Review Alpha OUTLAW - DE 316L STAINLESS. FULLY MACHINED Prototype V3

[owlman]

Got my razor two days ago - looks like I was one of the lucky Batch #1 people. Here are some pictures.

I've used it twice now, so it's high time for an initial impression! The blade was a Sputnik, and the soaps Wickham 1912 and Stirling. I'm a three-pass guy; with, across, and against the grain.

In the last few weeks, I've mainly used the Tatara Masamune and occasionally the EJ 3ONE6. With the Alpha, the first things I noticed were two: The blade and the sound. While I tend to forget there's a blade in the Masamune (luckily without consequences), it's very present throughout with the Alpha. Not as much as with, say, the Mühle R41, but obvious. A bit more than with the 3ONE6 or the Game Changer .84, somewhere in the area of a Rockwell plate 5 or 6. The audio feedback is rather impressive; I got this kind of prickly sandpaper sound especially during the first pass, similar to my Rocca V1. The handle is nice and grippy, and the razor is easy to manoeuvre.

While the 3ONE6 gave me a BBS shave on its first outing, the Alpha has not so far, but that could obviously be all on me at this early stage. It certainly shaves closer than the Masamune, which is kind of a half-day shaver for me. My skin felt slightly irritated, but no real burn, and the aftershave didn't bite. There was no blood loss, but that's very rare (every few months) for me anyway.

I intend to keep using it with the Sputnik for now (which usually lasts around a dozen shaves for me), and then switch to a Feather blade.

So, the Alpha seems to come with a bit of a learning curve for me, but then again that's where the fun is! I'm certainly looking forward to the next shave.

 

[AlphaShaving]

Got my razor two days ago - looks like I was one of the lucky Batch #1 people. Here are some pictures.

I've used it twice now, so it's high time for an initial impression! The blade was a Sputnik, and the soaps Wickham 1912 and Stirling. I'm a three-pass guy; with, across, and against the grain.

In the last few weeks, I've mainly used the Tatara Masamune and occasionally the EJ 3ONE6. With the Alpha, the first things I noticed were two: The blade and the sound. While I tend to forget there's a blade in the Masamune (luckily without consequences), it's very present throughout with the Alpha. Not as much as with, say, the Mühle R41, but obvious. A bit more than with the 3ONE6 or the Game Changer .84, somewhere in the area of a Rockwell plate 5 or 6. The audio feedback is rather impressive; I got this kind of prickly sandpaper sound especially during the first pass, similar to my Rocca V1. The handle is nice and grippy, and the razor is easy to manoeuvre.

While the 3ONE6 gave me a BBS shave on its first outing, the Alpha has not so far, but that could obviously be all on me at this early stage. It certainly shaves closer than the Masamune, which is kind of a half-day shaver for me. My skin felt slightly irritated, but no real burn, and the aftershave didn't bite. There was no blood loss, but that's very rare (every few months) for me anyway.

I intend to keep using it with the Sputnik for now (which usually lasts around a dozen shaves for me), and then switch to a Feather blade.

So, the Alpha seems to come with a bit of a learning curve for me, but then again that's where the fun is! I'm certainly looking forward to the next shave.

Thanks mate, just below the R41 was the aim point!! Not too mild and not kamikazi banshee level. I use Outlaw with Feather blades all the time. Shave #1 is so far the only time it has bitten me. Once the edge is off the Feather is is butter smooth for me. I appreciate any and all feedback by the way. It can only help me improve my products. BTW I am working on a milder baseplate for the Outlaw - news soon. Probably tone it down to a 0.5mm gap or thereabouts. Same great top cap but a revised bottom cap. Neutral exposure and reduced blade gap.

Try Outlaw with a Personna - that’s smooth as butter too.

 

[AlphaShaving]

You can take advantage of ATG discount and still get a bargain my friends. Code ATG10 at checkout.

https://www.alphashaving.com/product/alpha-outlaw-double-edged-safety-razor/

 

[Number Six]

Several shaves in with the Outlaw. Outstanding results in two passes with very little touch up. Regardless of the way the blade is clamped or the geometry or whatever it’s an outstanding shaver, I’m thoroughly enjoying it.
BTW the finish work is very very nicely done.
Great work Steve.

 

[AlphaShaving]

Several shaves in with the Outlaw. Outstanding results in two passes with very little touch up. Regardless of the way the blade is clamped or the geometry or whatever it’s an outstanding shaver, I’m thoroughly enjoying it.
BTW the finish work is very very nicely done.
Great work Steve.

Hi, many thanks, happy that you are happy with it!! - care to leave a review on my website? https://www.alphashaving.com/product/alpha-outlaw-double-edged-safety-razor/

 

[owlman]

I intend to keep using it with the Sputnik for now (which usually lasts around a dozen shaves for me), and then switch to a Feather blade.

Thanks mate, just below the R41 was the aim point!! Not too mild and not kamikazi banshee level. I use Outlaw with Feather blades all the time. Shave #1 is so far the only time it has bitten me. Once the edge is off the Feather is is butter smooth for me.

I've since switched from the Sputnik to a Feather blade and had half a dozen shaves with it by now. It is indeed different; the sound is very similar, but the blade feel is noticeably reduced so the razor feels smoother (albeit still not at the level of, say, a DE89). I get a closer shave with this combo, and will continue to use it for a while (a Feather blade usually lasts around 18 shaves for me), before moving on to the third of the three blades in my inventory, the ASP.

 

[jmudrick]

Several shaves in with the Outlaw. Outstanding results in two passes with very little touch up. Regardless of the way the blade is clamped or the geometry or whatever it’s an outstanding shaver, I’m thoroughly enjoying it.
BTW the finish work is very very nicely done.
Great work Steve.

Only one shave in but I'd agree. Outlaw is the only one of my premium razors without bottom support but results are at least as good as any. More audible feedback but no tugging one might associate with a lack of rigidity.

 

[AlphaShaving]

Only one shave in but I'd agree. Outlaw is the only one of my premium razors without bottom support but results are at least as good as any. More audible feedback but no tugging one might associate with a lack of rigidity.

Did it ping the Piccolo though?

 

[AlphaShaving]

Any more feedback guys?

 

[owlman]

After using Sputnik and Feather, I have completed a run (seven shaves) with an ASP blade, this one in comparison to an ASP in the Rex Envoy razor. A bit surprisingly, my impression was that the ASP gave less blade feel in the Outlaw than the Feather. Somewhat similar to the Masamune, even. The overall results of the Feather were much better though. So, in terms of blade feel, my list goes Sputnik-Feather-ASP (rough to smooth), in terms of result it goes ASP-Sputnik-Feather (least to best). I'll mostly use the Feather in the future.

The Rex Envoy had more blade feel and a similar result with the ASP. It feels a bit heavier than the Alpha, even though it's not (107 vs. 115 grams), probably due to it being shorter. I like the balance, handling and maneuverability of the Outlaw better; it feels less chunky, if that makes sense. I also prefer the look; it's practical but elegant, shiny but not splashy, confident and rightly so.

 

[dimifos]

If you don't mind I'd like to add my experience with the Outlaw mild. I received the safety razor yesterday and had my first shave with it today. I was a bit disappointed to find out out that the blade alignment is a bit problematic. There is a slight play between the top cap and the base plate and therefore I had to align the blade using my nail since there's no blade overhang on the sides. The shave was mostly smooth and the aggressiveness was indeed similar to the EJ 89. Not completely disappointed but not ecstatic .
Did anyone else experience alignment problems with your Outlaw ?
Thank you in advance.

 

[adrian ivanovici]

Greetings,

After asking Brian from Executive Shaving Company about the Outlaw standard head aggressiveness compared to a DE/R89 on a scale 1-10, DE/R89 being 5, here is his response: "On your scale of 1-10, the Mild Outlaw would be a 6/10, the Standard Outlaw would be 7.5/10." That being said, i will be reviewing it when it arrives.

"Have a great shave, have a great day!"

 

[Sausage]

Outlaw users, are you enjoying these razors? How is the mild version? I find mixed reviews about the mild version

How is the blade alignment?

 

[owlman]

I just got the M-version this week and am two shaves in with a Feather blade. The previous owner said the razor was too aggressive for him. I find it has less blade feel than the regular Outlaw, but not all that much. Also less sound. It feels a bit subdued in comparison, but still a step above both of the Razorock Mambas, for example. (I'll have to test further, especially with the ASP, as that blade was smoother in the regular Outlaw for me than the Feather.)

As for the alignment, there is a bit of play. I had one blade sit slightly crooked in my regular Outlaw, which I realised because looking from above, the gap in the base plate was visible on one end and just about covered on the other. Easy to fix, though, and I noticed nothing during the shave.

 

[sphetnik]

I have the M version and the problem of aligning the blade makes me tired, sometimes I don't succeed from the first movement and after that it takes me too long to adjust it with the tip of my fingernail. I think an Alpha V4 would be welcome.