Muhle R41

[gvw755]

First shave with the new Muhle R41 stainless steel edition. I have to admit that it is a very nice looking razor and highly polished so that it is almost as shiny as the original R41with the chrome plating. Two things stood out when examining the razor. First was that the head looked almost exactly the same as the original, and the handle looked the same as the Grande (including that cross pattern that did nothing for grip), and second was that the build was very good. I guess if this version was to celebrate 10 years of the R41, one would have expected something more, like maybe a birch handle or a cap etched with the windmill.

Another thing was the price of the razor (okay, that's three things that stood out). I got my razor from Gift&Care for almost $130. My Birch Rocca cost me $100 a couple of months ago, and you can get a R41 Grande and four extra R41 zamak heads for the same price as the stainless steel version. I begin to wonder if getting a stainless steel razor is worth that price difference.

So first, before the shave, I have to say that I got my first R41 in 2013, just as the 2013 heads were coming out. Many folks in all the years since have talked about the R41 taking sections of your face off and being a slayer of the toughest shavers, etc AND how the 2011 head was worse than that. From my first shave all the way to tonight's shave, I have always found the R41 to be a very efficient and comfortable shaver. My overall impression of tonight's shave is that it was very close to and possibly identical to my zamak head R41. The weight was heavier than I wanted, but then I never bought a Grande and so don't know if that is what the Grande feels like. Maybe later on, I will pull out my R41 and compare the shaves between the two.

For those thinking of getting the the stainless steel version of the R41, think if spending significantly more to essentially get an R41 Grande is worth the price.

 

[Hrudeep]

Here's another Swing bakelite OC razor that...swings! (I think I may now know where they got that name).

This one's coloured dark green as opposed to Clouds' red one in the case shown earlier.

36 grams in weight.

Patented November 3, 1931 in the USA.

Nice and old although I guess its hard to tell how much later it was actually made.

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I just got a new Muhle R41 OC, and compared to my Ben Hur OC, I found the R41 tends to 'drag' during a stroke. Maybe it's because the comb is sloping downwards, compared to the comb of the Ben Hur whose comb teeth are angled slightly upwards. Or maybe my angle is not at 30 when using the R41. Otherwise, the R41 is very nice

 

[TobyC]

I just got a new Muhle R41 OC, and compared to my Ben Hur OC, I found the R41 tends to 'drag' during a stroke. Maybe it's because the comb is sloping downwards, compared to the comb of the Ben Hur whose comb teeth are angled slightly upwards. Or maybe my angle is not at 30 when using the R41. Otherwise, the R41 is very nice

Don't ride the guard, ride the cap.

 

[Hrudeep]

Don't ride the guard, ride the cap.

What do you mean exactly when you say ride the cap?

 

[efsk]

moved the last three posts from Swing to here as they're not about Swing but are about Mühle R41.

 

[TobyC]

What do you mean exactly when you say ride the cap?

Put the cap on your face and rotate the handle down until you have the blade angle,... ignore the guard and it's angle.

 

[pogonaut]

Put the cap on your face and rotate the handle down until you have the blade angle,... ignore the guard and it's angle.

I must agree. I am new to this razor in the past 4 months and find you need to know exactly where the blade is with this one and how it presents itself to your skin. It is a very tactile and ‘live’ razor in that it translates angle and position directly to how the blade cuts. The sweet spot angle is not a fixed 30 and for me even shifts as I shave different growth pattern spots.

There is a lot of room around the blade leaving the shaver’s input affecting things more than narrower gap razors. This may be why folks get cut with it. I really need to keep aware of the edge and then I get great shaves. Move off the plane and there is little safety margin. Fuzzy/sloppy focus has led to a couple of nicks so far. For me, it really is quite different from many razors and that makes it a lot of fun. It may be moreso riding the blade?

 

[TobyC]

It may be moreso riding the blade?

Yes, exactly! Blade on your skin at an appropriate angle, the cap and guard are like "training wheels" on a bicycle, some razors have them a little farther off the ground so you can find your own balance.

 

[ehv]

I've been using the R41 quite a lot recently. I basically I rode the guard. It isn't the most comfortable razor, but very effective. I will try riding the cap also. I used voskhod blades. They worked well and now a derby premium.

 

[pogonaut]

Yes, exactly! Blade on your skin at an appropriate angle, the cap and guard are like "training wheels" on a bicycle, some razors have them a little farther off the ground so you can find your own balance.

Training wheels on a bicycle —- that is exactly it!

 

[TobyC]

I've been using the R41 quite a lot recently. I basically I rode the guard. It isn't the most comfortable razor, but very effective. I will try riding the cap also. I used voskhod blades. They worked well and now a derby premium.

Scraping the hair off with a steep angle.

 

[ehv]

Yep in https://forum-der-rasur.de/forum/threads/mühle-r41-inkl-r41-grande-und-r41-twist.6/ the general opinion is to use it 'schabend'/scraping with a sharp blade.

Not the most comfortable while shaving, but gentle to the skin and good results