Tatara Masamune DE Passaround Invite/Review - Old World Craftsmanship New Age Design

Ok, so I've had the Tatara for the past week and have used it for several shaves. I used the SB plate for the bulk of the shaves (around four) and the open comb one for a couple shaves. I'll be sending it off to the next participant in tomorrow's mail so I figure I should post some thoughts here.

Some background on the razors I normally use. I own quite a few razors including Wolfman .48, Wolfman .54, LA Shaving BBS-1, Paradigm Ti2, Paradign 17-4, Timeless .68, Timeless .95, Charcoal Goods Lvl1, ATT (H, R, M, H2, R2, SE1), and a King Cobra. The big name ones I don't currently own I've likely tried. Recently I've been using the Paradigm and Wolfman razors quite often and I'm rather fond of the Charcoal Goods Lvl1 razor.

I'd have posted sooner but the combination of being sick and really busy at work has given me reason to procrastinate. Either way I have a good understanding of the razor and my opinion of it at this point.

First off, I had really high expectations for this one after reading some great reviews as well as some discussions about the machining of the razor with some forum members. Out of the box the razor is a bit smaller than I expected. The handle does have a nice texture and the grip is surprisingly good considering it's appearance and lack of deep knurling. So overall no problems there. The plates seem to be really well made and I like that they are a bit thinner like the Wolfman and Charcoal Goods plates are. I find this design to be a bit more nimble as opposed to the bulkier razors. I would prefer a polished finish but I suspect that a polished finish would remove some of the grip that is present. The handle does feel good in my hands but I would prefer it to be a bit larger both in both length and in diameter. I tend to prefer handles that are about the size of a Wolfman WRH1 or WRH2. The build quality is excellent and the threads are nice and smooth.

In assembling the razor I tried the first shave with the Tatara handle. I didn't get any slip from the handle and it did feel good in my hands. After the shave I tried several other handles on the razor and quickly realized that the design prohibits any other handle from being used. The end of the Tatara handle is not threaded all the way up and goes up into the base plate. The cap threading stops early which doesn't allow any other handle to tighten all the way. So in threading on a Wolfman handle I run out of threads before the base plate is secure and tight with the cap. This is a great setup to secure the blade but it is far from ideal for me as I really enjoy switching up handles to find the perfect combination.

For the first few shaves with the Tatara I used a soap from either Grooming Dept or Tallow & Steel. These are (in my opinion) currently the very best soaps on the planet and in turn the very best soaps ever made. These are my normal go to soaps. For the blade I used a Feather blade for the initial shaves and I tired a Polsilver in the razor as well. The results were about the same with both blades. Brush was a Morris & Forndran L7 Finest Fan and I used an aftershave balm from Viking after the shave. Preshave was a hot shower and washing my face with some bath soap.

Back to the shave. In shaving with the Tatara razor I noticed that it was a bit mild. It provided lots of audible feedback and was enjoyable to shave with. No nicks or cuts at all but I did notice that I had some difficulty in clearing the stubble from some of my trouble spots, specifically under my jawline and on my lower neck. So while I do enjoy mild razors this razor was a bit less efficient than what I'm used to using. I got similar results from each shave with the SB plate. The razor would shave similar to the Charcoal Goods Lvl1 razor that I own but it wasn't as efficient nor quite as comfortable to shave with. I suspect that with repeated use my results would improve and that it's a razor that I'd have to get used to shaving with in order to master it. Unfortunately, I didn't have the time needed to perfect my shave with it.

It was very comfortable to shave with but the results were less that perfect for me with it leaving behind some stubble even when I addressed the area several times. I was generally doing three passes and a fourth on my neck in an attempt to clear all of the stubble. I tried a Feather blade and a Polsilver with similar results.

In using the open comb plate for me the shaves were similar but I did get a little more blade feel with the oc plate than the sb version. Still no irritation from the razor as I resisted going over the same spot repeatedly or applying too much pressure to chase a perfect shave.

I used the Tatara for about six shaves total, four with the sb plate and two with the oc plate. I got good shaves from the razor but not bbs shaves. If I were to own this razor I suspect that it's one that I could learn to get perfect shaves with but it would take some repeated use on my part. It's a comfortable razor to shave with and I'd likely be very impressed with it had I not already owned several other high end razors that I prefer.

So for me I truly appreciate the experience of trying this razor. Sometimes it's not only about finding the products that are right for you personally but also eliminating those that aren't. This is not a razor that I'd likely purchase as the handle configuration alone would keep me from buying it. I suspect that some will really enjoy this razor but I do prefer others over it.

Thank you Dan for the experience of trying this razor. It was very enjoyable and I'm happy to have had the opportunity.

Great review as always, David!

I recently was able to participate in the Tatara pass around and wanted to share my experience and opinion with the forum. First, let me thank Tatara for facilitating this opportunity to experience a relatively rare razor with unique design elements. As an Italian, design is important in both visual and ergonomic user experience - it is in this criterion that the Tatara really stands out. The unique design elements of the handle texturing and blast finish are nicely done, as is the engineering of the cap threaded shank, which is appreciated from my days racing motorcycles and automobiles as the proper method to relieve stress at the critical juncture where razors break when dropped. However, the diminutive size of the handle and lack of finishing on the underside of the cap give less than a positive impression of quality when compared to some other high-end razors. Surely, I can agree that people will have different preferences but mine are for more weighted, larger diameter longer handle razors when paying a premium.



My favorite characteristic of shaving with this razor is the auditory feedback; I like to hear the blade working even if some attribute this to blade vibration as it really helps me get a better shave. Another element that I thought positive was the razor's low head stack height. My current everyday razor is a Timeless 0.68 Open Comb that just shaves marvelously but is very difficult to maneuver around tight areas such as the nostrils. The Tatara was super agile and able to quickly and effortlessly get in places that are nearly impossible to access with the Timeless. There seems to be a trend toward ever more stack height in razor heads and congrats to the Tatara designers for bucking the industry! This may be the most agile modern razor I have used along with the BBS1 and Wolfman WR1.



However, there is one aspect of this razor with which I simply could not come to terms: no matter if using the safety bar or open comb plate, the shave was just too mild for my preference having tried both Timor and PolSilver blades. My routine is to shave every second or third day which works quite well with the Timeless but even using the most aggressive open comb base plate and PolSilver blade, I was left with stubble after 3 passes (even though it was very light). No matter what angle was attempted, the results were always the same and it influenced my experience negatively.



My conclusion is that this would be ideal as currently offered for somebody with the desire to shave every day or seeking a very mild razor. Unfortunately, for the those wanting to skip a day or two while getting a close shave that particular day, it really needs to be offered with more aggressive base plates. Finally, for women seeking a leg or body razor, this would be an ideal choice not only for the way it shaves but also for its sleek and elegant design - and I mean that as a complement. Again thank you for the chance to try this razor and I would be interested in following up with future offerings from Tatara.

Last week I was able to participate in the Tatara pass around. I hadn’t heard much about the razor…just seen pictures so I was excited to give it a try. I had 3 shaves with it. The first shave was with the SB plate and the other 2 were with the OC plate. My reviews are honest, and I didn’t receive anything for my reviews. My comments below are compiled SOTD posts from FaceBook shave groups. All shaves were with my go to blade: Personna Red’s.

The first night I had my shave all planned out and when I got home and had an unexpected package in the mail. Opened it up and saw the Tatara, which is on a pass-around loan. Completely switched up the shave game and went with the Tatara.

Shave 1: I was first turned off that it has a proprietary handle design to fit to the head. When loading the blade I noticed that the fit of the blade to the top cap had tight tolerances, which I'd expect from a machined razor. Once I snugged it all up it was a very tight fit. It was then when I realized that the neck of the proprietary handle was fitting and sitting higher up, closer to the blade making it a very stable fit. My “turn off” just turned to an applause. Reminds me of my favorite DE razor, the Blackbird. Once shaving I could tell quickly that the blade was very stiff with no notice of flex or chatter. This is where most modern machined razors set themselves apart from vintage or non-machined razors. They have a distinct stiff blade feel and give great shaves. As for the Tatara, I'd put it at a 4-5 on the aggressive scale. Very smooth shave and had to do 3 passes and a cleanup pass, where other razors like the Blackbird I can do 2 passes and clean up to get the same results. Very little blade feel. Overall, I would say the Tatara would be a great daily shaver. If it was my only razor it may be efficient enough to go every other day.
The shave was awesome. Very smooth. 7.5 hrs post shave and I'm still very smooth. If I didn't already have a number of razors I already enjoy this one might be on the short list. As of now it will be on the would like to own list.

Shave 2: This time I waited almost 3 days to try it with the OC plate. I wanted some growth to mow through. And that it did and smoothly at that. Most razors feel good when the skin has time to rest. So tomorrow will be a repeat of today to see how the OC plate feels on back to back night shaves.

Shave 3: Second time with the OC. Last night was a great shave with 3 days of growth. Tonight, I wanted to see what it would be like with one day of growth. It was a really close and efficient shave. Not much blade feel, but a close shave. For me probably not a daily driver with the OC plate. The SB plate would be good for a daily driver and the OC when you have multiple days growth.
Fit and Finish: The razor is on the petit and lighter side of machined/ stainless razors. The handle is similar in size to a Gillette Tech. To my surprise the finish and the dimpled handles perform well. At one point during my cleanup passes my hand holding the razor was completely covered in lather and the razor was not difficult to hold on to what so ever. Very impressive. The tolerances are good on the head and how the blade fits and the base plate and cap mate together.

Closing: Overall, it's a great razor. Down the road if I see a good deal on one I might have to scoop it up! It’s a solid razor that is comparable to a lot of the higher end machined stainless steel razors. It’s a very fun razor to shave with. Down the road if I see a good deal on one I might have to scoop it up! Thanks Dan and nice job Tatara!

I have the Tatara SB and absolutely love it. It is a great shaver.

To start, I’d like to thank Tatara Razor and Dan for the generosity and the opportunity to try out the razor.  I have used the razor for 6 shaves, two of which were with the OC and the remainder with the SB blade.  Let’s get the software portion out of the way first:

Preshave:  Hot shower + Ach Brito Glyce Classic Pre Shave Soap
Brush: 24mm Razorock Plissoft
Soap: SV  70th anniversary soap
Crèmes:  D. R. Harris Arlington or Muhle Sanddorn
Blades:  Bolzano Sunerinox and Astra Superior Blade

And now to the actual Razor:

First impressions upon seeing the razor were quite positive, this is a really nice razor.  Aesthetically it’s beautiful, a piece of art for the bathroom - it’s eye catching.  Shape and form are unique which adds to the allure of the razor.  Contrary to some other people, I really like the gun powder finish of the razor, in a world full of stainless steel and gold plated razors, not only does the gun powder stand out, but it also goes very well with the modern look of the razor.  The razor reeks quality, fit and finish are excellent, I couldn’t notice any discernable faults.  I really like the design of the head and how it holds the blade in place - no room for slanted, skewed or improperly balanced blades.  The handle is well made and for me just the right length and thickness (I am a head shaver and found the handle made it easy to shave the head.)  Grip was nice and even with wet, soapy fingers I had no fear of the razor slipping out of my hands.  The weight of the razor is just right, not too heavy and not too light and feels good in the hand.  

In anticipation of the razor I hadn’t shaved for 3 days - first shave was with the OC and Astra blade, it turned out to be a so so shave, which I mainly attribute to the Astra blade, it doesn’t perform well for me regardless of which razor I use, an experience that was to be repeated the next day with the same blade but the SB plate.    Things changed however, when I started using the Bolzano blade for the remainder of the shaves.  With the OC or the SB, I had smooth, comfortable shaves.  Regardless of base/blade combo I required 3 passes (WTG/ATG/XTG) with a cleanup pass - that, I have found to be the norm for me no matter how aggressive or efficient a razor I use, there is no way around doing 3 passes, or I should say a good razor cleans me up in 3 passes, some milder razors I’ll need a 4th or 5th pass.  I did not shave my chin or under the nose due to a goatie I sport, so can’t speak to maneuverability there, but because everywhere else I had no issues getting around with the razor, whether face or head, I don’t see this as a problem for those areas either, if anything, the slimmer head should make it easier to get to those places.  The open comb definitely lets you feel the blade more, personally, I prefer the SB on the Tatara.

To sum it all up, this is a beautifully made razor, looks and performance do not disappoint.  I think just for display purposes this razor is grand, add to it its performance and I say we have a winner here.

A few weeks ago I came home to a box waiting for me. I hadn't ordered anything new in a while, and didn't remember trading anything, so I was stumped on what it could be. Upon opening I discovered it was the Tatara set! I had made a request to join the passaround a while ago to get a feel for this razor, and decide if I wanted to find a way to acquire one...it's so cool looking!

One of the first things I noticed is the head design. It's a thin, modern design not unlike Wolfman's offering...which absolutely yields a solid blade. It's similar, but doesn't have the precision-looking machines (or polished) look. The next thing I noticed was the retro-futuristic stylings. It looks really cool! The semi sphere base, the rounded-off handle, the matte finish. All these things all add to the great looks of this set. The fit and finish is very well done, it's so precise the blade (I used) fit very tight, no room for misalignment there! The bead blasted matte finish suits the design aesthetics of this set extremely well. The handle looked longer and narrower than I generally prefer, but it sits in hand nicely, and proved to be comfortable the whole shave through.

For a little reference to what razors I am used to I'll do a little run down of the recent history. I had just finished 2 weeks with a Charcoal Goods LVL2 DC, before that was a few weeks with a Rex Ambassador, and before that is a mish mash no rhyme or reason mashup of BBS-1, Wolfman .61 Ti OC and SB, .61 stainless OC, Stainless .74 OC, Blackland Blackbird, Above The Tie all plates in OC, Colonial General in brassard in stainless, and a myriad of vintage Gillette offerings including Fat Boy, #66, Red Tip, and a few others. I also bring in the Gem style SE razors from time to time, such as Damaskeene more curved top, 1914, and 1924 Shovelhead offerings (gotta get that toast sound in my ear from time to time haha). These are the razors I reach for, in no particular order.

The first shave with this razor I decided to go with the safety bar/mild plate. New razor (to me) gets a new blade, Wizamet Iridium Super Extra Stainless (my go to). A lathering up and I was on my way!
First pass was mild, with a little blade feel. Finding the angle was somewhat intuitive, and easy to maintain. We will skip over passes 2 & 3 to get to the final result. A little rough in my problem area. Not irritation and weepers bad, but due to the way my hair grows in my neck, basically parallel to my skin, it's really hard to get the hairs shaved off with a mild razor.
I gave a total of 3 shaves to this plate, all with similar results, no good for my neck.

After a few shaves with the mild plate, I decided to step up the game to the more aggressive OC plate. Once again, a new blade was installed, and I was lathering and on my way.
The first thing I noticed was the feel of the teeth, they're similar in feel to the ATT OC teeth, a little sharp and bitey. This was followed by a little more blade feel, but not too much. On my third pass ATG on my mustache area, I was greeted again by the sharp teeth bumping my nostrils...gotta watch that pass with those sharp teeth!
As with the mild plate rig,I had 2 more shaves with this setup. I still couldn't manage to get a close shave in my problem area, and ended up with an ingrown from being overzealous trying to get those hairs with what felt like a more efficient gap. For this head, I did get a great shave in most areas, but my problem area suffered.

Overall this is a very nice razor. Fit and finish are spectacular, and the overall look is just so cool !!! I'm sure this setup will make many happy, but for me, it's back to the razors that work best for me. It's a real shame though, this razor is a real looker!!!

Thanks again for the opportunity to take this rig on a test drive, it was really great to check it out in hand!

=)

I had the chance to be part of this tour. I really appreciate this part of being in the traditional shaving community.
It's just plain fun.

Upon unpacking the box, the first thing I noticed was the aesthetic quality of the Tatara.
I am particularly fond of the stand. Its footprint is small, yet the weight is substantial. Its rounded shape is very pleasing to the eye.

The handle is also unique. In combination with the finish, the whole package is quite appealing.

I decided to load a Gillette 7 O'Clock Yellow into the razor, and I started with the solid bar plate.
Everything locked down very closely. That really is precision machining.

As the tour organizer observed, the blade I chose can be "bitey" -- but not with the Tatara!
I enjoyed four excellent shaves with the solid bar, skipped a day, and then turned to the open comb.
The OC did a great job taking care of two days' growth, and is just a touch better one one day's.

The adjectives are very well-worn, but truly this razor is smooth (no irritation whatsoever) and efficient.
One pass gets most of the job done, and I was quite content with two plus touch-up as opposed to the usual three-plus.

Would I buy this razor? If I ever had an bathroom to myself with genuine Japanese décor, I can see the Tatara being out on permanent display.
Until that day may come, though, I wish everyone else who follows me on the tour equally enjoyable shaves.
--Rory

Hi Folks.

First of all a bit thanks to DanLaw for the opportunity to try this razor. At the price point it's good to be able to try the razor before committing to it.

Initial impressions are very positive. Fit and finish is up there with the best of the manufacturers (Wolfman, Blackland, et al). Dimensions of the razor head most closely resembles the standard gap wolfman with it's slimmer overall profile which makes it excellent around tight spaces. The unique slotting handle-head design makes for a very secure grip on the blade and the razor is dead silent. The head has such an amazingly strong grip on the blade that you really have to be careful in your technique less you cut yourself; more on this later.

Handle grip was good as expected for a stain finish. The finish, however, did not exhibit any 'drag' which I attribute to the compactness of the head and the minimal corresponding contact with your skin. The included stand, is the stand out (pun?) by being both small in form factor, but secure in stability. It's evident that the Tarta spent time perfecting the fit and finish.

The unique hande-head designs means that some blades don't fit completely 100%; the center hole of some blades are a bit to narrow for the top cap center post and you have to sightly wiggle the blade down. Securing the head on the handle does, however, works well to bring these blade to its normal position and has no effect on the shave.

The razor is very blade dependent. I found that my normal 'smooth' blades such as Vockshods and Derby Premiums don't work as smooth as I normally experience. Interestingly enough, however, I found that super aggressive blades (such as Feathers, wizamet super iridium) are significantly tamed down and work AMAZING with the razor. I found that 'vintage' blades did NOT like this razor at all and tended to be tuggy and uncomfortable for me. This modern razor likes modern blades.

As noted above, the razor head has a vice like grip on the blade. I found that I take for granted my technique with some razors and rely on a bit of blade flex to tell me I'm about to cut myself due to poor technique. I think you all know that feeling when the blade just feels slightly 'off' and you know immediately to back off. With the tight secure grip the head-handle design has on the blade, there is ZERO blade flex and having the head slightly off will result in nicks without you knowing at the time since the cut is so smooth. I have cut myself more times using this razor for the last 2 week than I have in the entire year prior. These were not deep "you-know-you-screwed-up" kind of gushing cuts, but more ather the "I-knew-I-was-a-bit-careless-on-this-angle-pass" slow weeping cuts that show up 5-10 seconds later. Upon contemplations, I know it was me and not the razor.

As expected, the open comb is more aggressive than the solid bar. The open comb's teeth are well spaced out and rounded in such a great way that I couldn't tell the face feel between the two. The open-comb, however, is much more aggressive and I got most of the weepers with it. I still, however, prefer the open comb as it feels as smooth as the solid bar, while still being more efficient and closer.

For the quality of the shave, I would slot this razor in between the BBS-1 (my number one razor) and a polished open comb Blackbird.

For the price-performance ratio I would slot this razor at the top when you factor in the fact that you get BOTH base plates AND the stand for <$300.

Definitely recommended for someone looking for a high end razor but could not get a Wolfman (which ranks at the bottom for price-performance, despite being tops for pure performance).

The razor is currently on it's way to the next user in California.

Wow, looking forward to this!! I'm up next.

Hi Folks.

First of all a bit thanks to DanLaw for the opportunity to try this razor. At the price point it's good to be able to try the razor before committing to it.

Initial impressions are very positive. Fit and finish is up there with the best of the manufacturers (Wolfman, Blackland, et al). Dimensions of the razor head most closely resembles the standard gap wolfman with it's slimmer overall profile which makes it excellent around tight spaces. The unique slotting handle-head design makes for a very secure grip on the blade and the razor is dead silent. The head has such an amazingly strong grip on the blade that you really have to be careful in your technique less you cut yourself; more on this later.

Handle grip was good as expected for a stain finish. The finish, however, did not exhibit any 'drag' which I attribute to the compactness of the head and the minimal corresponding contact with your skin. The included stand, is the stand out (pun?) by being both small in form factor, but secure in stability. It's evident that the Tarta spent time perfecting the fit and finish.

The unique hande-head designs means that some blades don't fit completely 100%; the center hole of some blades are a bit to narrow for the top cap center post and you have to sightly wiggle the blade down. Securing the head on the handle does, however, works well to bring these blade to its normal position and has no effect on the shave.

The razor is very blade dependent. I found that my normal 'smooth' blades such as Vockshods and Derby Premiums don't work as smooth as I normally experience. Interestingly enough, however, I found that super aggressive blades (such as Feathers, wizamet super iridium) are significantly tamed down and work AMAZING with the razor. I found that 'vintage' blades did NOT like this razor at all and tended to be tuggy and uncomfortable for me. This modern razor likes modern blades.

As noted above, the razor head has a vice like grip on the blade. I found that I take for granted my technique with some razors and rely on a bit of blade flex to tell me I'm about to cut myself due to poor technique. I think you all know that feeling when the blade just feels slightly 'off' and you know immediately to back off. With the tight secure grip the head-handle design has on the blade, there is ZERO blade flex and having the head slightly off will result in nicks without you knowing at the time since the cut is so smooth. I have cut myself more times using this razor for the last 2 week than I have in the entire year prior. These were not deep "you-know-you-screwed-up" kind of gushing cuts, but more ather the "I-knew-I-was-a-bit-careless-on-this-angle-pass" slow weeping cuts that show up 5-10 seconds later. Upon contemplations, I know it was me and not the razor.

As expected, the open comb is more aggressive than the solid bar. The open comb's teeth are well spaced out and rounded in such a great way that I couldn't tell the face feel between the two. The open-comb, however, is much more aggressive and I got most of the weepers with it. I still, however, prefer the open comb as it feels as smooth as the solid bar, while still being more efficient and closer.

For the quality of the shave, I would slot this razor in between the BBS-1 (my number one razor) and a polished open comb Blackbird.

For the price-performance ratio I would slot this razor at the top when you factor in the fact that you get BOTH base plates AND the stand for <$300.

Definitely recommended for someone looking for a high end razor but could not get a Wolfman (which ranks at the bottom for price-performance, despite being tops for pure performance).

The razor is currently on it's way to the next user in California.