Thread: Ikon double edge safety razors

Ladies and gentlemen:

Have you used the Ikon double edge razor? If so, what is your overall impression of it? Thanks for your thoughts.

Regards,
Obie

i'm wondering.. is the ikon a solid stainless steel shaver.. i'm also interested in it..

are you considering one obie?

...and I sold it after a few days.

The build is solid enough, it is machined from steel, of course. I didn't find the open comb very comfortable, and I think the closed comb plate had uneven blade exposure. The weight was nice, but the handle was much too short for me. I sold it to a colleague after a few days, and he's perfectly happy with it.

Hi TheMetatron, did you get an Ikon razor from the first batch? I've read somewhere (shaving blog) that those were too agressive, a problem which apparently should not be present anymore with the current batch.

Oh, from whereabouts in Belgium are you? I'm from near Mechelen.

Gentlemen:

Thank you for your thoughts on the Ikon. Yes, I have read a combination of positive and negative comments on the razor. Yes, it is in stainless steel.

TheMetatron, some of the negative comments are exactly what you say: that the shave head has some unevenness. From what I gather, the handle of the "bulldog" — I think that's what it's called — is about the length of that on the Merkur 34C. There is also the version with the long handle, as you know.

I prefer razors with longer handles, except for the Edwin Jagger 89L and the Muhle 89R, which are similar in many ways. I have both and love them.

Decreaw, and you're right, some have said the older versions of the Ikon were far too aggressive and that the newer models have been tamed.

I dislike aggressive double edge razors, especially those with open combs. I have owned a variety of Merkurs, all of which I found a tad aggressive, all except for the 38C "barber pole." I have that, too, and quite fond of it.

I dislike the Parkers, period.

And Victor, I was considering getting an Ikon, but when weighing the positives against the negatives on the razor, the negatives seem to come out ahead. I think I will continue with my research, though I am slowly retiring my thoughts on it as I did on the Pils.

Regards,
Obie

thanks obie.. i am interested to see which shaver you will end up with.. as a user of the artist club... i can't say enough about feather.. perhaps you'll end up looking in that direction.

I have the Feather AS and a Pils 101 NE. I like them both very much. Sadly, the iKon was nowhere near either the build quality or shave quality of the other stainless razors I have. The one I had wasn't a first batch, I just got it (and got rid of it) a month or so ago.

I'm using my Feather All Stainless exclusively for a while now, I'm growing some nice friendly mutton chops and the Feather is the best razor I have for defining the edges.

I have one of the closed comb(bar) stainless models and I can say its my favorite. Less aggressive than my Merkur 33c and more effective than the Feather popular model in plastic. I can tell when Im done with it when all I feel in the bar gliding over my skin and not wanting to cut anything since its all gone. I like the weight and feel of it and would recommend it. I dealt with Greg when ordering it and he was very prompt on questions and shipping. Im sure he can rectify issues if one were to ask. My 2c.

I have been using the OC deluxe with bulldog handle. The build quality is very good and perfect blade exposure. Mine is the 2010 model. I guess its possible to get a lemon. I did have a Feather SS. Although it was a near to perfect as possible its a very mild shaver. Too mild for me so I sold it. I can't speak for the Pils but I understand the shave is very good. But they have problems with rust.

The iKon Bulldog (2010 model) is among my favorite shavers. There have actually been at least three versions of the open comb iKons. The first version was very aggressive. iKon then released the 2010 head which I like to call smoothly aggressive. While it eliminates a lot of stubble with each pass, it is comfortable and does not nick or cause weepers (at least on me). In late 2010, iKon changed the machining process and released 100 CNC machined iKon Bulldogs (all open comb). These were essentially the same design as the 2010 head but with more polished machining.