Parker 22R Long Handle Safety Razor Gunmetal Twist-to-Open Butterfly Design Heavyweight Brass Frame with Knurled Grip Includes 5

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... Read more

....this is a great place to start. This is my first safety razor. I wanted to make the switch to save money, since "modern" razor replacements constitute a costly recurring expense. I had also read that safety razors provided a superior shave to even the the latest multi-bladed razors. I can verify this is indeed the case. The learning curve for this razor is not as steep as I had thought, though you cannot simply drag it around the face and neck as most current razors allow the user to. The amount of time I spend shaving is only a little longer, but this is due to applying quality shaving products, and carefully using the safety razor to produce a baby-soft shave with multiple applications of shaving cream and shaving over multiple passes. The time is well spent, and I find that a shave using this method will last much longer than before. This is not to say you won't have some cuts or razor burn at first, since your skin has to adjust, as does the the user to new shaving habits, but the investment of time, and money is well spent. This razor is very solid and has good weight, something you want in a safety razor since you use the weight of the razor resting against your skin to move the blade around as opposed to pressing down as most modern shavers are accustomed to doing. The razor comes with two packages of blades, each containing 5 blades. A blade will last the typical user about 5 shaves if proper attention is paid to the correct amount of shaving cream, use of hot water, and proper care of the razor. The Ten 7AM Platinum blades are good, though I will be trying other brands of blades to determine which I like the best. Replacement of the blades is easy using the butterfly function. If you want to try using a traditional razor that delivers great quality for an excellent price, this is the best unit to start with. Very recommended. Read more

Overall, a sold razor. It holds the blade at a great angle that gets me a close shave with no nicks. It works with the included blades as well as other brands, which is helpful--especially in a pinch! I've gotten some great shaves in my first week. It's well-balanced and comfortably heavy. Aesthetically, it looks good. The handle has a little visual intrigue, but nothing over the top. Generally speaking, it's functional and comfortable to hold. My only concern is that the bottom of the handle (which rotates to open the head) appears to hold a tiny bit of water--especially because I typically leave my razor upright in a stand. It's far too early to tell, but I'm a little worried this will cause some internal rust over time. I don't think this is a huge deal, and at the end of the day even if it lasts a year, I'm happy with this razor for the price. Read more