Thread: The Tempestuous Pils

Like Obie, I've had an 'interesting' relationship with the Pils DE razor.

I am on my third one. I've always loved the workmanship on them, but I wasn't too thrilled with the shave. In fact, unlike Obie, I didn't find it to be particularly aggressive. Heavy, yes - aggressive, no.

I think that was the problem - I was expecting a certain knid of shave, and I was disappointed when that shave did not live up to my expectations.

The third time around, I approached the razor without any expectations. My shaves with this third Pils have been excellent. I don't know if it was my attitude that caused this difference in the outcome, or the Shark blades that I've been using, or some other factor, but I really like it now.

It's unlikely to displace my Fasan OC slant on the top of the DE pile, but it certainly holds it own now.

If it sold for $120, I'd say it was an excellent value. The actual market price is a little high for what you're getting, but there's no denying that the quality of the work is amazing.

The design features of the Pils, and probably the iKon razor as well are singular unto themselves. The idea of non-flexed blades would seem to be more in line with straight razors than anything else out there. Getting the right blade with the right razor is a dance of harmony. It is not like the hip-hop dance of the clubs where one tries out the BIC disposable or Gillette Good News as well as a lot of those other 2-3-4 blade affairs, but more like a ball room dance. Straight razors and DE/SE razors have a certain "class" about them that begs more indulgence, more thought than merely cutting off a piece of hair. Like the ball room dances, the dance can be a memorable one, something that draws you back again and again.

Obie has a unique way with words. If you were not already a writer, it would be a underlying hint that you should be.

A recent blade I tried happened to leave an impression on my mind. With all the talk of Russian Iridiums, PolSilver Supers, Voskhod, Gillettes made in Thailand and several other "flavors" I tried one made right here in the U.S. that was a complete surprise to me. Personna Medical Prep blades. You might not think about such a blade as smooth, but it was an eye opener for me. Might be worth trying one....or two sometime.

I've tried Congressional slick water, but it left me irritated. One time I combined it with Senate Committee soap and between the two you couldn't cut the fuzz off a peach.