Although the two are
Although the two are very different, in looks and in the major aspects of design (adjustment, slant etc.), I find that I can achieve an excellent end-result with either, and that's with a strikingly-similar smoothness and efficiency. Length, weight, balance, and grippiness are different, but equally satisfactory in the use of the razors.
I mentioned some of the minor foibles of the Muramasa earlier in the thread, but the "contrary" adjustment and stiffness thereof still catches me out. I've tried it on all settings, but I get best results on anything from just under 4 and upwards. I don't think it would do me very well with any of the less-sharp blades, and I've been using Gillette Platinums, Perma-Sharp, Personna Platinum and Lab Preps in it. As I normally do with other adjustables, I tend to use adjustment to match the blade(s) in use to the razor, rather than altering for each pass. This shaves in two passes anyway, so changing the setting midstream doesn't seem worth it, except when I'm trying out a different blade for the first time, and not getting the best.
With the Konsul, I find that something around 3-4 or 4.5 suits me best. Although I normally shave daily, I've tried comparing the two, as closely matched as possible with blade etc., for removing a day or two's growth. For that operation, I think that the Konsul is slightly better, as it never tugs and cuts well on the first pass. In daily use, it seems to me that both performance and result are almost identical, and there's nothing in the "feel" to mark either out. I suppose I could use a razor "per side" if I wanted to make a truly empirical test, but that's not really called for.
Since the hot summer and the now-rocketing cost of producing hot water, I've been cold-water shaving with every razor (reversion to student days), and although it varies with different soaps, it's not quite so quick or easy to rinse out any soap blockages. The Konsul slots are larger than the Murumasa's, clog slightly less, and clear more easily, but nowadays I'm not shaving to a morning deadline, so it's not a bother.
I'm happy to enjoy alternating between these two, along with the other non-vintage adjustables (various Merkur - esses, Pearl and Ambassador), although the Ambassador has, by virtue of comparison with Konsul, dropped a notch or two in my estimation.
