WSP "El Grande" Double Edge Safety Razor Shaving

I was putting together a wet shaving kit as a gift. I wanted a safety razor that would please the recipient and encourage them to not go back to cartridges. However, I also didn't want to break the bank on a starter set. I had thought to include one the classic recommended razors for beginners: either a Edwin Jagger De89 or a Merkur 34C. I came across the El Grande while shopping for other components of the gift and decided to give it a try.In terms of fit and finish, this WSP offering reminds me of Merkur, i.e., good but having a few small but noticeable flaws. Edwin Jagger razors are beautifully finished and really have a leg up on WSP and Merkur in this area. However it's worth noting that the El Grande is the most affordable of the trio in question.I did have a trial run with the razor just to make sure it would provide a decent shave for my gift recipient. In terms of the shave, the El Grande seems to be a clone of the De89. Both of these, I think, shave slightly better than the 34C. The blade angle is pretty standard and intuitive. The shave is pretty mild but still efficient. Overall, it's an excellent shaver and a great tool to learn with.I really like the handle on this razor. It is a bit short for my own taste, but I seem like longer handles than most. When I first started using a safety razor I used a De89, and my only complaint was that the handle was very slippery. This handle is knurled and has a nice grip. The handle is also nice and thick which makes the razor seem substantial and I think will appeal to a broad array of users. I do think the razor would benefit greatly by some extra weight in the handle. Indeed, a heavier handle would make this standout even more in its competition against Edwin Jagger and Merkur. However, at this price, it's hard to complain too much.This razor isn't likely to become a multi generation heirloom. However, the El Grande is an effective shaver and an excellent value. I think this easily beats the Merkur. It offers a slightly better shave (although plenty will disagree) and a comparable build quality, at a lower price. The competition with the Edwin Jagger is tougher. They shave nearly the same. The EJ has a nicer fit and finish, but is also more expensive.Lastly, I will compare this razor the new RazoRock Mission. Similar to the El Grande, the Mission attempts to offer a razor that shaves similar to the classics while keeping price in check and hence creating a increased value. The Mission actually has a heavier, albeit thinner, handle and even lower price than the El Grande. It's probably an even better value. The Mission shaves beautifully, however I find it a little more aggressive than the El Grande (and De89). So for my purposes of giving it to someone brand new to safety razors, I decided the El Grande was the better choice.I will also mention that the razor is presented in a cool little black box with a magnetic closure and satin ribbon pull. This is a very nice touch and something I really appreciated intending to give the razor as a gift.Kudos to WSP for keeping the safety razor marketplace competitive which will benefit all us consumers.

This razor is OK. It is very attractive and definitely has a handle that is large and well textured. It is also fairly well balanced (although I would LOVE the handle to be heavier). Overall, this razor is a pleasure to use and provides a mild (but close) shave. The general workmanship and finish appear to be good quality capable of lasting a long time.Where this razor falls short of excellent is the head. The studs that guide the alignment of the blade are smaller than other similar head types, resulting in potentially poor blade alignment. While my cheaper merkur, Edwin Jager and Parker ALL have similar heads, they have larger studs making blade alignment and automatic and thoughtless process. The small studs make it necessary to pay attention to how the blade is being aligned during installation, once properly aligned and the head tightened down, the blade stays put and provides a nice shave. I sent a message to WSP to inquire about getting a new head (if the small studs were an anomaly) and received a VERY fast reply indicating the small studs are to be expected. (other than the fact I don't like mixing and matching, I am tempted to use the "El Grande" handle on my cheaper Merkur that has a handle too slippery for my liking)FYI- I used a Feather blade for my first shave with this razor. Other blades might fit different/better. (I will update my review if I find a different experience with other blades)

I purchased this razor in November of last year. I purchased it to use on my legs and underarms. In the past, I have shaved with safety razors, disposable razors and even a straight edge razor (my father was a barber). After using disposable razors for years, I decided to return to the safety razor for a closer and better shave. I am very disappointed with this product.To be fair, the razor itself is of good quality and looks like it does in the pictures. It is not a turn to open head, so to change the blades, the head must be unscrewed and the top must be separated by hand. The blade gets in the way and had been known to cut me. I chose this razor because I wanted a weighted shaver, and this one is heavy, which is fine. However, the handle is really short, making all the aforementioned activities difficult, to say nothing of the problems this produces when trying to shave your legs with it. I am not a fan of red shaving cream...especially when I have donated the coloring.I can't say it's a bad product, but I can say that there are problems using it for the purposes that I do. Since I did not find any women writing reviews, I thought I would, so that problems related to women, legs and this particular safety razor might be pointed out.

l tried the razor last night and it shaves great. I really like it . I have an average beard and for this razor I find it a slight more aggressive than the DE89L Edwin Jagger but still on the mild side. I have been shaving for over 50 years now and find that there are several reason's for the mildness or aggressiveness of a razor. One is the type of beard that the user has and another is the Blade that is used in the razor. Not all blades are equal. Some are noticeably wider than other's, hence, more aggressive.Also the sharpness makes a difference. I use several blades to shave with. My favorite is the Feather but I also use Tweet often and Personna along with Shark and a few other's .. I find that all of these are sharp enough to get a good shave but Feather is top's for me.Hope this is helpful.Thank's [The Old Timer]