Stirling Soap 316 Stainless Steel Razor

Rod just gave a tidbit of info on the release. Link from Instagram......


https://www.instagram.com/p/CBBb9iIHmN8/..._copy_link



stirlingsoap In production at the shop. We're making them daily and building up stock. Plan is to release them as soon as the stainless razors are ready. Hopefully before the end of June.

The Stirlings are on the upper end of efficiency.

Or just efficacy ...
 

I have no experience, but just watching to the geometry I can hardly see something comfortable.
As the other aggressive models above, It'd be a powerful tool.
Not for a daily-three-passes guy as me.
Or I missed something ...

Missed that! Edited, thanks

Well, I spent a few days with the razors and they are now cleaned and sterilized and on their way to GlazedBoker. My comments will not be too different from the reviews that have already been posted. The leather cases the razors came in are very nice and speak to a very high quality product. The razors themselves definitely don’t depart from the quality aesthetic. The fit and finish is excellent, and you really feel like you have a high quality product in your hand. I actually liked the handle design on both razors more than I expected to after seeing them in pictures. Even after using both handles twice, I’m still not sure which one I like best.

So, what about the shaves? Again, I’m not sure I’m about to say anything you haven’t already read, but here goes. You really have to enjoy blade feel if you’re going to use these razors. For perspective, I’m sort of a mid-aggressive razor user who shaves daily. My rotation includes WR2 1.15, Timeless Ti95SB, GC84, and Karve C/D. I have a Blackbird and love the company but it’s currently for sale because it’s just too much blade feel for my taste. I would put the Stirling ST razor in the same category as my ‘Bird. It provides an exceptionally efficient shave, but with a bit more blade feel than I care for. I felt like I needed to be very careful throughout the shave. I was duly careful for a 3-pass shave using a 7 O’Clock SharpEdge (yellow) blade and Declaration Grooming Milksteak (Bandwagon Last Edition) soap, and achieved a BBS result. No nicks, cuts, or irritation.

Since the ST felt as aggressive as my Blackbird, and that’s the most aggressive razor I’ve had the occasion to use, I was a little nervous about giving the HA razor a go. And for good reason! I’ve never used a straight razor, but I have to believe the feeling on one’s face is similar. Wow....let’s just say this “hyper aggressive” razor is appropriately named. I decided to skip my normal second, XTG pass, and go straight to ATG for my second pass, and was able to achieve BBS with two passes plus touch-ups for the first time ever. While I was able to avoid any blood letting in the process, I have to say that it was a more stressful experience than I care to have when removing my whiskers. In other words, way too aggressive for my taste. By the way, same blade and soap as with the ST.

To sum up my experience with these Stirling razors, I am very impressed - though not at all surprised - by their quality. They are very well made.....look and feel fantastic in your hand. That said, they are not for the novice DE shaver....definitely not to be trifled with! If you like blade feel and prefer an aggressive and efficient shaving experience, check these out!

Razors have been received. First shave is upcoming very shortly with the HA configuration. Will get 2 shaves in with each and get them ready for the next participant. Initial take coming up....

Razors have been received. First shave is upcoming very shortly with the HA configuration. Will get 2 shaves in with each and get them ready for the next participant. Initial take coming up....

I have to say that ezlovan absolutely outdid himself with presentation.

Razors have been received. First shave is upcoming very shortly with the HA configuration. Will get 2 shaves in with each and get them ready for the next participant. Initial take coming up....

nice looking pouches!

Decided to go with the HA razor for the first shave and see what and how this thing delivers. First, the fit is about as good as it gets. The feel in hand is just about right with excellent grip. Balance is nearly spot on with just a bit more weight biased towards the head, which is how I prefer it. The blade alignment tabs are on the base plate which bothers me none. I’m used to installing a blade on the Gamechanger and it’s a breeze.  No difference here whatsoever. I love the handle with the knurling halfway down the handle and at the midway point there is that taper then flare again towards the top of the handle. Different and unique from any other handle that I’ve held and experienced. 

I’m not going to tell you anything different from what everyone else before has stated about the razor. Yes, it offers plenty of blade feel and cutting prowess to put it alongside the likes of the Ikon Tech, Muhle R41, Asylum RX, PAA EVO DOC, El Jefe and a few others that fail to come to mind. But, here’s the thing. Since going in I knew the razor was going to be a blade feeler and a super efficient performer, I’ve already used all those that I’ve mentioned. Light touch, good technique and let the razor do its thing. I installed a new blade, a Gillette Black Ninja which is quite sharp but, not Feather like and offers an abundance more smoothness and a less harsh feeling during a shave. Like those razors that I mentioned before, the Stirling HA delivers a super close shave in 2 passes with a slight buff on my chin. Rinsing this razor is a breeze and it can do a full pass without having to take a dip in the Agua to rinse. I had soap slopped all over my hand and handle and not once did I feel nervous about slippage or lose of grip.  BBS of the highest order. 2 small weepers on my chin from the minor buff and the slightest of irritation around Sir Adam once I passed the alum block in the area. Weepers and burn are gone in about 10 minutes and I’m just faceturbating as I write this. This razor can shave, no doubt about it. Yet, it’s not intimidating. It cuts with authority and extreme prejudice. Whiskers don’t stand a chance with this razor regardless of hair thickness, growth or coarseness. I’m very impressed with my first go. The Stirling Hyper - Aggressive razor is a baller as we say here in the east coast. It’s got shave performance in spades. Looking forward to another shave with the HA then onto the Standard version in a couple of days. 

Just an update. Shaved yesterday between 3:30 & 4pm. Woke up today at 4:30 this morning. Quick shower and face feel, STILL no stubble or any hint of it. As I write this having a cup of coffee, it's now almost 7:30 and not a thing yet. Let's put that at just about 15 hours of total smooth face feeling shave. I'm impressed. Will update once whiskers start to break in....

Edit:
Ok. Finally felt the slightest bit of stubble along both jawlines, just barely there. I'm going to say 16+ hours of whisker free smoothness + - an hour. That's a darn good shave with great longevity/duration. I should have a full shadow by 5-6 tonight. Good enough for round #2...

It may be as effective as "beard suppressors"

https://memory-beta.fandom.com/wiki/Beard_suppressant

Yesterday’s shave was so close that even though I had stubble this evening, it wasn’t the usual 5 O’clock shadow as usual. But, I wanted to get a shave in and figured with the HA set up I can probably get a quick one in. Used the same Gillette SP from the day prior and got set up. Like I said, the whiskers were barely there and I decided to do just a single ATG pass and see if it would suffice. Sure enough that was all it required to get me back to a smooth BBS finish. I rode the cap for the whole shave and not a thing to complain about. But, there was a bit of irritation on each side of my Adam’s Apple as I kind of J-hooked that particular area. Nothing fierce but, the alum pass plus the after shave did tell me there was some heat in there. I probably could have gone without a shave but, since time is limited I just want to get some shaves in with both razors and move them along in a timely manner. Besides, once the after shave took effect, irritation was gone within 30 minutes. Not a bad trade off for a smooth as glass finish. 

Next up, the Standard plate razor.