gvw755
Active Member
my friends, please have more patience with me as my PC is still broken and I am working with a small screen.
I just received the recently released "Parker 55SL Semi-Slant" today. Parker calls it a "semi" slant because they claim to make it a razor shave as well as a slant but not as aggressive. The razor is definitely a torsionshobel and so calling it a "Semi Slant" is like saying someone is "Semi Pregnant". Having shaved with many slants, I will say that most slants are efficient without being aggressive and the one that fits that description the best is the Merkur 37 and so it is no surprise that this Parker seem to take design elements from the 37. A very close inspection shows a very heavy, solid, long, and well made handle. The head, however, could have been better finished. There appears to be burrs and flashes around the screw hole in the base plate and the corners of the top cap are very pointed. This is not a problem once the head is put together, but can be a surprise when taking the head apart.
When comparing the 55SL with my other two Merkur 37 type razors (the RR 37 and the Hoffritz), the 55SL seem to be a combination of the both. It has that slight bump like the RR 37, however the side is smooth like the Hoffritz.
I just had my first shave with the 55SL. WTG pass I started off (like I do with my RR 37 and Hoffritz) by putting faceted cap against my face and following that angle. I have to admit that the pass went effortlessly and pretty efficiently. Absolutely no blade so I guess Parker had achieved their goal. ATG pass was just as well, however in the end I did have to do XTG pass for the area under my chin and under the jawline. Overall, this is a great shave for a pretty good price.
I just received the recently released "Parker 55SL Semi-Slant" today. Parker calls it a "semi" slant because they claim to make it a razor shave as well as a slant but not as aggressive. The razor is definitely a torsionshobel and so calling it a "Semi Slant" is like saying someone is "Semi Pregnant". Having shaved with many slants, I will say that most slants are efficient without being aggressive and the one that fits that description the best is the Merkur 37 and so it is no surprise that this Parker seem to take design elements from the 37. A very close inspection shows a very heavy, solid, long, and well made handle. The head, however, could have been better finished. There appears to be burrs and flashes around the screw hole in the base plate and the corners of the top cap are very pointed. This is not a problem once the head is put together, but can be a surprise when taking the head apart.
When comparing the 55SL with my other two Merkur 37 type razors (the RR 37 and the Hoffritz), the 55SL seem to be a combination of the both. It has that slight bump like the RR 37, however the side is smooth like the Hoffritz.
I just had my first shave with the 55SL. WTG pass I started off (like I do with my RR 37 and Hoffritz) by putting faceted cap against my face and following that angle. I have to admit that the pass went effortlessly and pretty efficiently. Absolutely no blade so I guess Parker had achieved their goal. ATG pass was just as well, however in the end I did have to do XTG pass for the area under my chin and under the jawline. Overall, this is a great shave for a pretty good price.