only time I believe it was further explored? Regardless, we kept at it and knew this new adjustable experiment would be yet another variation on the classic top cap open comb design.

Longer Caps & Divots

We chose to also lengthen the top and bottom caps so as to enclose the blade tabs. This was not the case with The Original DOC & Grand Razor…so we decided we would make this modern tweak and consideration in the design of The Ascension.

We also chose to keep what I believe was just decorative flair or indents on the side of the Original DOC cap design. However these curious divots would now serve a real purpose, and that is a secure rest for your thumb and forefinger when Twisting the razor. In slippery, soapy conditions these indentations prove to be highly effective and provide a virtual no-slip grip.



Bomb Tip Handle

We decided to pair the 3.5" Bomb Tip Handle with The Ascension after testing out a few different handle designs. These components seemed almost calibrated for each other when combined. The balance and fulcrum really makes this razor feel like a surgical grade tool when in hand giving you effortless control.

The Bomb Tip, AKA: The Pinky Throttle, is a killer, grippy handle that possesses classic character, balance and great feel.

The Pinky Throttle?

I can hear you folks now, "Really Doug...The Pinky Throttle?" Sorry, I hadn't really had much time to come up with a better nickname that fully encapsulates what I mean...and I mean, the bomb tip truly was designed with the pinky placement in mind. It's amazing how much extra control this digit, when properly placed, can effect a shave.

Clearly Gillette's "Ball Tip" was my inspiration and if Gillette's handle was just a tad bigger it would have served the same higher purpose the Bomb Tip does, more subtle control for a typically passive pinky...rather than just being visually appealing. You need to give it a try to truly understand what I mean. So yeah..."Pinky Throttle".

The Perfect Shave is Just A Twist Away!

Over the last 5 years we took all your feedback on our Original DOC and our DOC Evolution to heart and really gave this latest design our all with a bit of artistic license. You will truly be impressed and I do believe in awe of the quality of shave it provides. Shave On & Stay Groovy!

Special Thanks to my good friend Aaron Frugiradet of Frugal Shave! Without his help I know for certain this particular razor would not have seen the light of day! Thanks bud for being awesome Aaron! Check out his designs folks!

The Ascension Safety Razor Specifications:

Starting Blade Gap: 500 Microns

Complete Razor Approx. Wt. 37.5 grams

Handle Approx. Wt. 24 grams/ .85 Oz

Handle Length: 3.5"

Complete Razor Length: 3.75" (95mm)

CNC Machined

Material: 7075 Aluminum

Clear & Electric Aqua Anodize