It's truly amazing how Stirling just keeps standing the test of time 😅

Sat Oct 12 2024

• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts Tabak Oridjinal, now with 28 mm Gelousy knot
• Razor: Dovo Bismarck 2 (7/8", full hollow, carbon steel)
• Lather: Mäurer & Wirtz – Tabac Original
• Post Shave: Mäurer & Wirtz – Tabac Original
• Fragrance: Mäurer & Wirtz – Tabac Original

I woke up this morning and saw that the down payments for Operation Moarteen are rolling in. It feels so good that it has now entered the real phase where we don't just discuss plans, but things are finally happening 😊

Let me whisper of a dream of Moarch Madness with Moar Boar and Moarteen.

The Bismarck is a great razor. It tries to look fancier than it is (cheap gold wash and plastic scales) which is not something that inspired a sense of quality in me, so I was sceptical when I picked it up at a great price on a local eBay competitor. It has since thoroughly convinced me. The geometry is spot on, the steel takes a nice edge and holds it well, and the big full hollow round point geometry is very comfy.

It's one of those razors that invites you to change BBS everywhere and doesn't punish your for it.

Fri Oct 11 2024

• Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts Tabak Oridjinal, now with 28 mm Gelousy knot
• Razor: Dovo 41 Inox
• Lather: Mäurer & Wirtz – Tabac Original
• Post Shave: Mäurer & Wirtz – Tabac Original
• Fragrance: Mäurer & Wirtz – Tabac Original

Tough morning today, nursing a hangover and getting ready for the commute to work. Even though nice, a shave doesn't help take the edge off. I'm annoyed that I can't have a social life and wake up rested and refreshed the next morning anymore. Getting old --;

I like this little spartan Dovo. No frills, 5/8", round point. Stainless steel blade and scales. Utilitarian. I reminds be of the US army medical Weck Sextoblade, which I also enjoy. It's a pity that Dovo has discontinued these and instead produces decorated pretend-fancy razors like the Runde Sache.

Sun Oct 06 2024

• Brush: Zenith 506B MB (27 mm × 51 mm Manchurian badger)
• Razor: Thiers Issard 14 Médaille d'Or 1921 Exposition d'Algier Acier Spécial (7/8", extra hollow, square point, carbon steel)
• Lather: Mäurer & Wirtz – Tabac Original
• Post Shave: Mäurer & Wirtz – Tabac Original
• Fragrance: Mäurer & Wirtz – Tabac Original

Continuing my run through my 14s with this vintage TI. The razor hasn't been stored properly by a previous owner and has specks of surface rust as a result. The rust is purely a cosmetic issue though, and none of the edge is affected. Coincidentally, this TI 14 Médaille d'Or 1921 Exposition d'Algier actually came to me from a Moroccan seller.

This one feels a bit different than most 14s I've tried in that it's much less loud. Even though visually, the grinds look similar, this TI certainly sounds like a thicker grind. It feels more like a 17 than a 14 IMO, but that's just saying that it feels like a different fantastic razor.

Happy Sunday to you all!

Aye!

The Thu 26 Sep 2024

• Brush: Semogue Owner's Club (cherry wood and boar) (56)
• Razor: Zwilling J. A. Henckels Friodur 17 (NOS, 7/8", hollow ground, stainless steel)
• Lather: Sir – Irisch Moos
• Post Shave: Wars – Classic
• Fragrance: Sir – Irisch Moos

Today's theme is tough:

On this day in 1960, Senator John F. Kennedy and Vice President Richard Nixon took part in America's first televised presidential debate. Coming into the debate, Nixon was considered to have the upper hand due to his knowledge of foreign policy and proficiency in radio debates. However, because of his unfamiliarity with the new format of televised debates, factors such as his underweight and pale appearance, his suit color blending in with the debate set background, and his refusal to use television makeup resulting in a five o'clock shadow, led to his defeat. Many observers have regarded Kennedy's win over Nixon in the first debate as a turning point in the election.

In honor of Tricky Dick's defeat, shave with a soap that smells great but has absolutely abysmal art on the tub.

I didn't want to throw any artisan under the bus for their ugly-ass tub art, so I dug out this hilariously silly Irisch Moos advert that we can mock instead.

Also, does u/Automoderator think that Tricky Dick (which for reasons unknown we can't lick, apparently) was secretly the better candidate under his sweaty ugliness, or do they believe that he smelled really good?

Either way, I had a delicious delicate Moos-scented shave, added some stanky brutishness with Wars Classic as a nod to the campfire and 4x4 in the ad, and... dropped the fucking wars bottle in my sink. I was briefly relieved when I saw that the bottle had not broken, only to then notice that it punched a hole into my bathroom sink. UUUUUUGH. That's going to be a fun call to the landlord. For the next few days, a trusty bucket will live under the sink, but at least I smell good.

Day 20/31 of Looking for Serenity in Austerity

• Brush: Semogue Owner's Club (cherry wood and boar) (20)
• Razor: Zwilling J. A. Henckels Friodur 50 (7/8", hollow ground, stainless steel, masonic deco) (3)
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Roman Spice
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Roman Spice
• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Roman Spice

The edge has hit its stride and – at peak smoothness now – is a joy to use. I like hollow grounds for their gentle touch, and I like heavy blades for their smoothness ATG. When a comparatively light blade like this one gives you a smooth fool's pass, you know the edge is on point.

I saw and photographed split tips in the brush a few days ago, but I can't find them anymore, and the brush seems in no hurry to start a mass splitting event. I'm starting to feel impatient.

$FriodomRiders $HoneMeisterschaft $RawHoggin

😆

Day 6/31 of Looking for Serenity in Austerity

• Brush: Semogue Owner's Club (cherry wood and boar) (6)
• Razor: Zwilling J. A. Henckels Friodur 50 (7/8", hollow ground, stainless steel, masonic deco) (6)
• Lather: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Roman Spice
• Post Shave: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Roman Spice
• Fragrance: Spearhead Shaving Company – Seaforth! Roman Spice

Last travel den shave today, and tomorrow we take the train back home. It's been great, but I'm looking forward to being home again (and to stropping on a full size strop).

Lathering is becoming... dare I say pleasant?

Thanks for the nice write-up, that was a good read!

I think the banana must have evaporated through the paper. My 3 year old soap in a closed aluminium tub is a banana bomb.

If you're curious about AYLM, know that the newer soaps have switched over to a hard, triple milled soap base, and there have already been at least two iterations of the hard soap.

I like both the soft and hard soaps I've tried from AYLM, but I do think that the newest hard base with the hemp oil is a step better than the others.

no way I'm going to ruin a blade trying to learn how to sharpen it myself; kitchen knives are hard enough

Sharpening razors is easier than kitchen knives. It's easy to mess up the bevel on a kitchen knife because you need to free-hand a constant angle. Razors lie flat on the stone. It's honestly a very accessible and also satisfying skill to pick up, if you like that sort of thing.

My other Austere August challenge is about easing into maintenance and making finding a reliable sharpener unnecessary, if you're interested.

Prem Base is now On Prem Base

• Brush: Zenith 506B MB (27 mm × 51 mm Manchurian badger)
• Razor: Zwilling J. A. Henckels 14 (8/8", extra hollow ground, carbon steel)
• Lather: Catie's Bubbles – Reflection
• Post Shave: Catie's Bubbles – Reflection
• Fragrance: Tom Ford – Tobacco Vanille

What a pleasant shave!

This is my first use of Catie's Bubbles Premium base. I was warned by u/J33pGuy13 to load super lightly, and he was right. This base loads quickly and hydrates easily. I'm looking forward to dialling it in over the next few uses, but even this first shave worked out great.

The scent is really something special; dry, spicy, a bit tart somewhere in the background, a hint of sweetness, really fascinating. It invites you to sniff it again and again to understand what's going on. I'm really happy about this blind buy.