Feather AS-D2 All Stainless Steel Double Edge Safety Razor

Of all the de and se replaceable blade razors this is by far the best and worth every penny. I have a head and face shave every morning now without any irritation or worry of cuts on my head shave. It's "mild" shave as reviewed by others translates into a very comfortable shave over all curves and arches of my head or face. I do recommend the feather blades as they are much sharper and with its mild design give a closer shave but no matter what this is a very good investment for any shaving enthusiast.

About a year ago I purchased a Feather AS-D2 on a drop and have used it since. I am normally a frugal guy but don't regret the purchase. I used a straight razor for a decade, but the AS-D2 is smooth and nick free like a Gillette Fusion at a fraction of the cost and I can get a very close shave almost like a straight razor at a fraction of the cost. I like the Kai blades. They are similar to the Feather blades but last longer and are a bit smoother with less nicks. As far as value goes, yes their are other great razors. I have an Edwin Jagger. It never gets used. Compared with the reusable plastic double edge razors made by Gillette and Lord that I used in the Philippines the Edwin Jagger is very expensive. They also work great when paired with a decent blade. They ... MoreAbout a year ago I purchased a Feather AS-D2 on a drop and have used it since. I am normally a frugal guy but don't regret the purchase. I used a straight razor for a decade, but the AS-D2 is smooth and nick free like a Gillette Fusion at a fraction of the cost and I can get a very close shave almost like a straight razor at a fraction of the cost. I like the Kai blades. They are similar to the Feather blades but last longer and are a bit smoother with less nicks. As far as value goes, yes their are other great razors. I have an Edwin Jagger. It never gets used. Compared with the reusable plastic double edge razors made by Gillette and Lord that I used in the Philippines the Edwin Jagger is very expensive. They also work great when paired with a decent blade. They cost about 35 or 40 cents including a blade. The bonus is they are super fast to change the blade or clean. If ultimate frugal is your goal they can't be beat. If a fabulous piece of kit that gives smooth, close shaves (for many people) the Feather AS-D2 is tough to beat. For me the improvement in shave quality from the plastic Gillette to the Edwin Jagger is not as great as from the Edwin Jagger to the Feather AS-D2.

Amazing Razor

I've had a couple of decent quality DE safety razors from Edwin Jagger. The threads on the top piece of one of them recently wore out. It's actually the second time that they wore out, the first time it was replaced under Edwin Jaggers warranty. Researching for a replacement I noticed that many of the 'high end' razors are made of a chrome plated metal combination called ZAMAK (Zirconium, Aluminum, Magnesium, and Copper spelled in a German way with a K). ZAMAK is decent when well plated but it is not nearly as indestructible as stainless steel, not to mention the surgical grade of stainless steel (316) like the Feather AS-D2. The metal quality was the first drawing card.Second, for years I have preferred Feather blades, I have fairly sensitive skin and found that ... MoreI've had a couple of decent quality DE safety razors from Edwin Jagger. The threads on the top piece of one of them recently wore out. It's actually the second time that they wore out, the first time it was replaced under Edwin Jaggers warranty. Researching for a replacement I noticed that many of the 'high end' razors are made of a chrome plated metal combination called ZAMAK (Zirconium, Aluminum, Magnesium, and Copper spelled in a German way with a K). ZAMAK is decent when well plated but it is not nearly as indestructible as stainless steel, not to mention the surgical grade of stainless steel (316) like the Feather AS-D2. The metal quality was the first drawing card.Second, for years I have preferred Feather blades, I have fairly sensitive skin and found that my face reacted to many of the other blades I tried. I thought, if Feather makes such good blades, I'm sure their razor will be great quality too.It really is. It is very nicely balanced, holds the blade more securely than any other razor I've seen. It is a very fine feeling and looking tool. But even better is the way that it works. I honestly couldn't believe my first shave with this razor. It is very, very smooth. It is extremely 'mild' as the reviewers often point out. I get a close shave but I almost have to remind myself that I am. Sometimes initially, I had to check that the hair was really gone. I have a few extra sensitive areas where I could never shave against the grain (which I like to do for my final pass). I actually resorted to plucking the area beside my lips where some men might grow a handlebar mustache because I was constantly getting little bleeding nicks there. A few weeks in and I haven't had one cut there. I can shave against the grain with no problem (on my third pass of course). It almost feels like I couldn't cut myself with this razor if I tried. I found it took a little bit of practice to find the right angle and the right amount of pressure to use. But once I figured that out I was good to go. I am thrilled with this razor and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to invest in a DE razor. I would rather buy and use one of these for 30–40 years that buy and use 4 or 5 Edwin Jagger or Merkur over the same period.Hope that helps.

Great razor

The build quality of the Feather AS-D2 is superb. I'm used to using a Merkur HD (and a few other straight razors) primarily for the past 15 years and the build quality of the Feather is in another league in comparison. Additionally, the Feather feels heavier in the hand. I've had four shaves with the Feather so far using a Feather blade and the shaves have been fantastic. The blade angle and small blade gap make for a very mild shave, which is great for my sensitive skin. There was a bit of a learning curve in the first couple shaves as compared to my Merkur HD with regards to blade angle, but I find the Feather to be very forgiving. For my face, I've always needed to keep mindful of the amount of strokes and overlap with the Merkur, however, so far I'm finding that ... MoreThe build quality of the Feather AS-D2 is superb. I'm used to using a Merkur HD (and a few other straight razors) primarily for the past 15 years and the build quality of the Feather is in another league in comparison. Additionally, the Feather feels heavier in the hand. I've had four shaves with the Feather so far using a Feather blade and the shaves have been fantastic. The blade angle and small blade gap make for a very mild shave, which is great for my sensitive skin. There was a bit of a learning curve in the first couple shaves as compared to my Merkur HD with regards to blade angle, but I find the Feather to be very forgiving. For my face, I've always needed to keep mindful of the amount of strokes and overlap with the Merkur, however, so far I'm finding that it's actually been tough to over do it with the Feather. No razor burn at all. I'm glad I finally made the purchase.

One of the Smoothest

Feather AS-D2 is one of my 3 top razors. I have sensitive skin and prefer Mild Razors with reasonable efficiency of which this is one. Fit and finish are excellent with MMI SS head and CNC milled SS handle both in matte finish. A handsome razor to be sure. I tested with Feather and Nacet blades. Nacet is my favorite in most razors. The AS-D2 tames a bit and pairs well with the Feather Blade. I’ll probably mostly use Nacets going forward because they are much less expensive and are not packed in plastic. My others in the top three for SS DE Razors are the Rockwell 6C (mine has custom polished top cap and guides) and the RazoRock SS BBS. The RazoRock Baby Smooth is the same as the BBS but in Aluminum for those who prefer light-weight razors. Approximate Cost: AS-D2 ... MoreFeather AS-D2 is one of my 3 top razors. I have sensitive skin and prefer Mild Razors with reasonable efficiency of which this is one. Fit and finish are excellent with MMI SS head and CNC milled SS handle both in matte finish. A handsome razor to be sure. I tested with Feather and Nacet blades. Nacet is my favorite in most razors. The AS-D2 tames a bit and pairs well with the Feather Blade. I’ll probably mostly use Nacets going forward because they are much less expensive and are not packed in plastic. My others in the top three for SS DE Razors are the Rockwell 6C (mine has custom polished top cap and guides) and the RazoRock SS BBS. The RazoRock Baby Smooth is the same as the BBS but in Aluminum for those who prefer light-weight razors. Approximate Cost: AS-D2 $150, Rockwell 6S $100, Rockwell 6C $50, Rockwell 2C (#1&3 only)$30, RazoRock BBS $70, RazoRock Baby Smooth (Aluminum) $40. All give comfortable BBS shaves on 3 passes. This AS-D2 is a great looking and feeling SS Razor at the top of the cost list. Certainly not the “Best Buy“ but a great addition to the den or a once in a lifetime purchase to be used for a lifetime and passed on.

Shamless Brag

While on vacation recently, I busted the head on the Merkur 23c I'd settled on as my daily driver. While waiting on a replacement head, I decided to look into the idea of finding an economical version of something in nice, sturdy stainless steel. While doing that, I ran across a video from my favorite Youtuber (One Nick Shabazz) reviewing his favorite DE razor, the Feather AS-D2. As with most cravings of a capitalistic nature, this led my poor *** to checking in on the resale market for such a luxury item. After failing to find anything pretty much everywhere I looked, I decided to roll the dice and miraculously found one for sale on FB Marketplace, 15 minutes away...and listed for only $35. Not believing my luck, I jumped on this, made an even-more-lowball offer ... MoreWhile on vacation recently, I busted the head on the Merkur 23c I'd settled on as my daily driver. While waiting on a replacement head, I decided to look into the idea of finding an economical version of something in nice, sturdy stainless steel. While doing that, I ran across a video from my favorite Youtuber (One Nick Shabazz) reviewing his favorite DE razor, the Feather AS-D2. As with most cravings of a capitalistic nature, this led my poor *** to checking in on the resale market for such a luxury item. After failing to find anything pretty much everywhere I looked, I decided to roll the dice and miraculously found one for sale on FB Marketplace, 15 minutes away...and listed for only $35. Not believing my luck, I jumped on this, made an even-more-lowball offer (because why not) and walked away with this razor and a huge stack of blades for $25 freaking dollars. Seems the older woman selling it was doing so because her Son had been unable to sell it in over a year (listed at the retail price) after not liking it after 2 shaves. He failed to communicate the actual price to his mother, she judged what it was worth on her own and as a result I now have a razor with tolerances tight enough to feel like jewelry rather than something you use to hack stubble off of my face every day. Frankly, I didn't really "get" the value of this razor until I had it in my hand and against my face. It looked so much like the dozen antique and modern razors I already had. But yes, there was definitely something there that felt tangibly different. The head is a perfected copy of an antique Gillette Tech made with modern materials, a CNC cutter and computer plotting the angles to maximize contact with the blade for maximum rigidity. For someone with extremely sensitive skin, this thing shaves like a breath of fresh of air. Providing a close shave which was also mild enough to actually avoid rather than just lessen my usual razor burn. So I asked myself, why didn't I get this thing years ago? And then I remembered the normal retail price. And I laughed. Cackled even. Like some ********* evil sorcerer from a Saturday morning cartoon. Because I had finally won the game of shaving for the foreseeable future. So this is my shamelessly useless brag about my amazing luck along with my hopefully useful review of this razor's actual performance. Which I will sum up by saying that it's extremely mild while also being very effective at removing stubble. The shaving angle is also more intuitive than what I'm used to, making it very nimble in tight spaces like under my nose and around the corners of my mouth. Apart from that, there are also a few intangibles like the ergonomics of the handle, the finely balanced goldilocks heft of it and the thick matte chrome finish that make this feel like a luxury item. It is a tad shorter than the 23c but manages to feel long and stable enough in-hand that I don't need it to be any longer . That and the amazingly fine knurling make it feel like it's super glued to my fingers, even when soapy and wet. Not sure there's anything more to say about the AS-D2. Surprisingly, it actually does provide a noticeable upgrade over everything I've shaved with up til now. Is it worth the actual retail price? For me...probably not. But at $25 I most certainly can't complain.

Smooooth

I used my AS D2 razor this morning for the first time. With two passes, it gave me a BBS shave. (BTW, I lathered with a Simpson T3 shaving brush and Abbate y la Mantia Matteo 9, 11 shaving soap.) The shave was also the smoothest I can remember getting. The razor is VERY mild and requires at least two passes to get a BBS shave. For me, the only negative is that razor is expensive; in the neighborhood of $200. Is the razor worth the cost? For my money it is, but that’s a personal decision. Let me just say that I am giving my other razors to charity.

This overrated razor hardly shaves at all

The Feather AS-D2 is probably the most overrated, overpriced and overestimated safety razor on the world market. First, the material is dubious. It's relatively light, looks cheap, and blatantly resembles aluminum. It seems to me that the producer plays tricks on the customers, calling it an "all stainless" razor without really using the word "steel". This seems to me an act of deception, trying to create the false expectation that it's made of stainless steel, though it actually isn't. There are many materials that are "stainless" without necessarily having to be stainless steel. Second, this razor's performance is extremely poor. You have to keep cap-riding all the time to achieve at least some shave. Even if you use the Feather blades, this razor almost doesn't ... MoreThe Feather AS-D2 is probably the most overrated, overpriced and overestimated safety razor on the world market. First, the material is dubious. It's relatively light, looks cheap, and blatantly resembles aluminum. It seems to me that the producer plays tricks on the customers, calling it an "all stainless" razor without really using the word "steel". This seems to me an act of deception, trying to create the false expectation that it's made of stainless steel, though it actually isn't. There are many materials that are "stainless" without necessarily having to be stainless steel. Second, this razor's performance is extremely poor. You have to keep cap-riding all the time to achieve at least some shave. Even if you use the Feather blades, this razor almost doesn't shave. It's zero aggressiveness really sucks. Third, it looks very cheap and ugly because the material looks like aluminum. The only thing that is obviously made of stainless steel is the stand. The cheap appearance of the razor unpleasantly contrasts with the beautiful stainless steel finish of the stand - these two look like they don't belong to each other. I've bought this toy for my son to become his firsts safety razor, because it's unlikely to nick him. Unfortunately, I think it's also unlikely to give him any shave at all. Besides, this razor is also extremely unsuitable for men with sensitive skin because many strokes need to be applied at one place to achieve at least some shave; this naturally leads to bad skin irritation. I find it actually questionable whether this toy is suitable for anyone at all. Compared to, for instance, the excellent Edwin Jagger 3one6, the AS-D2 is just a bunch of problems.

You get what you pay for (and this is worth it).

I was hesitant about the investment of a bit less than $200 for a razor. I could not deny the MANY glowing reviews of this razor. Over time I decided wet shaving ‘DE style’ is a way of life so to speak and I will be doing it for the foreseeable future. So why not invest in me/my way of life, right? I am worth $200 and I would only have to buy it once. BLUF: Totally worth it. It is a great daily shaver and also travels well! This is a VERY well crafted piece of kit. It has excellent balance and weight. It looks great and is well machined. The knurling of the handle is comfortable and non slip. Most important to me: the razor is completely enclosed. The edges (or ‘ears’) of the blade do not stick out. It is a joy to use each day. It has been happy with every blade ... MoreI was hesitant about the investment of a bit less than $200 for a razor. I could not deny the MANY glowing reviews of this razor. Over time I decided wet shaving ‘DE style’ is a way of life so to speak and I will be doing it for the foreseeable future. So why not invest in me/my way of life, right? I am worth $200 and I would only have to buy it once. BLUF: Totally worth it. It is a great daily shaver and also travels well! This is a VERY well crafted piece of kit. It has excellent balance and weight. It looks great and is well machined. The knurling of the handle is comfortable and non slip. Most important to me: the razor is completely enclosed. The edges (or ‘ears’) of the blade do not stick out. It is a joy to use each day. It has been happy with every blade I’ve put into it. It is a ‘mild’ razor body. It does pair well with sharp/very sharp/aggressive blades. But I’ve used ‘smooth over sharp’ blades in it as well and been just as happy. I do concede that there have been some blades I’ve used in this that may be better paired with a more aggressive razor or adjustable but I’ve never gotten a bad shave with any blade in this razor. As always, it does pay to try what works for you so blades that maybe are too sharp and/or rough in what you are using now will likely be well tamed in the AS-D2. In like fashion blades that seem not quite sharp enough/close enough in the AS-D2 may do better in your more aggressive or adjustable razor. I also appreciate the contour of this razor body. The head is flatter than others I’ve seen so getting to difficult areas under nose, etc. are easier. Some reviewers have mentioned this razor requires a different angle in use. Maybe? As with any razor/blade combo, go slowly and perhaps somewhat thoughtfully so you can take the time to feel exactly what the razor is doing and adjust accordingly. Again, totally recommended, even for the cost of it. Ironically the ‘curse’ of my purchase of this razor is now I am debating saving up for the Rex adjustable so I may try the blades that don’t pair as well in this one in the Rex... (yes, to replace the ‘beginner’ adjustable I have now. But hey, it’s an investment in myself, yes?)

expensive but worth it

I've had this for several months now so I thought Id give a review.Yes is it expensive, but I'm glad I forked out for it.It took a little while to get used to the traits of the razor but once you get the technique down it works great.it has a nice weight to it & good grip.I used to have problems with dry, sensitive skin and in-grown hairs when using Gillette or Wilkinson sword 3 blade systems so I went for the single blade.I don't have these problems with the Feather.I use it with Feather blades, Muhle badger brush and Haslinger soap pucks with the 3 pass shave.the only con is the price, but everything else is a win for me.it will last for years.