Thread: Thoughts on the Pils

Ladies and gentlemen:

The Pils reminds me of a little hammer that might be used on board a space ship. It has the weight to match, too. This is a sleek and precision stainless steel shaving instrument — mine has a striking matt finish — that asks for the utmost respect and, in turn, delivers the perfect shave.

Much has been written about the overall quality and workmanship of the Pils. All true. It is a two-piece razor that loads easily, with the top fitting over the head like a cap and thus covering the entire blade. I like that.

My Pils is a gift from the dearly beloved and it will always have its own mantle in my humble shave den. Henceforth it will be named the Dearly Beloved.

I shaved with it this morning for the first time, using the Gillette 7 O'Clock "Sharp Edge" yellow pack blade on its second shave. Yesterday I used the blade with the Edwin Jagger "Chatsworth" lined barley. I'll use it again with the Pils tomorrow and then retire it — as a rule, I change blades after the third shave, although some blades are changed after only one shave.

Yes, the Pils did require a small adjustment in technique for two important reasons:

Because of its heavy weight — it's a touch heavier than my Edwin Jagger "Chatsworth" barley and even more so than my Feather — I had to reduce the razor's total weight on my face by moving my grip closer to the neck. It's like pulling the reins a bit tighter on the horse for a sweeter carriage ride. Ordinarily I grip the razor at slightly lower than the midpoint on the handle.

Unlike the standard razors in which the blade is housed inside the shave head on a slight arc, in the Pils it is flat. This requires lifting the handle to almost a perfectly horizontal position and thus flattening the shave head on the face. Whether moving with the grain, across the grain and against the grain, you have to hold this position to insure an optimal cutting edge. This position especially takes adjustment going south to north on the neck. I am still working on that.

On its maiden voyage the Pils gave me the perfect shave. When finished, I removed the blade, rinsed and dried the razor thoroughly and put it in the rack. I use the same cleaning process with My stainless steel Feather.

Is the Pils for everyone, beginner and old timer? It can be, yes, but remember the Pils treats everyone the same by demanding the utmost respect.

Regards,

Obie

Obie, thanks for the review. I have been waiting on this one since learning you had one coming. I am looking forward to other details as you settle in with you new Pils. Post some pictures of this thing too!

Much has been said about the Pils. probably more than any other single razor I've ever seen. Maybe, because of the price or maybe because of the typical assumption about German made products. There has also been diverse comment about it. I've glad it's not on my horizon.

Keep us informed Obie as you use it more and more.

I have lusted after the Pils...it is a very cool looking razor. I am eagerly anticipating the release of the iKon "Modern" all stainless steel razor. It looks similar to the Pils but has a knurled handle. No idea how it shaves yet but if similar to the iKon Bulldog, it will be a winner.

thank you for the update obie.

i hadn't realized that there is no bend in the blade.. would you say this is the most aggressive DE shaver you have come across?

Originally Posted by vthomlinson

thank you for the update obie.

i hadn't realized that there is no bend in the blade.. would you say this is the most aggressive DE shaver you have come across?

Hello, Victor:

I don't believe the Pils is any more aggressive than, say, the Merkur 34C or the 38C "barber pole," or the Progress as long as you don't play cavalier with it. This is a serious razor and it demands respect and care when shaving. Except for the change in angle, I shaved with it as carefully as I do with all my other double edge razors. I had no nicks and my shave was perfect.

No, it is not the Feather stainless steel, which I have grown to love, despite its mild tendencies. Some find the Feather forgiving. I don't put much credence in that: no deadly sharp object sweeping across my Hollywood face, the Pils or the Feather, the Merkur or the Edwin Jagger, no such shaving tool is forgiving if I don't take it seriously.

The Pils is in its own class and, I dare say, it demands great respect. I have not shaved with every razor on the market, past or present. Among the razors I have experienced, however, the Pilz is distinct, with pronounced characteristics and idiosycrasies. More importantly, it needs to be learned. I am in the process of doing just that — with the utmost care.

Regards,

Obie

Obie, because of your DE write ups you will likely be responsible for me having to make the difficult choice of which DE to buy next: the Pils, Chatsworth or the Feather..... sometimes I hate choices!

Well done, my friend, very informative.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Obie, because of your DE write ups you will likely be responsible for me having to make the difficult choice of which DE to buy next: the Pils, Chatsworth or the Feather..... sometimes I hate choices!

Well done, my friend, very informative.

Hello, Ryan:

Thank you for the kind words.

Those are three distinct choices, and difficult to make, I agree. The "Chatsworth" barley (mine is lined) is stunning. The workmanship alone is impeccable, and the razor is a lovely shaver.

The Feather, one of the sweetest razors I have experienced, is beautifully balanced, lovely to look at, and a good shaver. Yes, it is on the mild side, but it does grow on you. I love mine.

The Pils is a whole different world, a razor unlike any I have used through the years. The heavy weight takes getting used to, and the razor itself needs learning, as I noted in an earlier post. I have a feeling that like the Feather, the Pils will grow on you.

I'll shave with my Pils for the rest of the week — I am laying off the straights this week just to learn the Pils — and add to my thoughts

Regards,

Obie

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Obie, because of your DE write ups you will likely be responsible for me having to make the difficult choice of which DE to buy next: the Pils, Chatsworth or the Feather..... sometimes I hate choices!

Well done, my friend, very informative.

There is really only one thing to do...buy all three.

i sense a pils in my future.