Nice buy io the Filarmonica. I just got one a few weeks ago from Ross Cutlery in Calif. except mine has the gold washed blade. Huge razor! Very thin blade on mine so I get that hair popping sound when I shave.

I though am still not swayed by the Badger. I now own 3 differnt ones, all expensive and just like the extra stiffness of a bristle brush. I will say there is as much variation in bristle as there seems to be in badger. My Surry was okay, my Burma shave supreme! It gets better with age too as it softens just a touch and spreads wider. For me the badger just seem too soft but I will say it feels silky against my face when I do use them.

Any newbie really needs to own one of each so they can really decide which is best for them.

Tony