THE VALYNOR Double Edge Safety Razor - CNC Machined Brass and Aluminum - Delivers a close and comfortable Shave - Made by Hand in Italy

I rarely write reviews, but taking time because this razor (with very few reviews—guessing because pricier than most DE razors, so fewer purchases).This Valynor is simply stellar in every way we all think and worry about razors—will it give me a very close shave (yes), will it cut and “fight” me (no), does it take any brand blade (yes—though I highly recommend Viking’s Cayenne, even if you have sensitive skin! this razor will “adjust” to you), is it adjustable (no—while trendy with some such as Rockwell, and even Viking Meiji— completely unnecessary!). This razor/blade opening is perfect for all faces (I asked my friends!); you can do 1, 2, 3, 4(!), passes if you want a baby shave. You do not need the Merkur 34c, and the Rockwel 6s/c, and so on. This razor is magic!(It’s also constructed of real metals not flimsy aluminum or heavy stainless—read description).(I also own several other brand DE razors (we all do), and I am now starting to get into the ultimate close shave of straight razor. Learning curve, but worth it.)

Beautiful razor, very attractive! It’s an efficient and mild razor. Lovely razor.

This razor handle feels very good and heavy in the hand. It’s really good quality. It’s much smaller in size as I thought, if you have big hands it may be too small or hard to hold. Didn’t come with any blades, at least one blade would have been nice. It’s a very nice razor, but for the price of about $90 not sure if it is worth it. Would make a great gift for someone though.

I’ve been a user and collector of high end double-edge razors for close to 40 years. Given my option I’ll use a Muhle or Merkur razor any day of the week over a plastic, multi-bladed, price bloated monster from any of the big shaving companies.So, when I saw this Valynor razor by The Goodfellas’ Smile Company (two names you don’t see together very often), I was intrigued by its design (and, let’s face facts, the company name conjures up images of a certain movie).Here’s an ugly truth about many double-edge razors today – they are often made of zinc or, worse yet, pot metal.Sure, they may do the job but quickly become ugly and/or rusty.This razor is made of CNC machined brass and aluminum and comes apart in 4 pieces (head plate, blade plate, and a two piece handle).This is one hefty piece of metal with perfectly glistening finishes that show a level or artistry and craftsmanship not seen in quite a while. At roughly 2.75 ounces you’ll know when you have this in your hand.And how does it shave? Well, truthfully, like any double-edged razor; however, it’s heft and neutral gap make for a smooth shave with high quality blades.On the topic of gaps for the uninitiated, a small gap allows for the smoothest shave but often requires a couple passes to get the beard cut. An aggressive (wide) gap allows for more blade contact and a quick shave but also increases the chance of bloodletting. As you might have figured, a neutral gap is in between. Again, a lot also has to do with the blade you choose.As for the price, it is high – or is it?Factor what you pay for those multi-bladed units (often $4 or more a blade unit) and you might very well be spending $8 to $12 monthly on replacements. That’s up to $144 a year just for the blade units.Sure, this may cost you $85 for the handle, but a box of 100 decent quality blades goes for $9 and that box should last you close to 2 years.In that sense, you’re ahead of the game by roughly $50 during a year.For me, it’s worth the money to not only have a razor but something you can pass on to the next generation as an example of the shaving art.One thing I will ding it for, though. At this price it should come in a gift box and not wrapped in tissue paper and then shoved in a cardboard container (that was from the seller, not from Amazon).