Vikings Blade The Emperor and Augustus adjustable razor

gLet , How was your shave with the Emperor? I am especially interested in this razor because it appears to be one where Vikings Blade finally broke away from it's Chinese rebrand past. Up until now, even though there were subtle (but significant) design changes, their razors still looked like the other Chinese razors. This one definitely looks different from anything else, and even the Augustus looks a whole lot different than just your usual different color handle razors. I am seriously thinking that this might be the VB that I finally end up getting.

gLet , How was your shave with the Emperor? I am especially interested in this razor because it appears to be one where Vikings Blade finally broke away from it's Chinese rebrand past. Up until now, even though there were subtle (but significant) design changes, their razors still looked like the other Chinese razors. This one definitely looks different from anything else, and even the Augustus looks a whole lot different than just your usual different color handle razors. I am seriously thinking that this might be the VB that I finally end up getting.

The shave is really smooth and the head profile is like the super adjustable. I like this razor head better than my crusader. Keep in mind the handle is thick and is heavy at 135 grams. The weight doesn’t hinder the shave for me, but don’t expect to shave at speeds like Charles Roberts

Also this has a wider blade gap setting than the super adjustable and at the high setting, it’s more aggressive but not uncomfortable.

I would recommend loosing the TTO door when making adjustments like the old Gillette as to not strain the mechanism.

Mantic59 suggests this for modern butterfly adjustables too.

IMO I think it’s the closest you can get to a Super Adjustable for a modern butterfly razor.

Rockwell’s model T is closer to a Fatboy in terms of head profile, the Emperor is nearly identical to the super adjustable.

The razor has a solid construction, does not feel cheap at all.

It balances as shown in the picture



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https://youtu.be/Ci_O6Ok9aBs


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Gents, I used to think that Vikings Blade was selling Baili's and marking them up ridiculously. Now, I think two things. First, I suspect that they private labled Baili razors when they started, though along the way they designed their own razors and had Baili make them. I think they made a strategic mistake to allow their razors to continue to have a Baili look to them.

The next thing I would say is to bring your attention to this statement from Vikings Blade:

https://vikingsblade.com/pages/vikings-b...e-as-baili

It looks to me like they are a small family business that was badly burned by a greedy and dishonest provider. I don't have a Vikings Blade, but hear good things from those that have them. I'll also say this. A large percentage of razors and synthetic brushes are made by a small number of companies in China. Plenty of companies private label these razors, which is fine in my book as long as there is transparency. There are also plenty of companies that design the razor and have it made in China, India or Pakistan. Other than the Karve, which is made in Canada, I don't think there are many razors under $180 being made in America.

Other than the Karve, which is made in Canada, I don't think there are many razors under $180 being made in America.

Rockwell Model T is selling for 120 USD and that razor adjusts both the blade gap and blade angle.

I like adjustable Butterfly razors and I am glad these two companies are supplying that demand and I am glad they are bold enough to tackle that.
No one else wants to touch the adjustable butterfly design. Good on both of these companies to tackle that challenge.

Yes there are the $10 adjustable from China , but you get what you pay for.






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The con I give the Emperor is that the adjustment arrow is hard to see on this model. The Bronze and Cognac model doesn’t have this issue.



Etching should have been a different color. A little difficult to see.


First test shave tomorrow.



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Even the etching on the REX was not that easy to read unless looking at it straight on. Seems that it has more to do with etching as opposed to actually having an indentation for the numbers as in the old Gillettes. Almost makes it worth the extra $4 for the Augustus. This razor does have the differential guard like the Crusader, right?

I think the combs are symmetrical to each other after further investigation.


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I think the combs are symmetrical to each other after further investigation.

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Hi gLet,

The combs are symmetrical.

What we mean by 'asymmetrical' is that unlike most other razors with identical combs on both sides, the Emperor have 2 different sides: one is a scalloped comb, and one is a smooth bar (Feather Seki style).

I recently realised that the word "asymmetrical" does not convey what we meant so I've started calling it "Dual head" instead.

Found one in Aliexpress.

YINTAL Adjustable Butterfly Open Double Edge Safety Razor 3 Colors Brass Long Handle Razors Designed By WEISHI.

Knurling on handle looks little different, price is $33.99 shipped to US.

Looks like a copy of the Crusader. It wasn't good enough for Yintal to rebrand the Parthenon/Nostalgic razors, they had to go out and copy the Crusader. I guess there is some truth to the statement that the Chinese will copy the best razors over rebranding another Chinese one.

Found one in Aliexpress.

YINTAL Adjustable Butterfly Open Double Edge Safety Razor 3 Colors Brass Long Handle Razors Designed By WEISHI.

Knurling on handle looks little different, price is $33.99 shipped to US.

It looks more like the Parthenon. For $10 more you could have purchased a crusader from amazon.


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