'The viscous Mongoose' was the theme given to my shave this day.
Herpestidae - Aluminium Mongoose SE on stainless handle
Cynictis Penicillata - Kai Captain
Mungos Mungo - Razorock 24mm Plissoft aluminium
Meerkat Suricata Suricatta - Gentlemen's Tonic shaving cream
Herpestes brachyurus - Men's Grooming Thistle and Black Pepper facial soap
Cynictis penicillata - Nivea Intensive Moisturising Cream
This was my second time out with the Mongoose SE aluminium on a stainless handle which I procured from
@N_Architect on the BST. How much I really hate the BST section because inevitably up comes one of those 'wish list' items and inevitably my bank balance suffers. Inevitability for you.
A little lighter head than I am used to but the sturdy and beautifully turned handle certainly introduced the weight I so like. The fit between the plates is excellent and the general finish and manufacture is what I would have expected from a razor which appears to bring with it a fan club. I do like the elongated pins for the blade and like all the other SE's I have used to date the shaving angle is so easy to find. In fact hard to get wrong. One big give away to how it shaves is in how much blade is exposed. Certainly not on the shy side of hiding the blade from its duties.
Reading around prior to purchase I was under the impression the Mongoose was supposedly on the milder side of shaving life. The first time out with this particular razor was a daily drive having shaved the previous evening and the first thing which hit me was mild is the last word I would use to describe it. I was expecting something in a similar ilk to the General, but not to be so and I found its general stance to be more on the aggressive side. So much so I found it a little uncomfortable at first, but like the Ikon B1 it takes time and patience.
Today was more about giving a couple of days growth a lesson in how to face the blade and hopefully lose. This is where the Mongoose comes in to its own.
The cream and brush need no introduction if you manage to torture yourself with my prolonged SOTD's as I have given them praise enough times and from every angle. They are good, so nuff said.
Now this was a much more satisfying shave and the Mongoose just glides through the growth with consummate ease. Very much like the Ikon B1 I find it a single pass does it all razor. I did manage a full three passes, but to be honest it was a bit of overkill and unnecessary. A little awkward around those dodgy to do areas like the chin and nose and it doesn't have the overall accuracy of the Colonial but it is efficient and it is ruthless. Overall though I would give the edge to the General as it does much the same with a bit less 'scare factor',a more confidence inspiring shave and a finer end result. But the Mongoose wins the 'shift me quickly' competition as it said on those naff seaside hats. Or was it 'Kiss me quickly?'
Not a daily driver, but as a get me out of the bathroom quickly after a couple of days of being lazy it hits all the right buttons. I don't think I would like to try a sharper blade than the Captain, but then again I haven't really taken to sharp blades in the world of SE's and tend to get no further than what I know and trust.
So this shave of the day brought me a big smile and a big smiley happy smooth face at the same time. Very useful when wanting to feel smiley happy smooth and big. Thank you Mr.Mongoose for giving me the opportunity to meet your very fine razor and thanks to
@N_Architect for doing a good job of bringing us together. I am sure there are indeed many more fish in the sea but I am happy to have a relationship with this particular fish.
Have a great day chaps and may your day be as smiley and as happy as mine