Parker SR1

I just thought I would share my thoughts on a parker shavette I just tried. My only razor, which is a pun jab 9/16 full hollow is in need of a honing.(I'm getting ready to send it out to Lynn to get it perfectly honed.) I decided to order the parker because -1. It was only around $17 on Amazon -2. It would be good for travel. -3. Wanted a straight type razor to use in the absence of mine. -4. Curiosity.
I wasn't sure what to expect from the the shave. Read some good things and some bad. I knew I had to use a really light touch with it but was used to that from my straight. I must say I was pleasantly surprised. I got a very nice smooth shave with no irritation. I used a shark blade that it came with. I really have nothing bad to say about it. The razor was cheap, gave me a great shave. seemed well made especially for the price and the blade was easy to change and held in place very well. It is also all stainless steel, well balanced and handled nicely.
In my opinion the Parker SR1 is well worth the money you pay for it. I would have to say if you are looking at getting into wet shaving and thinking of trying a shavette razor to see if you would like it, try a parker. For someone new I would recommend going slow and applying almost no pressure, let the blade do the work.
It did make me curious as to how the feathers or Kai razors feel.

I'm a newbie and this is my only razor. I don't have anything to compare it to (yet), but I'm very satisfied with the shavette style.

I too paid less than $20, and with my order of soap, brush, styptic sticks, and extra blades...I came in at about 50 bucks to get me started. Plus, I don't have to worry about ruining a strop while I learn to shave!

I too would recommend this razor for its versatility and ease of use.

Even still...I can't wait to get my hands on a real SR sometime soon!

I wish I'd invested in an SR1 (I got a "Vincent" which is like a "Magic" and I suspect the "Diane" ). The lightness of a hollow aluminium 1/2 DE blade open razor makes for a teeth-gnashing experience! Oh well, got plenty of str8s now!

I've got a parker SR1 too, and I'm one of those people that can't do anything but give it a poor review..

it looks great from a distance, but once you get closer, the finish on the scales is absolutely terrible on the inside, it feels incredibly flimsy, and the blade doesn't stick out enough in my humble opinion to really do it's job right.

if you close it, it's quite hard to get it open again, and the scales scratch up the sides of the blade holder quite a bit thanks to an amazingly crude finish.


it works,.. but I find that my "shaving factory" ubercheap shavette feels much more solid than the parker SR1. :/

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Originally Posted by BossManBill

I don't have to worry about ruining a strop while I learn to shave!

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With a strop, you just have to start out slow and consistant. Been going at my strop for 1.5 years and only one slight nick....

Jeff.

I have started off with ( no laughing please) a bluebeard shavette set, it was got for me by the wife and although its only two shaves down it has been fine and done a far better job than anything else i have ever used. I to cannot help looking forward to the day when i get my first SR and that way i could have something to compare it to.

Kindest regards

Ritchie

I really like my Parker sr1 as well. Ive borrowed my brow in laws knife style feather artist club, which is very nice too. I basically got the Parker to get a feel for what sr shaiving is like. I'm 100% converted and will never go back to DE. Ive always struggled with razor burn even after DE shaving for over a year having tried many different blades, razors, pre and post shaves. There is nothing like being able to control the angle at which the blade shaves. It was a sea change for me. Cant wait to try the real thing once I decide what to get. For now, I like the simplicity of being able to focus entirely on my technique.

I used a Parker for several months before moving to a straight razor. My face after my first Parker shaves looked like a cat had used it for a scratching post. But you can get better at it and get some good shaves. But with the straight razor you cross a threshold. It's another world. The straight razor is still a tool like the Parker, but the depth is pretty limitless. Uh, the expenses are pretty limitless also, so enjoy the Amazon set up while you can, I did, now at odd hours I prowl Ebay, drool over the Shave of the Day offerings, and marvel at the language of the hones.

For about four dollars on ebay you can buy a copy of the Parker. It's got a metal handle with what looks like two water drops punched through the handle, and it's the model with the flip-off blade lock that takes only short, half-double-edge blades, not long shavette-specific ones.

The basic construction is good--it's just the realization that's not quite there. As it comes, it doesn't work as well as it could, so I thinned the sides of mine by grinding the bevels more on a Japanese turntable grinder, giving it a bit more blade exposure and making a lower cutting angle possible.

After the hotrodding, it's one of my favorite razors. I don't find it particularly treacherous, because the blade is short enough to keep track of the whole thing, and it gets into places a longer straight can't. I'm wondering if I shouldn't just switch to it permanently, since I'm getting much better results than with a straight for a lot less fuss.

I've ordered another. I should probably shoot before and after pix so people who are mechanically inclined could see what I did to mine.

The timing of this post is amazing. I was at the barber yesterday and spoke of getting into straight razor shaving and he made the comment that I should at least look into a Parker SR1 for a start as it is a cheap alternative to the more expensive actual straight razor. Today I was going to look into it and see if I can find reviews, so I guess the question would be if this would make the transition to an actual straight easier? It is quite a bit of a smaller blade so I would imagine that it would make going to a straight a bit more difficult and it seems that you must hold this at a horizontal angle rather than 20-30 degree like a straight. All-in-all I MAY give it a go, but it was sort of a toss up between this and getting a Dovo off of SRD.

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Originally Posted by mdarnton

I've ordered another. I should probably shoot before and after pix so people who are mechanically inclined could see what I did to mine.

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Yes. I'd like to see that

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Originally Posted by aib1015

I just thought I would share my thoughts on a parker shavette I just tried. My only razor, which is a pun jab 9/16 full hollow is in need of a honing.(I'm getting ready to send it out to Lynn to get it perfectly honed.) I decided to order the parker because -1. It was only around $17 on Amazon -2. It would be good for travel. -3. Wanted a straight type razor to use in the absence of mine. -4. Curiosity.
I wasn't sure what to expect from the the shave. Read some good things and some bad. I knew I had to use a really light touch with it but was used to that from my straight. I must say I was pleasantly surprised. I got a very nice smooth shave with no irritation. I used a shark blade that it came with. I really have nothing bad to say about it. The razor was cheap, gave me a great shave. seemed well made especially for the price and the blade was easy to change and held in place very well. It is also all stainless steel, well balanced and handled nicely.
In my opinion the Parker SR1 is well worth the money you pay for it. I would have to say if you are looking at getting into wet shaving and thinking of trying a shavette razor to see if you would like it, try a parker. For someone new I would recommend going slow and applying almost no pressure, let the blade do the work.
It did make me curious as to how the feathers or Kai razors feel.

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I like the Parker shavette as well, and in fact would suggest it's the best and least expensive way for someone to try straight shaving. You don't have to deal with stropping and honing.