Blyme, Obie, that is a tough one to answer, and you probably know it. Right. Let me begin by saying that I started wet shaving in earnest about a decade ago. My first brush was a Mühle silvertip badger with a nickel plated handle. I bought it because of its looks. As long as I stuck with Castle Forbes, it did not cause any issues. When I tried to switch to soaps, its floppiness became a problem.
A fact finding mission ensued, and back then, objective information was easily obtained in here. So I bought a Simpson badger. It was better, but only marginally so. Interestingly, it was almost twice as expensive. And it shed. So I "branched out", meaning I went on a wild goose chase for several months.
While I was busy buying Rooney, Savile Row, Plisson, and whathaveyou, I chanced upon my first Thäter brush. I thought it looked horrible. Back then, I was still easily impressed by fancy handles. And I was wrong.
Several months, and a few thousand €, later. I bought my first Thäter. Tried it. Was intrigued by the ergonomics of its otherwise brutally ugly handle. Was mesmerised by its performance.
Since the in-laws live near Nuremberg, I took the opportunity and visited Herr Schuldes on site. He has probably forgotten more about brushes than all users in here will ever learn, because he has been in the business for a very long time. Got in touch with SRD, and the rest is history.
Form the things that I have learned, one stands out: Never, ever buy a brush, or knot, made in China, if you want top quality. And that matches what I found out myself, and at my own expense. Thäter, Shavemac, Rooney, in that order. Plisson had massive QA problems which they seem to have got under control by now, but, like Rooney, their brushes are far more expensive than Thäter or Shavemac, without offering better performance. If you want fancy handles, they are a sure bet, and they will deliver value for money.
Chinese brushes, however, are worth $30, max. If you pay more, your vendor does not know how to source efficiently. And either way, they are simply not as good as the Europe made brushes. Given that a properly cared for brush will easily last for twenty or more years, the seemingly steep difference in price between a Chinese brush and a European brush become more than just negligible.
So, to answer your question, my one brush would be this Thäter 4125-6 two band brush. It probably is the pinnacle of brush making, it works like a charm, it is big enough for me to never drive the suds into its core, and will therefore probably outlive me. Yes, it is a bit big, but then again, shaving soaps and creams do not cost much, so who cares?
So here goes, a Thäter 4125-6 with a custom made Revisor and the latest in "burn some cash for fun and scent", Bayolea by Penhaligon's. Simply good stuff, and if forced, I could easily live with that setup for the rest of my life.
Attachment 187526
PS Kim Novak, right? Smart choice. But I think Rita Hayworth would be more fitting.