Well, I love the Henson AL13, I really do, but I've found my last razor in the Yaqi Ghost 90SB DS head on Cosmetics Spiral Ti handle (China). I don't think I'll ever change, and the Henson just doesn't do it for me any more.
That said, it is an outstanding razor for a new shaver or an experienced one who likes medium/mild razors and wants to try this. If you are an aggressive razor fan, I respectfully ask you not to participate in this PIF. But if you are new or experienced and just want to try it, come on in, the water's fine!
I did not care for the long handle, and a generous member who had the medium handle sent it to me, so you'll get the razor in the original box, with two handles! I am also going to include an assortment of blades, and a bunch of soaps I don't use much, and a bunch of soap samples I've picked up in purchases that I won't use. The soaps are all excellent and range from used a couple times to maybe 1/4 used, but I just don't like having more than a dozen soaps in rotation, I feel overwhelmed. But these are all outstanding shave soaps, you can be confident in that.
As long as you are not an aggressive razor fan, please participate. No geographical restrictions, although European participants will be asked to pay actual shipping because it's egregious. I have a soft spot for my friends in Canuckistan, so shipping is on me to The Great White North. I will let this run through Saturday, March 1 and post a winner Sunday morning.
Blades:
In addition to the 1970s vintage blades, those are current Viet Nam production Dorco Prime blades (My favorite modern blade), The Russian Gillette Platinum AKA "Swede", is another modern favorite. I get a week out of both of these and the vintage blades and could probably go longer, I'm just not a duration freak. The Gillette Blacks are Indian, and the Nacets, Russian (for the Middle Eastern market), I usually use those 3-4 days or two blades per week.
Soaps:
Again I LOVE all of these and they are all pretty much top tier latherers. But I have over a dozen in the den I'm keeping now, and I get antsy when I have more than that. Yeah, I'm weird that way. @Marco turned me on to TFS, albeit a different scent, and I got Annuendo instead. Magnificent shaver, wonderful but very light scent, used maybe a dozen times. Looks like less because they use larger tubs for some reason. The T+S Cognac and Phoebus I got in a package where what I was really after was the now discontinued Noble Otter Two Kings. They are marvelous shavers, as well, but the Phoebus is melon scent, and my favorite summer fruit scented soap is the wonderful Don Marco (yep, named for our very own). Plague Doctor is another Marco recommendation, and I love that, too (Italian Barber soap, but may be made by TFS for them??). Like Annuendo it is a wonderful, complex, but very subtle scent. I've used that about 3X. If you don't think these give some of the best shaves you've had, I'll eat my hat. The Tabac is current formula, but I did a recent comparison to the original tallow, and I find them indistinguishable, it's a world-class soap. The samples came with Chinese razors or brushes, and I have a few other samples to toss in, as well.
The Henson has been extensively reviewed, and if you win this PIF, I strongly suggest you give yourself two full weeks of daily shaves (consecutive, don't switch out during that time) to dial it in. It is a terrific razor, but it has an unconventional feel to it and people who dismiss it may do so because they did not quite dial it in completely. Not saying they would not prefer something else (I moved on), but it takes about 14 consecutive shaves with it to really understand it, IMO. It only comes with the long handle now, but I preferred the short (no longer made), but it's all personal pref. Try both and use what you like.
Good Luck!!
