Thread: If But One . . .

Gentlemen,

If you had but one brush, what would it be?

A good brush is essential in the wet shaving ritual. I dare say, lathering with a luscious silvertip brush and a luxurious soap or cream is often the best part of my daily shave. That's why, through the years, I have spent a fortune on brushes, soaps and creams to feed my shaving feast.

The boar bristle brush does little for me; synthetic is fine for travel; and horse you can have. I prefer badger to all others. Not just any badger, though. Because of an ultra sensitive skin and a heavy beard, my brush must be a silvertip with tips as soft as Kim Novak's lips in the film Vertigo — oh, but such sweet dreams.

What's more, my perfect brush is a 28mm silvertip knot with about a 55mm to 57mm loft and about a 56 to 60mm tall handle. I also like a brush with medium backbone that is not overly dense. Even though I face lather, these measurements are ideal.

Having tried everything from a Plisson silvertip to a Viet-Long horse, my brush lineup now is down to four slivertip brushes: Thater 30mm two-band bulb, Thater 28mm two-band bulb, Savile Row 28mm bulb; and Thater 28mm three-band bulb.

That brings me to the Heinrich Thater 4292/6, a finest badger silvertip brush in the 28mm bulb — my ideal shaving brush. It is everything I want in a shaving brush. I love the way the brush devours my Hollywood face — ah, Kim Novak. If I were to have but one brush, this is it — for now, anyway.

And you, gentlemen?

I was once a shaving brush fiend. If push came to shove for sentimental reasons as well as satisfying performance, I choose my Somerset era Duke 3 in Best Badger with fading lampblack markings.

Here she is, my very favorite brush



Close runners-up are my Simpson Polo and Chubby, my Langness in Mandchurian badger, Rooney's Finest, my Thäters and my Shavemac D01 and....

Own made. I love this brush.

i prob spent more on razors and not enough on brushes , but of the silver tips , black badger , and synthetics i have , i have always loved my Thater 4411in fine badger !! it has just seemed to be the brush that has felt right in all aspects for me .. my daughter has since obtained it and i wil never see it again so i just ordered a 4419 in fine badger to replace it .. hope it suits me just as well

I simply love the Thaters

Picked up an Aramis pure badger about a year back, guessing made in the 70s or 80s. In very good condition, and by far my favourite brush, in fact, the only one I seem to use now.

Obviously I know who made this brush, but I really don't know what type of badger it is,,, just that it is the best cream brush I own & works a puck just fine in a bowl.

I haves and use thaters, a vie-long, simpson, kents and Vulfix in silvertip not super. I like the kent bk 8. Good size and soft. It does fine on pucks and yes a bit floppy but for now I half bowl lather half face lather and that brush as well as the VULFIX in silvertip are just very comfortable on the mug. I have yet to try the thater two band but that is next up if more soaps don't get me first.

Who could have imagined shaving being so enjoyable?

Originally Posted by Hirlau

Obviously I know who made this brush, but I really don't know what type of badger it is,,, just that it is the best cream brush I own & works a puck just fine in a bowl.

John,That Knot came from 200 lb Badger shot on Mt Everest at 22K ft in 1962,is very rare