VIKINGS BLADE Adjustable Double Edge Safety Razor + Luxury Case. Smooth, Reusable, Eco-Friendly (The Emperor “Augustus”)

When I realized how much money you save using a safety razor and how you can get a just as good or better shave from a safety razor than a multiblade cartridge razor, I decided to switch. I wanted a safety razor that had a butterfly opening for the blade and was adjustable. This one had a great price. After I ordered it, I looked at the negative reviews where people showed pictures of receiving defective razors with scratches on the shaving head. I almost cancelled the order, but I realized it was a tiny percentage of those who reviewed the razors and most of the reviews were excellent, so I figured I'd see what I get and could always send it back. The razor came in perfect condition without any scratches on it. I got the frosted chrome version, and it looks and feels beautiful. It seems to be extremely well made. It has a nice weight and feels like a premium metal product, especially after using plastic cartridge and disposable razors. And shaving with a safety razor isn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be. At first it requires being just a little more careful than when using a cartridge razor, but that is because you have more control over the razor. The first time you use it start with the least aggressive setting. Pay attention to the angle and feel of the blade, and shave in short strokes. Don't press the blade to your face. And I didn't go all out with special creams and soaps. I used regular shaving cream from a can, and it worked fine. I like that the razor is adjustable and the shaving head has two different sides, so you can really fine-tune the shave. And I had no problem with the open tabs. I didn't really notice them. Also, it was a pleasant surprise to get a pack of five blades with the razor.

I used to use straight razors but never had the time to really get into sharpening my blades so I went to the next best thing, a safety razor. My first was the Edwin Jagger De89lbl and my second razor was a Parker99R. The Emperor Augustus is my third and I really love this thing. I broke my Parker last night and ordered the Emperor immediately and received it this afternoon and had to try it out. Very little face prep, just wiped down my face with a hot towel and used my trusty Dirty Bird scuttle to froth my soap. I love that thing. I misread how the adjustment worked and made it a bit too aggressive but it didn't take long for me to realize my error. I find that opening the butterfly and setting the adjustment and closing it again works best for me. When you're in a hurry and don't have time to properly prep, setting to a milder number is WONDERFUL. As I get more familiar with this instrument I'm sure I'll be making adjustments for different stages of my shave and I really love having that option. I'm sure there are a lot of adjustable safeties out there but this thing is so easy to use and I love the heft of it, too; and the grip is sure. Since I've only had this thing barely a day I may have more to add later, but right now I'm very glad I broke my Parker. It was a great excuse to treat myself with the Augustus. Edit 8/15/2020 It's been over a year since I purchased this blade. I'm even happier now with my Augustus than the day I received it. I'm no shaving expert, but because I'm a straight-razor flunkie I do have a few extra items. I have a scuttle, shaving cup, shaving brush and I use shaving soap. All those things make for a better shaving experience when used properly. 1. I have those really nice Israeli blades but I have some Shark blades and I thought I'd give those a go again because they didn't do as nice a job in my old safeties like my Edwin Jagger. With the Augustus, at least when the blades were new, I noticed no real difference. The Shark's might still dull faster, I'm not sure. I'm still experimenting with that. 2. For the Augustus, being an adjustable razor is its most important and useful feature. I find that if I let my beard grow out too much, placing the Augustus on its most aggressive rating works wonders, and with later passes reduce that aggression to allow for a closer shave. YMMV on that and everyone's beard is different, but that works for me. 3. When inserting the blade, its best to put the blade on it's most aggressive setting, which allows the door to open its widest. Then seat the blade and back off the aggression about 3/4 (around 6 or 7) before closing the blade. This allows the clamshell to close without catching on the blade. 4. I wipe down my Augustus with toilet paper to soak up any water before storing. 5. The workmanship is excellent. I've experienced no issues, and it looks as nice as the day I received it. The blade settings is easy to set and is numbered to help you remember what works for you for any situation. I've not experienced any binding on working parts at all. 6. The feel of this blade in my hand is just right. It's heavy enough that it's weight applies enough pressure to do the work and the handle is grippy and comfortable. 7. I think the craftsmanship on this blade is so good I kept the box it came in and use that to store my blade in my office, away from humid air in the bathroom, because the box and razor looks so nice together. That's just me being weird, I suppose. For item 2, sometimes I have to wipe off my face with a towel and re-apply soap before continuing on my first pass if my beard's gotten away from me (a week's growth) and I've only been able to prep my face with a warm-hot towel for 2 minutes or so. A hot shower does wonders for face prep. I just wanted to let anyone know who might be interested in the Augustus that I found it worthwhile to come back here a year later to relate how happy I am with mine. In case some of you were wondering, if I have such a nice blade why do I let my beard grow out for a week or more? Blame my laziness and working from home so much in today's crazy world. I didn't know this would become a problem, but my Augustus helps me makes up for some of my personal shortcomings.

I started wet shaving around Christmas 2008. I've had this razor, in The Ragnar finish (black and antique brass), for 2 years. I upgraded from their Chieftain model. This is not quite what I would start my son with as it's not for beginners, but if you're an intermediate to advanced/experienced wet shaver, this will definitely carry you far. Main complaints, 1, finish on both razors I've owned left a little to be desired. Both razors had very small blisters on one of the bars. 2, the butterflies tend to hang up when closing. In order to get it to close properly, I need to apply pressure to both butterflies while twisting the base of the handle in order to get the razor to close. It's been like that from the beginning. It's the only razor I've ever had that did this. As a razor, it's good. The weight is something I like, which is good, cause there's a lot of it. I honestly feel like heavier razors give you better control. The long handle gives you a lot of flexibility in grip. Also, the heavier heads hold the heat from hot water a lot better. Be careful of how hot your water is, you can burn yourself. It has a smooth finish which, when combined with a good shave soap, glides smoothly across the skin with ONLY the weight of the razor. The adjustment for the blade gap also gives you a great deal of flexibility in how gentle or aggressive your shave experience is. The ring and handle are numbered and marked, but it's kind of hard to see if you don't have bright light. To be fair, in these types of razors, the blade is everything. Dull and poor quality blades will absolutely wreck your skin and give you a horrible experience. They pull, , they drag, they nick, they bite and cut you, require more effort and passes to get a good close shave, and give you razor burn. Good quality blades have a better finish on the edge, many may be confort coated to enhance how the blade glides on the skin, they offer a shave which requires less effort and cuts the hair instead of pulling it, and they just tend to glide better. Also, if you are new to wet shaving, the soap also has an impact on your experience. Good quality brushes are softer on the skin, and give you a more luxurious lather.

The Vikings Blade Emperor AUGUSTUS edition adjustable DE razor, shaves better than it looks! With that said; It looks Awesome!!! For the record; I’m not an employee of Vikings Blade or any affiliate company of theirs, or related to any person that works there. I’m not being payed $$$ for or endorsed by Vikings Blade. This is not a paid promotional advertisement, or a sponsored advertisement, in anyway, shape, or form. This razor was not gifted to me by Vikings blade or any person. I purchased this razor with my own money. I purchased this razor because I wanted to buy my first adjustable DE safety razor. This is also not a paid promotion, in any way shape or form. These are my own thoughts and opinions based on my own personal experience, with this adjustable DE safety razor. With that disclosure said, and out-of-the-way; It’s a gorgeous handsome masculine razor. A very manly razor in my opinion. With a lot of weight and hefty with great balance. I prefer heftier or heavier razors. It seems like they do all the work and you need very little pressure while shaving. I think any man would be proud to own and shave with this razor! I know I am very proud to own and shave with this razor! This razor is also a great value for the money. It’s like owning twelve DE razors all in one. There’s nine adjustment settings that are numbered 1-9. Changing the adjustment settings 1-9 move the safety bar up or down increasing or decreasing the angle of reveal and blade exposure. A helpful hint, make sure you have the adjustment setting on MAX when loading or remove a DE razor blade. The Twist To Open (TTO) doors move with the adjustable safety bars when the TTO doors are opened. Adjustment Settings 1,2,3, are mild aggression levels, or blade angle reveal; these settings would be best for beginning DE wet shavers, or people with thin beards, sensitive skin, or for those people that maybe want to shave every day. Adjustment settings 4, 5, 6, are a medium aggression levels or blade angle reveal; these settings are for more advanced experience DE wet shavers, or for people with less sensitive skin and courser beards, or people who want to shave every other or two or three days between shaves. Adjustment settings 7, 8, 9, and Max are aggressive aggression levels or blade angle reveal; these settings are for very experienced or very advanced DE wet shavers, or for people with very thick and or course beards, or for people who want to shave once a week. It could also be used for people who want to look for a close to straight razor shave, but without the maintenance, stropping, and honing that goes along with a straight razor shaving or expense ($$$) of the straight razor itself, and the accoutrements, and the cost ($$$) of the accoutrements, that are required for straight razor shaving. Also the learning curve that goes with straight razor shaving. It’s not like a straight razor though, by any means! It could also be, for wet shavers like myself, who don’t want to spend the amount of time, like the time required for stropping the straight razor, on the leather and canvas strop, as well as the pre-shave face prep and added products that goes along with a proper straight razor shave. But it’s more aggressive than my Muhle R-41 German made, open comb DE razor, on max setting in my opinion. The Muhle R-41 is a very aggressive razor though. But, it cannot be adjusted. Which can be a problem sometimes on a 3 or 4 pass shave. The Vikings Blade Emperor can be adjusted though; being an adjustable razor, lol. The safety bar also has two sides one smooth, one mildly scalloped not quite an open comb though. This is why I said between the 9 adjustment levels and the two safety bars Sides and the constant flow in between numbers, (There’s a continuous movement of the safety bar between each adjustment number, while adjusting this razor. It’s not like it locks in between each adjustment number) ; it’s like shaving with 12 different razors, in one awesome, handsome, masculine, convenient, well manufactured package! This is my first adjustable DE razor. I have nothing to compare it to, as far as adjustable DE razors go. Except Straight Razors, Single edge razors SE, and other non-adjustable double edge DE razors. I have about 11 shave ready straight razors, 2 Single edge SE razors, and this being my fourth DE razor. I’ve been wet shaving with the DE razors since I was 13 years old. I’m 52 now soon to be 53. I’ve used cartridge razors such as the Gillette track 2, the Gillette Mach 3, and Gillette fusion. As well as electric shavers, when I was a teenager and into my early 20s. I would consider myself to be in an advanced or experienced wet shaver. Vikings Blade Emperor Augustus is definitely a five star razor in many categories. Build construction. Value for the money. Ease-of-use. Adjustability. Performance. Weight, of the razor, I prefer a heavier heftier razor in my opinion. Balance. And let’s not forget the looks and finish of this razor; it’s stunning! This Vikings Blade Emperor AUGUSTUS edition DE razor shaved so smooth, and silky! BSS shave, (Baby Smooth Shave). My first shave with the Emperor Augustus razor; I made four passes, with a relathering after each pass. I had 7 days of beard growth. I used a brand new Feather hi stainless double edge DE Japanese Blade. Yes, I keep track of how shaves or times I’ve used each blade. First pass: With the grain (WTG). Inaugural pass. Settings: 7-8-9. Trial run. Second pass: Cross the grain (XTG). Settings: 6-5-4. Third pass: Against the grain (ATG). Settings: 3-2-1. Fourth pass: Touch up (TU). Setting: 3. I’ve decided that future shaves with this razor, are going to be: (Depending on how many days of beard growth I have). First pass (WTG): 9. Second pass (XTG): 6. Third pass (ATG): 3. Fourth pass (TU): 1. These adjustment numbers on the Emperor Augustus razor, would be adjusted down if I were to decide to shave more often. I highly recommend VIKINGS BLADE Emperor Augustus adjustable DE razor for someone who is looking for the ONE razor that can do it all. Thank you Vikings Blade for such a fantastic, affordable, adjustable DE razor! Five stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

About 20 years ago I learned how to shave with a SE razor. That got lost somehow and Gillette in all their wisdom, sent me a Mach 3 razor on my 18th birthday which I used for all of a 2 years before becoming fed up with shaving with it and the money it cost, and grew a beard for 12 or so years. Now with the pandemic and wearing a mask constantly I needed to get clean shaven again. (or at least mostly). On Prime day I saw another DE Razor for a really good price and bought it. And for the price and what it was as a cheap TTO DE safety razor, it was great. Unfortunately for me I also have sensitive skin and a fairly soft beard. So the cheap razor I bought was way too aggressive for me overall, especially for my neck (my face was a chewed up mess for that 1st week of shaving, it was not fun). I resolved to find something that would suit my needs and I ended up choosing between the Merkur Furtur and the various styles of the Viking Emperor (Standard, Augustus and Meiji). I ended up choosing the standard Emperor because... well... I was worried that I'd forget to completely dry the razor and ruin the nice finishes of the Agustus and Meiji (also I wanted the longer handle so Meiji was a no go), and I wanted the grip which the Merkur did not have. And so I've used it for a week, which brings me to this review (and I don't often review things on Amazon, but my experience has been so positive in this week, that I feel compelled to) So first, the craftsmanship is superb. It has great weight, the handle is a good thickness and length for control. The only minor complaint I have is that as a spring loaded TTO DE Razor it can get a bit finicky. Nothing too crazy though. Fixing the issues takes seconds, usually loosening the door holding it down and re-tightening it. I was concerned about the burrs that they mentioned and the negative reviews talking about it. But now after using it, Those fears are gone. Yes, you will notice the blade looking slightly curvy, but since many reviewers said to try it before returning it, I did and I am happy I did. Now lets talk about the shave. To preface I'm going to say outright that I use settings 1 and 5 for every shave. I use 1 for first pass and 5 for second (and third if necessary). The best part of this razor is the scalloped and smooth sides of the blade, even more than the adjustable aggression. I use scalloped side for my face and smooth for my neck and it is just amazing. I get less razor burn and a better shave every time. Now again, I cannot call myself a complete beginner, but at the same time it has been so long that I really feel like I had to relearn how to shave with a safety razor. And going from a cheaper one for a week, to this one for a week, it is literally night and day difference. A friend who also has sensitive skin suggested I get a Feather which was excessively expensive, but then I found this and honestly, this might be my lifetime razor now. I'm not sure if I'll ever go beyond 5 again (on my second time shaving with the Emperor I decided to try 2 and 6, which was a mistake. Still gave me a great shave, but it was too aggressive for my skin, and if a 6 is too aggressive I don't want to think about what max is like. As it is 5 is pushing it, but I feel like between 4 and 5, 5 gives better shave while still being mild enough for me) I'll update this review should anything go wrong, but considering the other reviews and the company seeming to have a really good customer service, I doubt that will be any issue. If you're looking for a TTO DE razor for sensitive skin or a razor with amazing versatility so you don't need multiple razors for different needs, this is definitely one to look at.

I'm new to safety razor shaving and just purchased the Emperor Frosted Chrome!! I had my first shave with the razor this morning and I'm so pleased with the performance. I've been shaving with a brush and cartridge razors for years and I've tried every cartridge out there with the same results, acne / ingrowns / irritation after shaving. I have a thick beard and I shave every day. After nearly butchering myself with an inexpensive safety razor, I decided to give this one a try. The Good: This razor has a beautiful heft which makes it easy to shave without pressure, the key to shaving with a safety razor. The construction and quality are great and I like the nice thick handle. It fits well in my acrylic shaving stand with my brush and looks amazing. The Shave: I bought a blade sampler and started with a mild blade from Wilkinson Sword. The razor glides nicely and the two sides with different edges make for a little different experience shaving on either side. This might be a drawback for someone who prefers a certain edge on both sides, but I found it very helpful to have a smoother side for the areas that are easier to shave and more mild side for under the next and the chin that are a bit more tricky. With the adjustability, this razor seems to be all things for everyone and it does a darned good job at it. I started at the 3 setting for my first pass and turned it up to 6 for the second pass. Given that I'm a beginner, I did nick myself, but not badly and will probably back off the setting on the second pass. Once my irritation from the cartridges subsides, the chance of nicks will also decrease. I can say that this is the closest shave I can ever remember and I'm very pleased. Things to Know: The adjustable bars on the side don't seem to work when you over-tighten the butterfly doors. If you tighten them down, but not too tight, turning the adjustable knob has some resistance, but not too much. That seems to be a good way to gauge the right spot for using the razor. You may also need to check the butterfly doors during your shave, as I did need to tighten the knob a touch once. Overall, this doesn't detract from the quality of the razor or the shave, but it's good to know. Also, I'm a beginner to safety razors, this is my second one and my first quality razor. I bought it so I can figure out what I like and what works best for me, but I'm extremely pleased with the quality of the razor at this price point and the construction. The old adage is true, you get what you pay for, but this costs far less than many other adjustable safety razors and is extremely well made. I don't think anyone would be unhappy with this razor, the heft or the adjustability. You have to want a heavy razor with a thick handle, but like I said before, it truly seems like this razor can be everything for everyone. I can see using this razor for many years to come, and as I advance I look forward to trying sharper blades. The bad: The website and directions are limited. This might be alright for people with a lot of experience but I'm a newbie. I could have used to know the tip about the butterfly doors and the adjustability instead of having to tinker with the razor to figure it out. Literature and directions are limited, something more would be nice. Also the case is kind of crappy...it's just a nice cardboard box. It would be nice if they included a nicer leather case for travel or at least a head cover. I imagine with the thickness of the handle, finding a travel case will take some trial and error. All in all, I'm very pleased and look forward to using this razor for many years. I would not hesitate to buy it again and look forward to moving through the learning curve with this beautiful piece of equipment. Update 12/20/20: After trying a few alternative razors, I’ve lowered my rating. First, I feel that this razor is pretty aggressive on any setting above 3. The blade gap is sizable and skin tends to get caught in there and makes it easier to get nicks and cuts. Second, It’s very annoying that the tension doesn’t stay on the adjustment knob when shaving. The thing is loose and moves around and then you aren’t sure if it’s where you set it. Seems a bit like a design flaw. Third: I’ve simply liked every other razor I’ve tried (two Merkurs and a Maggard Shave) razor better. I even tried going to back to the Viking today. After several weeks without a cut with the Merkur and Maggard, I hacked two cuts into my face with the Viking. It may be fine for some, but this is likely to never get used again in my drawer. For beginners I’d definitely look to something less aggressive and friendly like a Merkur.

Have been using the Emperor Augustus razor for 6 months now. I am sharing some of my thoughts. I've started DE shaving 8 months ago. My first razor was a Qshave butterfly. It was a really good mild razor for beginner. After one month of training with the Qshave, I bought this Augustus razor from Vikings Blade. At first, I was somewhat disappointed. The reasons were: 1. The craftsmanship did not seem to match the quality of the razor. I could see the unpolished edge on the butterfly plate. Also, the blade did not align perfectly. Although It did not affect the quality of shaving. 2. The Emperor was different than the Qshave I had. The technique I built up with the Qshave did not work well with this one. I had to relearn again. For a beginner, that was difficult and upsetting. I emailed Vikings Blade with the problems I had. They replied rather quickly (usually within a day or two every time). They explained that the unpolished part of the razor was due to the difficultly of processing bronze. Which was not impossible, but they decided not to do that since it did not effect the function anyway and could keep the cost affordable. They told me the blade alignment was within acceptable parameter and should not affect the shave quality. And for my shaving problem, they were very patient and guided me through my learning process via emails. They asked me to try the razor for some time and would send me another model if It did not work out for me at the end. The customer service is one of the best I have seen. I decided to try the razor for a bit longer and I am glad I did. It works very well for me now and has become my daily razor. If it breaks I might get another one of this model. The reason that it's not 100% is due to the extra cost for delivering/importing the razor to Canada. Which is like $100+ (140CAD+ on amazon.ca x.x) What I think after 6 months of uses: 1. Material The Material used in the razor feels really solid. I intend to use the razor for many years like the old Gillette safety razors. 2. Razor The weight is good, butterfly is very useful and adjustable is very handy. Also the handle grasp really well and it never slips on me. 3. Most important: Shaving The razor is very smooth. It is hard to cut yourself. I am a careless person; I cut myself often with the old plastic disposable razor and the razor burn was really bad. But with this Vikings Blade Emperor, I only cut myself maybe one time in the past 6 months as I remember. I was pressing really hard on the neck area that time. Now that my skill is getting improved, I rarely nick myself bad enough to even see red dot. In worst cases I got light burn which fades away fast after aftershave balm. The razor does have 2 different sides. One is flat and one with teeth bumps. They feel differently when shaving but I am not sure if there is any different in shaving quality. The flat side does feel smoother. 4. Adjustable After testing for many settings, I am now settling on level 3. With my skill improved, I am able to get pretty good shave in 3-4 passes. (4th for the neck area which is very hard to clean). If I spend some more time with better preparation, I can sometimes get BBS. 5. Customer service Best one I have seen. They are very helpful and nice. Without the help from them, the process for a beginner shaver like me would have had hard time getting through the process. They patiently answered all my question about the razor and my other questions related to shaving. Final thought: This razor is very good for those who wants a quality butterfly adjustable. This razor is very smooth and perfect for those who worry about cutting themselves. Vikings Blade is a very good company and it has one of the best customer services around. I am glad I found the razor that I want to settle down in my 2nd try. :)

The Crusader Adjustable Safety Razor by Vikings Blade takes the traditional wet shave to the next level! This is definitely jumping into the deep end of the pool! So make sure you’ve earned your “Traditional Wet Shaving Bona Fides” before dipping your toe in. The Crusader has two unique qualities that make it a cut above all other adjustable razors. First, it has a weight, heft and balance I’ve not seen in other adjustable razors. Even the Merkur Futur is a lightweight compared to the Crusader. The Crusader is the superior razor. Unlike the Futur, the Crusader has maintained the traditional safety razor look and feel. I like that. A lot! Second, the razor head is asymmetrical. Each side gives a different shave. The sculpted comb is a bit more aggressive, while the straight comb is a bit milder. The assymmetrical razor head is a marvelous feature! If you find the sculpted comb works fine on the cheek but, perhaps, may be too aggressive for the neck, simply flip to the straight comb and you get a more mild approach. No need to stop the shave (during a pass) to adjust the settings! I used this method right off the bat and found it to be quite natural and effective. The razor head is also a bit more compact than that on the Vikings Blade Chieftain. Whereas, the Chieftain fully encloses the end tabs of the razor blade, the Crusader leaves these tabs exposed to increase overall maneuverability. The Crusader is VERY maneuverable! And, while I appreciate (and like) having the blade end tabs enclosed within the razor head, I have many new and vintage razors that opt for the exposed end tab design. It’s something that is familiar to me and certainly not a dealbreaker. I understand the reasons for the change. A good decision by Vikings Blade for this razor, in my humble opinion. The adjustment collar does not have a numbering system. Other adjustable razors number the adjustment collar 1-6, etc. So, I was a bit thrown when I saw the absence of numbers. However, I’ve come to understand that, even though an adjustable razor has numbers, I’m really only turning the adjustment knob ⅛ or ¼ from number to number in order to open or close the blade gap and vary the aggressiveness of the razor and shave. When using an adjustable razor that has numbers on the adjustment collar, I set each shaving pass to a specific number. So, for example, my first pass would be 5, my second would be 3, and the third would be 1.5. However, if I set the adjustable razor aside (to shave with another razor in my collection) and come back to it a week or two later, I’ve now forgotten my numbered shave settings. Was my first pass set at 5 or 6? Was the second pass 3.5 or 4? Additionally, the shave will change a bit when a different blade is used. So, using the same numbered routine will not yield the same result as the previous shave. Different blade, different shave. With the numbers removed, I simply turn the collar ¼ or ½ or ⅛, etc. to a level that feels right for the shave. (From full open, first pass, turn the collar ⅛, shave. Second pass, turn the collar ⅛, shave. Third pass, turn the collar ½, shave). And it’s easier to remember this method, than trying to remember a number pattern. Not having numbers frees up the shave. I’m more inclined to try new settings because I’m now focused on the shave and not a number. The adjustment collar is smooth and continuous. The combinations of mild to aggressive shaves are limitless! And there’s no fear of overdoing it. With the asymmetrical razor head, I can take more control of my shave. Again, if the setting is too aggressive, I simply flip the head to the straight comb side for bit milder pass. It’s very much like having a two-stage adjustable razor. Wonderfully, I have yet to have a shave with the Crusader that has been too aggressive or resulted in any irritation. This includes having the razor set at it’s very widest blade gap, full open. The Crusader gives me the smoothest most comfortable and close shave of any razor I own. I’m rather shocked by this discovery, but also delighted. I thought the Vikings Blade Chieftain Safety Razor would never be surpassed. Only the folks at Vikings Blade could manufacture a razor to surpass their best selling Chieftain! The Crusader is the new favorite in my shaving den! A viewer on my YouTube channel, asked, “If you had to pick one razor of yours, which you will have to use for the rest of your life...,which one would you choose?” I deferred my answer thinking this would be a good opportunity to explain my pick in a video. Well, I now have my answer. The Crusader is the razor I would pick, hands down! Great weight and balance, precisely engineered and manufactured from premium materials, the Crusader is solidly built and a solid performer that will easily last a lifetime! Yes, The Crusader is meant for advanced wet shavers. However, my advice is this: buy the Chieftain AND the Crusader. The Chieftain is the perfect razor with which to learn how to do the traditional wet shave. After several months (or a year) of understanding the process (mastering the correct shaving technique, and learning about proper preparation, lathering, etc.), you can then graduate to the Crusader. And since you’ll already own the Crusader, it’ll be in the wings ready to go. The Crusader and the Chieftain are, quite possibly, the only two razors you will ever need!