Classic Men's Razor with 5 Razor Blades

As a wet shaving veteran, I have too many safety razors to count! New models, hard to find/vintage single edge razors, luxury Mongoose SE razors, Injector blade style razors, and a couple straight razors etc... I have practically tried them all! I was looking around for a good, cheap travel DE safety razor and eventually came across this Wilkinson Sword Classic. It's made from black polymer and inside the handle is a silver/metal bar, which helps to add some usable weight to the razor. Key benefits for this razor: 1.) Lightweight for travel 2.) Cheap (so even if you lose it during travel or just decide that wet shaving isn't your bag, you won't be too mad.) 3.) The head design covers the side tabs of the DE razor blade. (Those side tabs can be sharp sometimes! This feature will definitely help to deter some accidental nicks/cuts, especially for beginners.) 4.) Mild-medium blade gap (easy to use no matter what your experience/skill level; ton of confidence even when doing full "against-the-grain" passes.) 5.) Comes with a pack of blades, so you're all set to go!

I recently purchased a double edge razor and I am extremely satisfied with my purchase. The razor itself is very well made and has a nice weight to it, it felt sturdy and comfortable to hold. The blades are extremely sharp and provide a close and smooth shave. I appreciate that it's a double edge razor which provides a more traditional and close shave, also it's eco-friendly and cost-effective since blades are cheaper than disposable razors. The handle design is also very sleek and easy to grip, it provides a good balance and control while shaving. I highly recommend this double edge razor to anyone looking for a high-quality, traditional shaving experience.

For the price, this little DE safety razor is actually quite good. For $6 and some change it's not that bad; however, I would like to say that for someone who likes an aggressive shave it doesn't fit the bill. If you're looking for something really inexpensive and affordable, and are a bit hesitant to using a safety razor for the first time, I would recommend this. It's easy on the skin and feels like a glides. You might need to apply a slight amount of pressure to get it to shave. If, however, you require your shaves to have a feeling of actually shaving, I would recommend something different. But for the money, you really can't beat this guy. For all you first timers who are a bit apprehensive about using a safety razor for this first time, try this one out. Once you start trying it and you start to feel a bit more confident, upgrade to a metal one and graduate from there. You don't need super expensive razors to do the job, but most safety razors will do the job. Buy some affordable razors too, to help with budget costs.

So I'm an experienced wet shaver for around 6 years so I have different razors and different types (De, Se, injector, shavette, gem) and tried many more. My intention with this razor is not to use regularly but strictly mostly as a travel razor. I will update this review after my first few shaves. I knew beforehand this was a plastic razor so I had low expectations and low standards for build quality. Gladly I'm impressed by it. So yes it's mostly plastic however the plastic isn't cheap and there are a a metal weight in the handle. More so the razor base plate feels ceramic or metal. I have played with it a bit and I'm happy with the mechanical workings and how easy and safe it is to load and unload a blade and how simple it is to open and close. All you need to do is hold the handle below the base plate and turn the bottom of the handle and twist. The cap will release or screw down in the same manner. All you do is put the blade on the base plate, loosely place the top cap on and twist the handle and it will lock down the top cap. It has a good weight I will say I was expecting a super light razor like the paa plastic slant razors I have. It is heavier than those and has a good long handle as well. Since I have not used I yet I can't comment on the blades yet but, I have used the Wilkinson blades before (saloon pack) and I do enjoy those. I do suspect that for close shaved you would need sharper blades like a feather, kai, or Perma sharps.

The Wilkinson Sword Classic performs better than expected and delivers a close shave. Don't let the low price or it's plastic body affect your decision to purchase this razor. You will save tons of money and get much closer and more comfortable shaves if you switch to this double edge razor from disposables. Depending on your own beard it may take one or two weeks for your wiskers to adjust to the change. Once your face has adjusted you may actually enjoy shaving instead of dreading it. The design of the shaver makes it easy to shave close and almost imposible to cut yourself. I've been shaving with the Wilkinson every day for several weeks and I have not gotten a single nick or razor burn. For the record I have been using Wilkinson Sword blades. You should experiment and find the blade that works best for your face and your beard. The razor has a simple two piece design and if you don't feel compelled to purchase an expensive metal razor with more bells and whistles, the Wilkinson is a good deal and a good razor.

This is not a $100 work of art razor — it is a $5-10 plastic razor, suitable for travel or those who like being thrifty. For $20 more you can get the excellent and beautiful Merkur 23c or a bit more for an Edwin Jagger or Merkur 34c. However, the difference between those highly rated beauties and this plastic razor are mostly in the asthetics and durability. In terms of the shave it provides, the Wilkinson is close to the Merkurs, mild yet effective. It is lightweight and hence a good razor for those switching from cartridge razors. I filed down a couple of sharp corners with an emory board, but otherwise the fit and finish was very good. The head is a little bulky on the sides, presumably to protect the user from the blade edges. The plastic head does not glide quite as smoothly as a chromed metal head, but otherwise the performance is pretty close to metal razors. The provided blades are great; I have found them an excellent companion for my Merkur razors. I will use the Classic as a travel razor I won't fret about losing. Too bad they don't stock these in the states; mine shipped from Old Blighty.

The blades were fine but who thought it would be a good idea to have the edges of shaver protrude more outside than the blade itself? How is that supposed to work? You would have to press extremely hard on your face to even get the blade to touch the skin

I've been struggling with shavers for most of my adult life. Disposable ones are sharp for a short amount of time and then you have to deal with the plastic waste, razor companies that sell the replacement heads are convenient until you look at the price per head, and again, they become dull very quickly. I'm kicking myself for not discovering these kinds of shavers earlier. Less guilt about waste, and the blades are so cheap! I especially like this shaver. It's lightweight, the angle of the blade is perfect, and the price is great for buying two (one for home and one for travel). I'm a woman, so I use these to shave my legs, and the angle and size is great for getting the hard to reach areas around the ankles (if you know, you know!) The blades are very easy to change out as well. Highly recommend! I even got my daughter to buy one and she loves it too.