Monocero Husaria CC and "OC" razors

slapo

It's... alive!
It looks like a bunch of people on the forums have these already, so I figured the time's ripe to start a dedicated thread about them.
It's one of two brands of razors that I know of that are made in Poland.
Here's Monocero Husaria's current website: https://monocero.pl/kategoria-produktu/maszynki/ .

I'm grouping the CC and "OC" razors into one thread because they're sibling and look very similar.

Here's the closed comb variant:
monocero husaria cc small.jpg

and here's the "open comb" (which is really a scalloped safety bar)
monocero husaria oc small.jpg
 

slapo

It's... alive!
Does it offer anything new? Still just a handle for a DE blade from what I see.
Not really, but it's an interesting case where a European manufacturer mostly copied a Chinese design (some changes were made) and still made it in Europe.

I find that the most interesting bit is the large looking lather channels.
Because of how it clamps the blade, I don't think it's a design for me. However, plenty of people like the style, so I'd thought a thread would make sense.
 

Blackie

Forum GOD!
Because of how it clamps the blade, I don't think it's a design for me.
I'm with you there. Too much blade unsupported.
Why is it so hard to design a razor with the blade support bars right out near the edge...thus supporting the blade edge?
Sure, you can design a highly curved cap to bend the blade down firmly but then that still allows the edge to flex somewhat.
My NEW SC, or Fatip Piccolo are a better fit for me. Blade clamped tight right out near the blade edge.
 

TobyC

Patriot
Not really, but it's an interesting case where a European manufacturer mostly copied a Chinese design (some changes were made) and still made it in Europe.

I find that the most interesting bit is the large looking lather channels.
Because of how it clamps the blade, I don't think it's a design for me. However, plenty of people like the style, so I'd thought a thread would make sense.
I'm for anything not made in china! 👍

But it's not for me either, and the EU thing. Polexit!
 
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vates

Legendary Member
Interesting. The whole assembly (with the stand) looks like a lance of Polish hussars (aka the "winged" hussars).
 

slapo

It's... alive!
Interesting. The whole assembly (with the stand) looks like a lance of Polish hussars (aka the "winged" hussars).
I think that was intentional. :)
One of those contributing to the design had a post somewhere (Badger & Blade, probably), where they mentioned something of the sort.
 
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Hello everyone. Below I present the stories of the creation of Monocero Husaria.

Little history.

MONOCERO Husaria - New Polish safety razor, made of 316 L stainless steel. First Polish designed and made DE safety razor since 1989



As bizarre as it might sound but it’s a fact. On our Polish shaving forum we have managed to manufacture a DE safety razor under a project named Monocero (nick of the author of the project) HUSARIA (Polish Hussars or Winged Hussars. The name recalls world famous Polish cavalry from the 17th century, known for their wings worn in battle on their backs which were meant to spread fear in the enemy lines by their look and by sound they made during a charge as shown in this painting:




If you would like to read more about this military formation, you can do it in this link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_hussars

The idea first came up in December 2019 and sounded quite interesting. After all, there are a few niche companies making DE safety razors and a 3-piece razor is not a high-tech gadget, so a project like this didn’t look impossible. We decided to aim to the top from the beginning – the razor was to be made from 316l stainless steel. Reality verified earlier assumptions. First blueprints were hand drawn by Monocero in January 2020.







They idea was to make a full set: razor head, matching handle and stand. We started off with the easiest part – handle and stand. These were inspired by the shape of a lance from the 17th century which was used by the cavalry as seen here in a reconstruction picture:






Real problems started with the head. It was easy to draw but much more difficult to make. However a few guys on the forum helped with transforming the head drawings into AutoCad for CNC milling. This is when the project stopped for some time because of the costs which suddenly went sky high and we needed to check the market for alternative quotes or solutions. Finally the difficulties were overcome and we can proudly present the prototype for tests of the Monocero Husaria DE Safety Razor. After the tests and critical feedback from users their opinions will be applied to make the model ready for a production run. The original idea was to make 100 razors but rising costs will bring that number much lower and there is also a question of demand. 6 months after the initial idea, the first Polish DE safety razor designed and manufactured after the fall of communism has become a reality.



To sum up, a couple of facts and figures:

Razor weight: 104g
Head weight: 42g
Handle weight: 62g



Overall razor length: 102mm
Handle length: 92mm
Razor width: 43.2mm



Razor material: 316L Stainless Steel CNC machined



The blade gap is 1.21 and the razor is considered by us to be mild aggressive. On a 1-10 scale we would rate it “7” where:

“2” is Feather AS-D2

“3” is Muhle r89

“4” is Razorock 0.84P

“8” is Muhle r41

Finally, after the tests, the aggressiveness was reduced and the GAP is now 1.4 mm







As a result of further tests, we added a knurling on the handle, symbolizing the wrapping of the lance's sash



Only 100 Monocero Husaria are made.



The Monocero Husaria are polished and satin finish.







 
Many Wet Shaving enthusiasts ask me a question about the aggressiveness of the Monocero Husaria. What is the difference between OC and CC. I explain below.

CC



OC



Monocero Husaria razor was designed and made on the basis of my own experience in shaving and using other razors. The produced prototype underwent a series of objective tests, the comments of which were included in the final product.

1. GAP

Monocero HUSARIA CC I OC has a GAP - 1.4 mm./ 0.055 inches



- Close Comb

Why is it so big and is it a killer? GAP is not, as a parameter, fully responsible for the aggressiveness of the razor. The fact that the GAP is large does not immediately determine the structure as aggressive, because in order to do so, other parameters must be correlated. In this case, the GAP has been engineered at this level to overcome the clogging tendency of the razor used to remove dense stubble. Thanks to this, the foam with stubble is easily pushed under the blade, without causing the cutting edge to be marred.

- Open Comb

The OC version is a solution for people who shave every few days and remove longer stubble. The use of a solution completely different from the classic OC, i.e. the so-called teething, is intended to increase the comfort of shaving. On the guide beam, which is not notched, there are rounded convexities, thanks to which the sharp edges of the teeth (as in Muhle41) do not cause discomfort.




- Mix Comb

This head is a solution to the economy and intensity of use. Mix Comb combines the CC and OC properties in one head.

2. EXPOSURE OF THE BLADE

This element of the head geometry is the second most frequent query regarding the aggressiveness of the Monocero Husaria razor. As we know from the experience of using adjustable razors such as Merkur Progres, Futur, Vision, etc., the variable exposure of the blade directly affects the aggressiveness of the razor. In Monocero Husaria razors, the blade exposure is constant and positive.



The blade exposure parameter has a significant impact on the comfort of shaving and, above all, on its effectiveness. It depends on the degree of deflection beyond the leading edges of the lower bar and the cap whether we collect the stubble on the top layer of the epidermis or deeper. The effect of this parameter is the test of the next day, which is the time of hair regrowth. You may be meeting in your shaving experience that despite being shaved on the so-called PN, in some cases the condition fluctuates hourly, and in others it lasts longer.


3. BLADE ANGLE

The angle of the blade, or the bend of the razor blade, has a major influence on the comfort of shaving. It is very well visible in the Merkur Vision razor, where the head is narrow and the razor blade is strongly bent. The Monocero Husaria has an angle of 20 degrees.



This type of solution causes the head to be intuitively guided over the face and eliminates the scratching effect.

I hope that this imaging will allow you to visualize the level of aggressiveness and effectiveness of the Monocero Husaria.
 
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