Unlike an adjustable razor like the Merkur Futur, it is very good at offering blade gap options between mild and aggressive, giving almost any person a level that can work for them. While the Weishi is the same general size as the Qshave and the Viking’s, I think it is the most user friendly design, with a “grippier” handle, contrasting color scheme (for higher-visibility numbers on the adjustment dial), better balance, and a wider range of adjustment (particularly at the low end of the scale–this razor can get very mild indeed). The adjustment dial adjustment marking window is very small but the adjustment range of the razor is reasonably wide (biased slightly toward the mild side). The handle of the Muramasa continues the “golf ball dimples” design of Tatara razors that distinguish it from others. It looks like it wouldn’t provide a decent grasp but I find it works quite well. Matt: “We decided to develop the Ambassador after years of working on Gillette Adjustable safety razors. For over 8 years, Razor Emporium has serviced Fatboys, Slims and tons of other great vintage Gillette razors and realized that they were a design everyone could like – you can dial in the shave you want. Customers love them and would often ask if there were any modern adjustable razors similar in construction or function. While many vintage models existed, there few modern options available. We drew inspiration from historic models like the Gibbs Adjustable, but also incorporated features that brought the razor into a modern, CNC production world.” Of the modern adjustables, I find the Konsul works best for me, at 3-4, and that range (or 5 for the Tatara) is about the usual for the others which are similar in design. Without a doubt, the Pearl is an extremely good adjustable of that type, and excellent value. The Merkur adjustables are Mergress and Digress variants, which I like much more than the "standard issue" Progresses, and generally use at about 3.

While I had very good and close shaves from the Merkur Futur I did feel that under any shaving circumstance, I could easily get by with using setting one. This would not justify having a razor with all these settings unless I started to need them. I tried out various settings and found setting 3 was the highest I needed to use. Setting 1 or 2 was good enough, even for three or so days of growth. The Ambassador razor is “Made in the USA” and designed for a lifetime of use. Each razor features an individual serial number and a manufacturing code that adheres to the classic Gillette® product dating system. This razor comes with a lifetime warranty. A note about TTO adjustable razors. To adjust a TTO razor first loosen the TTO mechanism slightly, make the adjustment, then re-tighten the TTO mechanism. Failure to do so may torque the razor head, resulting in an uneven shave, or even damage to the head mechanism. Vikings Blade Crusader

How Is The Ambassador Adjustable Razor Shave Experience?

The availability of the adjustable safety razor, once relegated to a niche’ within a niche’, has recently expanded with a number of new models available over the past couple of years. How do they work, who is making them, and how well do they perform? Is the adjustable safety razor now finally something to consider as mainstream in traditional wet shaving? This is a major update of an article originally posted a couple years ago!

The Crusader’s dual comb head design continues on the Emperor: one side has a scalloped safety bar, while the other side has a smooth safety bar. First, the heft and weight of razor are great. I believe it weights in at 102 grams. The knurling is really good, and it is deep. Very grippy. I'd give the feel of the razor a 9/10. When you first hold The Ambassador XL you’ll immediately notice its quality. This double edge safety razor is manufactured from marine-grade stainless steel for maximum durability and ease-of-use. It is perfectly weighted and balanced and features an extra long “Sure Grip” handle that makes the razor easy to hold, even when wet. Unlike the Progress and Variant (where the bottom dial also adjusts the razor) the Flexi has a second dial under the head for adjustment. I find the adjustment dial easy to use even with hands during a shave and the adjustment range quite wide. If you are a shaver who likes to adjust a razor “on the fly” you shouldn’t have any trouble with the Flexi. The razor on every shave was very comfortable. There was no dragging despite not being chrome plated, and the low profile head was perfect for shaving sideburns and under the nose area.Rex Supply Co. presents “The Ambassador,” the company’s premium double edge safety razor that customises your shaving experience in both closeness and comfort. This product was developed by wet shaving enthusiasts to deliver a fully adjustable shaving experience. Whether this is your first double edge safety razor or you’re a long time-wet shaver looking for an elevated experience, The Ambassador delivers a clean, close shave without the tugging, pulling and skin irritations commonly found with multi-blade razors. Closed Comb – The razors bottom edge is known as a closed comb, which means there are no teeth with gaps. The Ambassador has a flat bottom plate. I have some problems with the design, though. The un-textured handle can make holding the razor awkward. The the razor’s large(-ish) head can make getting into tight areas like under the nose a challenge. And the “window” of the adjustment range is biased a bit high for some who wish the low end of the range was even lower/milder. The shave itself was very efficient. The most efficient I've had in a while. I used the razor on setting 3 and I normally use mild or medium aggressive razors depending on the day. I feel like for me that above 3 on this would have been much more aggressive than I needed. I actually got a BBS shave on my normal 3 passes, which I only rarely get. Viking tweaked the design again for the Emperor Meiji adjustable safety razor. You can read my review here. Rex Ambassador

There is now no longer a real reason not to try an adjustable razor: they are available with a variety of handles, head styles, and price points. I'm a collector of adjustable razors. The Rex Ambassador is my #1 razor of them all. Always a perfect BBS shave. Thank you for making this razor! A year after the Parker Variant was launched, Far-East manufacturer Ming Shi launched the Ming Shi 2000S adjustable safety razor. Qshave re-branded the 2000S as the Qshave Adjustable, making it a clone of a copy. The Ming Shi/Qshave clearly takes its inspiration from the Merkur Futur: Futur On Left, Qshave On Right When I decided to take on making the first American adjustable since Gillette, I knew it was going to be an audacious goal. First, I had never made a razor before and second, it was a complicated piece of machinery at 8 pieces and 2 springs. The amount of variables present here is exponentially greater than a 3 piece razor. However I wanted to make a splash in the industry and do something that hadn't been done. The ambassador is going to be my go to Razor, still need to try more blades in it but so far it has given me great shaves

Settings – The razor blade gap is adjusted via the adjustable knob under the razor head that has 6 settings in total. Users may also turn the dial to a half setting giving a total of 11 settings. Setting 1 is the mildest, and setting 6 is the most aggressive. As well as the Parker and other adjustables mentioned above, the Merkur Progress, and its customised variants Digress and Mergress, is a decent zamak razor, which I find "mild", and the two best-known vintage Gillette adjustables, the "Slim" and the "Fat Boy", are on the "mild" side at the lower end of the dial. For pure performance, regardless of price, I have to go with the Rex Ambassador. As you should expect from an artisan-made, premium-priced razor the Ambassador is exceptionally well engineered, well-built, and well-balanced. My usual shave routine with an adjustable razor is to start with a 3.5 for WTG and then switch to a 2.5 for ATG and touch up. Doing that with the Flexi for my first shave made me realize that I had to adjust that a little as the 3.5 shaved closer to the 2.5. Later when I compared shaving with both razors, I started with 4 on the Flexi and 3 to finish off. I found this to be the equivalent to my usual 3.5 and 2.5 on my Ambassador. As far as shave quality, I had to admit that it was a tie. both razors were very comfortable and efficient to use, and I ended up with a two pass plus minimal touch up BBS for both.