Parker 22R Gunmetal Finish Butterfly Open Double Edge Safet Razor for Men, 5 Parker Premium Platinum Double Edge Razor Blades Included

Wow. This was a pleasant surprise. I have a number of razors, but I saw this and liked the look so I took a shot at it (gunmetal grey pun not intended). I have to say that this really punches above its weight class.This is strange because there is some blade feel to the shave, but it is not uncomfortable in really any way. Very nice shave after a couple of passes. I haven't used the Parker blades that were included, but I look forward to using them.Great razor at a really good price.

To start, I own a Merkur 1904( mild and can be used by men and women in all areas safely,great razor), a (Shone gold color razor which is moderately aggressive, beautiful and shaves very close), a (Weishi Long handle butterfly, good fit & finish with mild to medium aggressiveness, very good shave quality). So, these are some very high quality razors that I compare this 22R to. I probably do not NEED another DE razor. Many of us get into this to save money and break the insane prices paid for multi plastic disposable razors then enjoy the so called wet shaving experience so much that we buy multiple razors which does allow us to rotate them and get just the right amount of razor aggressiveness needed for any particular shave. I.E. after a shave with a Shone or Fatip, a non aggressive Merker 1904 may be the best tool for sensitive skin.After reading many reviews on Parker’s and this 22 R in particular, I was very reluctant to spend money on a Parker and the 22 R did not get as close to 5 stars as many other comparable razors. Reviews with details like,” the razor head closes crooked, or the finish is peeling off, or showed up defective” definitely deterred me. What kept me reading, including watching youtube reviews, was the unusual style and good looks of the razor in pictures and the many very favorable rants by users. The 22R arrived in my mail box last night and I was thrilled at the shiny gun metal finish and substantial weight and feel of this razor. I used it right away and was pleasantly surprised at the way it shaved. I use Astra SP’s, Voskods and Personna’s and really appreciate these brands. With a Personna blade, this 22R for me performed with a tad more aggression than my Weishi and noticeably less than my Shone. Unlike many reviewer findings, I found the very attractive handle has an effective textured grip, perfect handle length for me and shaved very close. If you shave fast and reckless with this razor, it will draw some blood but I found it to perform flawlessly and I would not hesitate to use this as my only razor. I, like many shavers ,love the craftsmanship and the different performance aspects of a variety of razors. I would recommend this razor to new DE razor users and veterans as well. This is a TTO razor and like any butterfly, special attention must be paid to ensure that it is locked closed while shaving. It’s my only brass razor and has just the right amount of heft, not too heavy and not too lite. Do not expect a lesser finish than the competition, this is a beautiful razor, even at close, critical inspection. I love mine. I will update this review if I have any negative issues and down the road, I will update as well...

I've been using the Parker 22r for six months now, and overall I'm very happy with it.I first started looking into safety razors when my Atra handle broke. I couldn't find a replacement Atra, and went with a Sensor. When my Sensor handle started having issues, there were NO replacements available. I tried the Mach3 that I was sent free, but the large flat head just didn't work for me. Neither did the cost of replacement cartridges.After looking for a while, I settled on the Parker 22r as a first (hopefully only) double-edge razor. It looks fantastic - the pictures don't do it justice. I think the finish is called 'black chrome', and for good reason. It is solid metal, and has a nice weight. I spent a few minutes just opening & closing the doors, which remind me of the space shuttle. It really is that cool.The supplied blades work well enough for me that I will use them before getting a sampler pack. Unlike plastic razors, you have to really pay attention to the blade angle against your face. It takes a shave or two to get used to, but after the first week it is automatic.Several other reviews have mentioned a problem with the head holding the blade in place, but that seems to have been corrected on the one that I got.The only problem that I have with this razor is that the 'knob' used to open the doors is the largest part of the handle. In the picture, the part closest to the head with straight fluting is affixed to the head, while the rest of the handle, with the spiral cuts is the knob used to open it. This caused me some difficulty at first, as I was holding the handle and the head would pivot, allowing the blade to slip loose. I've taught myself to hold it at the neck, but I think a standard end knob would have been much better. I almost gave it 3 stars, but the finish and 'cool' factor outweigh the handle problem.While I wouldn't buy this again because of the handle issue, it is a quality razor and the fit and finish are excellent.