Thread: Straight Shavers ! Beware Of The Mongoose Single Edge Safety Razor !!

Originally Posted by mainaman

Mongoose has come out with an Aluminum piece as well, they are more budget friendly.

Yes, I have heard about that. From what I understand, it is a much lighter razor. I would love to try it. When ready for sale, I'll try to order a copy for myself. In the meantime, the great shaves with the stainless steel version continue. Mine has the Above the Tie Kronos handle on it. After testing many handles with my Mongoose, including the Kronos, I have yet to hit the sweet spot.

I love the weight of the Mongoose! It does the work for you!

On the search for an aluminum handle for mine, any suggestions, Obie? I have their barber pole handle on it currently but I feel like a different handle could improve the balance. I have limited experience with safety razors so I'm not sure which direction to go.

Originally Posted by jfk742

On the search for an aluminum handle for mine, any suggestions, Obie? I have their barber pole handle on it currently but I feel like a different handle could improve the balance. I have limited experience with safety razors so I'm not sure which direction to go.

Right now I have the Above the Tie Kronos handle on mine. Although I'm not all that fond of the Kronos in looks and feel, it helps create an ideal balance for the razor.

Originally Posted by jfk742

On the search for an aluminum handle for mine, any suggestions, Obie? I have their barber pole handle on it currently but I feel like a different handle could improve the balance. I have limited experience with safety razors so I'm not sure which direction to go.

Jamie (celticcrusader) loves the titanium Jurgen Hempel handle seen here. Lightweight and beautiful but pricey.

I have the hempel Titanium on it and it makes a tremendous difference. The balance is 100% better and well worth the price.

The one I have is the same diameter as the original but about 15mm shorter and though titanium is lighter it still has plenty of heft to it.

I had an interesting and accidental discovery about the Mongoose and I say this not to bash the razor or retailer but only as some interesting info.

Try this. Put a magnet to the handle of your razor. I have the standard barber pole one. The magnet will not attract to the ends but moves towards the middle.

So, what does this mean? Either the handle is not machined from a solid piece of stainless but is 3 separate pieces welded(?) together and made from differing alloys or the handle is one piece and is not magnetic but is hollow and has some sort of core in it which is highly magnetic or maybe the handle isn't stainless at all. Stainless Steel varies tremendously as to its magnetic properties. Some are highly magnetic and some not at all depending on the alloy mix.

The Hempel which I use now is of course totally non magnetic.

It's one of the best SE razors I have ever used and I've used them for 50 years. Exceptionally well made and it does give a great shave. Like you said, when you use any Feather blades you better bring your A game or plenty of bandaids. I plan on leaving mine to my grandson.

Just got a OneBlade razor and it is amazing. I really like my Mongoose with a Triad handle, but the OneBlade takes the bar up a couple of notches. The pivot really makes the between the 2. If I didn't pick up the OneBlade used at a substantial saving there is no way, sorry, there probably would be a case for me to buy one but it would have to be after quite a few Jack Daniels. I still like my straights but the OneBlade is now part of my rotation replacing the Mongoose for the time being.

Originally Posted by jkatzman

Just got a OneBlade razor and it is amazing. I really like my Mongoose with a Triad handle, but the OneBlade takes the bar up a couple of notches. The pivot really makes the between the 2. If I didn't pick up the OneBlade used at a substantial saving there is no way, sorry, there probably would be a case for me to buy one but it would have to be after quite a few Jack Daniels. I still like my straights but the OneBlade is now part of my rotation replacing the Mongoose for the time being.

Yeah I see from all of the posts you've been doing on it that you are enthusiastic about the one blade. Funny thing, I started this thread saying 'beware the mongoose' because (tongue in cheek) it might replace straight razor shaving. Unintended consequences. That is exactly what happened to me. I was shaving with the mongoose every time I shaved.

I also modified an Ikon slant and that made safety razor shaving even more dominant. Now I was rotating between the two, because my slant modification came out so great. Turned a shaving head I couldn't shave with into a wonderful shaver.

This might have gone on forever if a friend hadn't sent me a stone that was left to him by his wife's grandfather. He wanted me to lap it and , if possible, to identify it. Well after I lapped it I had to hone a razor on it and try it out. So before I knew it I was back to straight razor shaving regularly and only rarely using a safety. Funny how things work out sometimes. Glad you are enjoying the single edge.