The order arrived 10 minutes before placing it. I exaggerate. But not by much.
I contacted the company if they could put together a kit for me, including this razor and basic accessories and Jane kindly accommodated my request. The ordering process was smooth and Jane's communication was friendly, concise and she answered all of my questions.
This is my first "real" straight razor and after shaving with it, I was blown away by how sharp the edge was. I had been using shavettes for a long time and I never really found any blades that could offer me a close comfortable shave. I was looking for a straight razor that was beginner friendly and somewhat maneuverable for shaping my beard and this razor fit the bill. I just want to reiterate.. I have never had this close of a shave until I used this tool. It's just incredible really.
I am extremely pleased with my purchase and I'll be definitely looking to add another straight razor once I get more comfortable using my Dovo razor.
Thanks again Phil and Jane.
Having used it several times since purchasing it I have yet to be disappointed with it. It can produce a lather rather quickly, but the more time you spend whipping it the better it gets. If you’re looking for a strong sandalwood scent however, this may not be the soap for you. For me at least the scent is barely detectable.
As a point of reference, I have the 56, 57, and the Duke 2, all in Best Grade, providing a consistent basis for comparison. I have severed my long-term bond with the Duke 2 in favour of the the 50 series. The 56, especially, is less dense than the Duke 2, provides a smaller splay on the face, and a much softer feel. Whereas the Duke lineup excels in density and a bit of scrub, the 56 and 57 excel in a more luxurious feel, which I have found more to my liking. And the 50 series handles -- stunning to look at, versatile, and an absolute pleasure to use. Need I say more? The 57 has a knot similarly sized to the Duke 2, but is less dense and much softer. The 56, the topic of this review, falls squarely in the "small brush" category and performs far beyond a level its small size may suggest. Nimble, luxurious, versatile, and impeccably engineered. I never thought I'd get a better brush than the Duke 2, but I was wrong. The Duke is now up for sale, and the 56 and 57 rule the shave den. Last, many thanks to Jane and Phil a the Classic edge for top-drawer, personalized customer service and fast shipping. And I always look forward to Jane's handwritten notes with every order -- such nice handwriting! Keep up the good work!
Beautiful 3-piece gold finished safety razor with an open comb on one side & a gentle closed comb on the other side of its head.
As with other customers, if you look at the surfaces of the razor's finish, you can see some minute imperfections or "machining" marks, but they are also quite effectively coated by the razor's finish. After all, these razors are all hand machined by craftsmen in Italy. It does not affect the performance of the razor at all.
It takes quite a few turns to disassemble & reassemble the razor, but there is no wiggle, no loose threads etc. It is rock solid.
The razor is very comparable in size, shape and weight to the famous Merkur 34C HD. YouTube shaving personality, geofatboy gave this razor an aggressiveness rating of a 7 for the open comb side and a 3 on its closed comb side. Compared to his rating of a 5 aggressiveness rating for the Merkur 34C HD, I would say that his aggressiveness ratings are very applicable in comparing both razors.
As I have never used an open comb styled razor before, I let my beard growth grow in a few extra days before trying the Fatip "hybrid" razor. The Fatip website even suggests using a milder blade so I loaded it with a Russian made Astra Green blade.
I noticed the extra aggression right away and because of the unique open comb slats, it rinsed out quite easily. I also used shorter strokes with the open comb side. After I finished shaving, I ran a wetted alum block over my face and compared to my regular shaves, I definitely felt a bit more stinging all over. This simply means that the next time I use the Fatip open comb side of this hybrid razor, I only need to use the slightest of pressure.
Overall, Fatip has a beautiful line of razors... in many different appealing finishes... and for a very good & fair price compared to its competition.
