Gentlemen,
The Paradigm titanium safety razor does not dazzle the eye like a sparkling jewel. No, not the way the Wolfman or the Timeless do. Those two razors sparkle as if shined by a royal silversmith.
A matt finish gives the razor a distinct look. I like it. I like it a lot. The matt finish and the chevron pattern on the handle also give the razor a rustic look. A warm feel like the approach of dusk. The feel of it in the hand conjures up an old friendship, as if you've been partners forever. The razor has a seasoned feel to it, like some of the great Gillettes of the bygone years.
Compared to the stainless steel razors, the Paradigm feels worlds lighter. You'd think it was an aluminum razor. But it is not. I find something tacky about most aluminum razors. The Paradigm, despite its relative light weight, feels well balanced in the hand. It feels solid. Nothing slippery about this handle, I might add, even though the chevrons are somewhat shallow.
The razor's design is lean and economical, like a Hemingway sentence. And I like the tapered handle, which is short enough and at the same time long enough. It's just right. What's more, the top cap hides the blade tabs. That's pure gold in my book.
This is an aggressive razor. Some will call it mid-aggressive. To me it is aggressive. No, nothing like the Muhle R41, or the Fatip; rather it sits on the lower end of aggressive razors. The Paradigm also has a prominent blade feel. I found this uncomfortable at first. By changing my angle so that the razor's handle is parallel to the face, I have reduced the blade feel considerably.
A little more than a week of shaving with the Paradigm, I feel I have found the razor's sweet spot. Despite it's aggressive characteristic, I have yet to have any nicks or weepers from this razor. Or any irritation. It is aggressive, yes, but it is also a smooth shaver. What's more, I have found the razor to be habit forming: no sooner have I finished with the shave that I want to start all over again.
I love the feel of the razor in my hand. I love the shave. I'm happy I have the razor, despite its heavy cost. Whether it's keeper or not is a little too early to tell. In the meantime I'm happy with the Paradigm titanium razor.
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