Thread: Morris & Forndran

I own a few old M&F, they are fine brushes, but I own over 75 brushes, so I have a lot to compare to. I wouldn't pay those prices for a used brush, and that's actually pretty high. I have seen them on forums BST sections for much less.

I'll suggest to shop around, they are out there.

I'm sure they are but I'm done buying brushes hoping they are scritchy. If an M&F is between a Thater and a Simpson Manchurian it isn't even nearly scritchy enough for me. AFAIC Thater ruined the scritchy brush market.

RobinK introduced them to the USA and SRD began selling them. I went through 4 of them hoping for scritch with shorter lofts, larger knots. Soft as butter. Everyone raved about the great backbone and soft tips ......... which is a valid compliment to the Thater, but all the brush makers jumped on the bandwagon of backbone with soft tips.

A used Rooney Finest, or a Somerset made Simpson Super is about the only hope for scritchy nowadays ........ IME.

There are many brands and artisans out there that offer well balanced brushes. I mostly use Shavemac two band Silvertip knots and have Rudy Vey make my handles.

I have never been a fan of Simpson Manchurian, I had own probably fifteen of them and always end up selling them. I think Simpson Best, is the best Simpson offering IMO.

Thater? Love them. If I had to pick one brush only, a Thater would be my choice. The ones I own are consistent from one to the other.

Rooney and Somerset Simpsons? My friend you are talking about an era that will never return IMO.

Originally Posted by hrfdez

I own a few old M&F, they are fine brushes, but I own over 75 brushes, so I have a lot to compare to. I wouldn't pay those prices for a used brush, and that's actually pretty high. I have seen them on forums BST sections for much less.

I'll suggest to shop around, they are out there.

I don't deny you've seen these brushes at better prices, but I gurantee none of them were the large size knot. I've kept an eye on some spots that sell them. I've never seem one 31+mm like the one I own. Even the 28-30mm ones go for very steep prices.

Originally Posted by Phrank

How is that 31mm knot, is the loft at about 55mm?

Could you let me know what you think of this brush? Does it have lots of "scritch", is it too big? Very curious about how a big brush like this handles and I've to hear about the alleged, "gell tips"?

Thanks...

The tips are very soft. It needs more product for building lather. I'm not one of those guys that counts how many shaves I can squeeze out of a tub of soap, so I don't care if it uses more. From the exposed part of the handle to the tips it's 50mm, so I'd guess it's around 55mm to the bottom of the knot. It's the finest brush I've used and will likely keep it until I'm in the grave haha.

Originally Posted by prodigy

I don't deny you've seen these brushes at better prices, but I gurantee none of them were the large size knot. I've kept an eye on some spots that sell them. I've never seem one 31+mm like the one I own. Even the 28-30mm ones go for very steep prices.

Just making a suggestion my friend. Is your money, you spend it which ever way you see fit. But I have been in this game for a few decades, so I'm just passing on experience.

My apologies! I'm out of this one!

Originally Posted by prodigy

I don't deny you've seen these brushes at better prices, but I gurantee none of them were the large size knot. I've kept an eye on some spots that sell them. I've never seem one 31+mm like the one I own. Even the 28-30mm ones go for very steep prices.

I've tried most of them as well - Plisson is in a league of its own for backbone and literally angels wings tips - like silk on the face.

In terms of firmness and scritch - the only knot that comes close, that's close, is the Shavemac D01.

The M&F has left all the others behind IMO.

And Prodigy - think I'll be posting some pics of the brand new, unused, M&F brush I just scored - 31mm knot with a 55mm loft - a true monster - on the other side of my superb M&F L7.

Originally Posted by hrfdez

There are many brands and artisans out there that offer well balanced brushes. I mostly use Shavemac two band Silvertip knots and have Rudy Vey make my handles.

I have never been a fan of Simpson Manchurian, I had own probably fifteen of them and always end up selling them. I think Simpson Best, is the best Simpson offering IMO.

Thater? Love them. If I had to pick one brush only, a Thater would be my choice. The ones I own are consistent from one to the other.

Rooney and Somerset Simpsons? My friend you are talking about an era that will never return IMO.

I have an old Simpsons Polo 10 super badger from that era...beautiful knot, very soft, but no scritch factor.

I also like the Thater brushes...they all have unique qualities about them, and a major part of the fun for me is being able to change up my experience. Even love a good Semago boar once in awhile...it's all ymmv

So this one is on the way - couldn't resist going to the other spectrum from my 21mm L7 M&F to this monster.

Seller says it's a Heritage knot, although the handle says, "Finest", either way, it's brand new, never used, and has a 31mm knot with a 55mm loft - I am hoping the "scritch" is very strong in this one.

Morris and Forndran Polo 3 Heritage Badger in a Finest Handle...whatever that means....

Originally Posted by Phrank

So this one is on the way - couldn't resist going to the other spectrum from my 21mm L7 M&F to this monster.

Seller says it's a Heritage knot, although the handle says, "Finest", either way, it's brand new, never used, and has a 31mm knot with a 55mm loft - I am hoping the "scritch" is very strong in this one.

Morris and Forndran Polo 3 Heritage Badger in a Finest Handle...whatever that means....

I sometimes wonder if there is anything in this sport that doesn't fall under YMMV ? Lee Sabini (Rooney & Morris & Frondran) said he couldn't access the hair for those wonderfully scritchy Rooney FInests and came out with the Heritage line. I had more than a few of them over the years, still have two. They all had good backbone but none had scritch.

But thinking about it, I had a lot of brushes and wanted to thin the herd quite a bit. So I sold all but a couple of my Finests and some Somerset Simpsons. Scritchy all. Well if I had it to do over ........ but that is not the point.

I told these guys that they were scritchy brushes, and AFAIC they were. But after they received them, and had them awhile, I asked if they thought they were scritchy, and to a man they said not that much, or not at all. This puzzled me. BTW, I didn't get any complaints, they were all happy with the brushes.

Giving it some thought I figured out that me being a guy who can only do two passes, whether straight razor, or DE, or I get irritation, I must have some sensitive skin. So what feels regular to many guys feels scritchy to me.

Good luck with that Polo Andrew .........