SS Mamba DE razor

I love the Mamba SS with a sharp, smooth blade such as the Polsilver or 7o’clock Yellow.

Feathers are just a little rough for those troublesome patches on my neck that require buffing with all razors and blades. The hair grows in all directions but all parallel to the skin. Everywhere else, the Feathers are fine.

Otoh, I HATED the Derby Extra in it. It had more blade feel but just didn’t cut well. I measured a fresh blade, and it was both wider and slightly thicker than my other blades. These were both irritating and ineffective..

I’m going to try the Nacet, Persona Red, or GSB next.

Overall, the Mamba is an excellent daily driver. I will probably pick up a spare to leave at my girlfriend’s house for quick, smooth, easy shaves.

I probably won’t try the Derby again in any razor. It just doesn’t seem to be a good blade for my neck.

I’m coming to the conclusion that for my neck, the blade needs to be very sharp and stiffly-mounted. Gap and exposure don’t seem to matter as much to me - it only takes a little to shave well, and more neither hurts nor helps if the angle and pressure are right.

The Mamba is very smooth and seems to hold the blade very rigidly at a comfortable angle.

It’s a great razor. My gripe with it is that the efficiency falls way down for the against the grain pass especially around the jaw line. My beard grows quick so I need efficiency and the Mamba didn’t quite cut it for me. Great mild razor if that’s what you need.

I'm not one for blade feel on my face, so for me it is a marvelous razor, in that I can get a very close shave without irritation or nicks (the reasons I dumped cartridges). I've had success with Astra SP, Perma-Sharp and Gillette 7'oclock (yellow) blades. I would probably avoid some of the less sharp, more smooth brands. The razor is plenty smooth and requires a good, sharp blade to do a great job.

Thank you for the input.

I tried the Nacet, and it is a good choice too. It is nearly Feather-sharp but smoother.

I also tried a shave with one shim under the Nacet. I trimmed just the beveled edge off an old blade (less than a millimeter removed from each edge), and that certainly amped up the aggressiveness. I don’t think I’d want to try two shims.

I still get my closest shave with a Parker 24C/26C Open Comb and GSB or Nacet, but that is a totally different (and less comfortable) feel from the Mamba.

I can get close to that with the Mamba by turning the handle a little bit sideways (kind of like using a slant) in the trouble spots. Of course, that demands a careful touch ....

I will probably pick up a Wunderbar when they are back in stock, but I’m not sure if that would ever be a daily driver.

Thank you for your input. This razor overall is mild with all the responses I received. Thank you!

I just tried a KAI in the Mamba for the touchup pass after my first shave with a slant.

The KAI seems to be a very good choice for the Mamba. It has a little more blade feel while still being both smooth and sharp.

I don’t really see the Mamba as being anybody’s one and only razor for life because of the mildness (at least nobody with unruly stiff gray whiskers). OTOH, it’s so smooth and comfortable that I’ll probably end up stashing one everywhere I shave (home, girlfriend’s house, locker). I may also give one to my future stepson when he gets past admiring the peach fuzz on his lip.

I certainly don’t expect to sell it even as I chase the elusive ultimate shave with other razors.

Do not stash one in your girlfriends house, her husband might start using it

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I still plan to order the Game Changer and Wunderbar when they are available, though!