VIKINGS BLADE 'Dark Stallion' Luxury Shaving Brush, Heavy Steel Base + Obsidian Acrylic

The review has been updated. Julian from Vikings Blade contacted me with a review update on 3/12/17. There was a slim chance I'd get a brush from the old stock, apparently. These brushes were upgraded, and a new and improved batch was released in November 2016. I was told that the old batch had been removed and replaced by the new version, but I believe I may have received one of the old ones. br>br>Because my purchase came with a 30-day warranty, I was offered a free replacement, but Julian advised that if I wanted the "silvertip soft feel," the "White Knight" premium synthetic brush would be a better choice. Julian explained how great these brushes are, made of high-quality synthetic fibers that absorb and retain water better than real badger, plus they have firm bristles and soft tips, much better than the badger version. I was a little apprehensive about taking a synthetic. I have a few badger, boar, and horse brushes, but I'm not a fan of synthetic bristles. I chose the synthetic version because I was confident that I would enjoy it. br>br>The brush arrived the next day, and what a difference it made! What had I been missing out on? This brush is not only beautiful in ivory, but the fibers also look great with the white tip and, in my opinion, are softer than real silvertip. I used the brush the next day for my shave with Arko soap and face lather, and it performed admirably. The knot has a firm backbone, with soft, gentle tips. The brush lathered up quickly and held enough lather for all three of my passes. Finally, the brush was simple to clean, dried quickly, and maintained its original shape. br>br>I used it again a few days later, this time to see how well it would lather in a bowl with hard soap. Well, it performed admirably, and, like my natural badgers, it lathered up quickly with little effort, holding enough lather for three or more passes. br>br>If you're like me and haven't tried a synthetic, you're missing out. This is a fantastic brush that will perform admirably and give your bathroom a unique appearance. I've included photos of my bowl lathering before, during, and after the shave in the hopes that this lengthy review will be helpful in making your decision. br>br>- br>br>I considered giving it a four-star rating, but I realized that I needed to be more honest in my review because it will benefit other buyers and Vikings Blade by taking things into account. The Pros: br>br>The Pros: br>br>The Pros: br>b It's all about the handle! This handle has a luxurious look and feel thanks to the black obsidian acrylic and alloy base combination. The brush handle is heavy and comfortable to hold; you can sense the quality that distinguishes it from the competition. The logo on the alloy is fantastic and adds a touch of class to the piece. Australia was the source of this product. The Drawbacks: br>br> This handle's badger knot isn't up to the task. This badger hair is short and has a cheap, scratchy feel to it. My new Vie-Horse brush is of excellent quality. Semogue's long and premium boar brush has a softer feel and provides better lathering! Badgers are supposed to be a step up from horses and boars, but this badger is simply not up to par with the rest of my brushes. Because there is little to no backbone in this knot, it's difficult to lather. For the same reason, the brush splits and opens on your face. br>br>I would advise Vikings Blade to take it a step further and replace these knots with high-quality badger hair knots (finest badger or super badger), but if they want to keep the "best badger" line and current price, they should switch knot suppliers. Another fantastic option for these good-looking people is to use their imagination. The best way to improve the handles is to replace them with SUPER quality boar and horse knots, but only if they can afford the best; if they use cheap ones, the result will be the same. Viking Blade is on the right track with quality shaving products at a reasonable price, but it still needs to improve.

Lane Zamora

| Aug 06, 2021

His brush was falling apart: bristles were falling out all the time, it leaked like a sieve, and it was far too soft. My attempts at wet shaving were cut short the few times I tried it, and I'm pretty sure it was all because of my father's brush. Years later, I decided to give wet shaving another shot, and I chose this brush to do so. Despite the fact that it has been a long time since I used my father's terrible brush, I recall all of the issues I had with it. None of those issues existed with this brush. It has an OUTSTANDING ability to retain water. With a quick flick of your wrist, you can quickly remove a lot of the excess water. It's soft as well, but not overly so. In my opinion, this is the most crucial factor. If you have coarse hair like me, you'll want the bristles to be a little stiff at the tips so you can work the lather into all the nooks and crannies. Because the bristles can't push your hair out of the way if the tips are too soft, most of the lather will end up on top of it rather than under it (where it belongs). If you're looking for a shaving brush, I believe this is a good option.

Adley Davis

| May 25, 2021

*UPDATE* (05-03-2019): 21)br>br>I've had him for nearly five years. It's incredible how long it's been. In any case, there is wear, but I have been ignoring it. It's still able to withstand a lot of abuse. Shaves better than ever before, and with daily use, only a few hairs have fallen out. On any given day, I would recommend it. br>br>*UPDATE* (01-) 18)br>It's been over a year since I got this brush. It's been used several times a week, sometimes twice a day, and it's still going strong. In the last year, I've lost a few hairs, but only a few. I've included photos of how it looks a year later. The logo has faded slightly, and the bottom metal piece has a few scuffs from sitting it up from time to time, but there are no rust spots. I don't dry the handle after each use; instead, I hang it to dry naturally. This is one of the most important wetshaving purchases you can make. This thing has taken a lot of abuse from me. It's a tank of a brush that I plan to use for many years to come. Great shave of excellent quality. br>br>(12- 16)br>I've been wetshaving for a few months and wanted to upgrade from Van Der Hagan. I had been eyeing Viking's Luxury Badger Brush from the sidelines for weeks before finally breaking down and purchasing it. I could immediately tell the brush was of high quality when I slid it out of its cylinder packaging, and I knew I had made the right choice. It has a nice weight to it, and the badger is soft and pleasant to the touch. As I previously stated, I wanted to try something other than the VDH brand, and I'm glad I went with Vikings first, because I would have likely spent a lot more money on other brushes only to discover that Vikings Blade makes the best brush for a low budget. It's exquisitely crafted and feels fantastic on the skin. The brush looks great on the Perfecto Deluxe stand as well. If you're new to wet-brushing, I highly suggest this brush. I've been shaved, and I'm wet- I'll have to check out the other products from this brand one day, whether I'm shaving for several years or looking for a new high-quality brush at a reasonable price.

Cole BIRCH

| Jul 18, 2021

The best shaving brushes are made with badger hair; the water retention in the brush is extremely useful while lathering the soap prior to and during your shave; there is a minor badger smell at first, as warned by the instructions included with the brush; and there is a minor badger smell at first, as warned by the instructions included with the brush. There is some initial prep work required, but it is the best brush I have ever used. Try VIKINGS BLADE to add some manliness to your daily shaving routine. br>br>The brush is fairly heavy, and it stands well on its own as well as leaning against the rim of Viking Blade's Chairman stainless bowl. Overall, the brush has exceeded my expectations. It will shed some, but not as much as a badger would. It's also easier to keep under control than a badger while lathering your face.

Soren Trujillo

| Jan 02, 2022