Wolfman WR1 vs WR2 - My Comparative Thoughts

For what it's worth,

The Guerrilla is a top tier razor in my line up, go figure.........

Well, I did adjust the blade gap some to make it so, even the Wr1 .74 oc comes down the list to it! My RAD Killer.
I could easily shave blind fold with this super smooth razor, never a nick or bite.
The BB got shelved too and a huge den clear out took place after the modded Guerrilla took them all out including the Wr1 .74 oc. Shave den Guerrilla warfare!

Not sure what the new blade gap is but is super smooth and super efficient.....

I thought I was the only one crazy enough to modify a Wolfman Guerrilla.    I found the razor very efficient, but there was little or no blade feel. I wanted a more aggressive shaver. It was the first time I had been able to buy direct from James, and but despite that I was thinking of putting it up for sale. Then there was the handle. It wasn't 'bad' in terms of slipping, I keep my left hand dry, but I like a knurled surface.

So ... knowing that I was precluding the possibility of getting my money out of it I took my Eagle Rock Industries hand knurl and did the handle. Then I took a fine Swiss file and filed the base plate to increase the gap slightly. I've got some experience hand fitting pistol barrels so I knew to go slow, easy, and precisely. When all was said and done I had blade feel, and a more aggressive shaver.

One of those things where you come back with your shield or on it. 



Can't figure out how you did the knurling with a pipe cutter? 

Cino,  It is not a 'pipe cutter' though it works on the same principle, only with knurls instead of hardened steel wheels and blade. See the hand knurl I used at the link below ;

https://www.eaglerockonline.com/knurling...form-type/

This thread inspired me to do this Shave Off last night .

Just did a side by side shave off with these two Wolfman Dual Comb Razors to compare OC to OC and SB to SB WR1 SS is a custom .94 gap and the WR2 Titanium is a 1.25 OC and 1.35 SB. Did two passes and split my face in 4 sections. Reason is my whole right side is more difficult to shave as it has some nasty cowlicks and some weird growth were as my left is very normal. So each razor gets one difficult area on tight side and an easier one on the left side.

WTG pass - weight difference is noticeably different immediately but no issue at all. The WR2 OC has a bit more blade feel than the WR1 OC throughout the whole pass but has a touch softer face feel especially around my lips and is a little more maneuverable because of the lighter weight. Beard reduction which is considerable is about the same in all areas at the end of the pass with a little more stubble left in my trouble spots by both razors.

ATG pass - with a lot of the stubble already removed this is where I noticed that the WR2 SB side started to shine. The face feel on the ATG pass even thought it has a higher gap was very smooth and noticeably more so than the WR1 SB which by means is nowhere near being harsh just to be clear. All the other differences where still the same. Weight and maneuverability.
At the end of the Shave Off the beard reduction was the same and I ended up with a solid BBS Level 2 in the two passes which I tested with a cotton pad. It’s now 9 hrs since the shave and I’m still BBS smooth in all areas so at this point I’d call it a draw as far as beard reduction goes.  An excellent shave by both razors!

Gear used:
Wolfman WR1 SS DC .94
Wolfman WR2 Titanium DC 1.25OC /1.35 SB
New Feather blades which I hand strop.
PannaCrema Verde Shave soap.
Wolf Whiskers Badger
Asylum/ Saponificio colab Colonia aftershave

Great shaves!

Ive spent many years with various gaps of the WR1 from .61, .67, and .74. All have generated amazing shaves. All have had a nice amount of blade feel that increased in a linear fashion as the gap increased. The only one I had to be careful with was the .74 and that was only on my trouble spot on the lower right portion of my neck. I could get a touch of irritation there if I came in too steep at that location only. I’ve been using the WR2 exclusively since my first arrived. I have started with the 1.05 and have slowly moved up the the 1.15 and now the 1.25. Also delivering amazing shaves with the impeccable quality and workmanship I’ve come to expect. Less overall blade feel on the WR2 as a whole due to head design but that feel did increase as the gap increased just not in such a palpable way as the WR1. The only thing I can say though is that even at the 1.25 gap I have been having no issues with sensitivity at my trouble spot as I don’t think it’s possible with the WR2 head to come in too steep. To me the WR2 head has the edge in comfort at the sacrifice of having a smaller range of angles to shave with. Grateful to have both styles in my small collection.

This thread inspired me to do this Shave Off last night .

Just did a side by side shave off with these two Wolfman Dual Comb Razors to compare OC to OC and SB to SB WR1 SS is a custom .94 gap and the WR2 Titanium is a 1.25 OC and 1.35 SB. Did two passes and split my face in 4 sections. Reason is my whole right side is more difficult to shave as it has some nasty cowlicks and some weird growth were as my left is very normal. So each razor gets one difficult area on tight side and an easier one on the left side.

WTG pass - weight difference is noticeably different immediately but no issue at all. The WR2 OC has a bit more blade feel than the WR1 OC throughout the whole pass but has a touch softer face feel especially around my lips and is a little more maneuverable because of the lighter weight. Beard reduction which is considerable is about the same in all areas at the end of the pass with a little more stubble left in my trouble spots by both razors.

ATG pass - with a lot of the stubble already removed this is where I noticed that the WR2 SB side started to shine. The face feel on the ATG pass even thought it has a higher gap was very smooth and noticeably more so than the WR1 SB which by means is nowhere near being harsh just to be clear. All the other differences where still the same. Weight and maneuverability.
At the end of the Shave Off the beard reduction was the same and I ended up with a solid BBS Level 2 in the two passes which I tested with a cotton pad. It’s now 9 hrs since the shave and I’m still BBS smooth in all areas so at this point I’d call it a draw as far as beard reduction goes.  An excellent shave by both razors!

Gear used:
Wolfman WR1 SS DC .94
Wolfman WR2 Titanium DC 1.25OC /1.35 SB
New Feather blades which I hand strop.
PannaCrema Verde Shave soap.
Wolf Whiskers Badger
Asylum/ Saponificio colab Colonia aftershave

Great shaves!

Great shave off review, thanks !

Out of curiosity, would you agree with Christopher Bradley (Karve Shaving) that an OC equals the next higher gap ?

For instance, if that is a correct assumption your 1.25 OC should be equivalent to the 1.35 SB.

I have a WR2 1.15 OC / 1.25 SB but the differences are so subtle I haven't been able to come to a conclusion.

Hi Jimmy 

Well I’m going to try to explain my personal feelings on this. On my WR2 TI DC 1.25 OC/1.35 SB I find the difference in efficiency goes just a tad to the 1.35 SB as I noticed after 14 hrs in that last Shave Off I just did that the areas I shaved with the 1.35 had less growth than wear I used the 1.25 OC. With that said I feel in the WR2 the OC has more blade feel than the OC and that is more so in the the SS version. I had a chance to do a Shave Off using both a 1.25 SS OC vs my 1.25 Ti OC and I found the difference to be noticeable by a bit and honestly and personality I’d never buy an OC WR2 in SS but I have not tried any of the higher gap SS OC’s and wonder if the higher gaps get progressively smoother like they do in the WR1 head. Also I find the difference in efficiency and more so face feel between the OC and SB side on any WR1 to be minimal. 

Can’t wait to try the higher gaps ( 1.45/1.55 as I see a lot of positive comments. 

Generally I agree with 85% of the razors I’ve used the OC is anywhere from just a little bit more efficient to considerably noticeable depending on the brand/razor. 

Of course just my 2 cents on the subject.