I ventured into looking at bargain razors.  These are razors that ocst under 15 to 20 dollars.  Are they worth it?  Well, yes and no.  In the above video, I look review the Classic Samurai razor (Model Number CS-202).

The photo of the CS-202 Classic Samurai on amazon.com is a bit deceptive. From the photo, I thought the handle would be much thicker. It’s not. In fact, it’s quite thin. The diameter of the handle is similar to that of the classic Gillette butterfly razor and about the same length. Still, the grip is very good and it is nicely balanced. A thinner handle can sometimes be a welcome change.:) And it feels quite dense. There is a heft and weight that, again, is deceptive. At first glance, it is more than one expects.

The box information however, describes a completely different razor than the one contained inside. It details a long-handled razor when the CS-202 is a short-handled razor.

The CS-202 comes with five Astra blades. This is a plus, because many wet shavers consider Astra to be a very good blade. Certainly above Derby blades which usually are the blade offered at this price point.

The razor cap and base plate exhibit some slippage and play. Because of this, you really need to make sure the blade is properly aligned before proceeding with a shave. This is not a major concern, but please, be aware. And, it appears to be the norm with most sub 20-dollar razors. They lack precision. Although, I will say, the blade aligns evenly on both sides of the razor head. Some of these bargain razors have lousy blade alignment whereby the blade sits lopsided in the razor cap. (One side of the blade is much more exposed than the other). Not so with the CS-202.

Using the three-pass method of wet shaving, the shave with the CS-202 is close and comfortable. Although, I did catch a slight nick on my chin. But not a major nick. It closed up with a final cold water rinse. The blade exposure is considerable and you’d think this would be a very aggressive shave. Yet, the shave is surprisingly more mild than anticipated.

The razor is not at all bad for 15 bucks! I get the impression that this little guy will last for years.

However, if you’d rather not have to constantly check blade alignment (when loading a new blade) and require a handle that is thicker in diameter, then there are alternatives. My personal favorite, and “goto” razor, is The Godfather by Vikings Blade.  Believe me, The Godfather is a razor you’ll want to use every single day!  And it’s worth every penny!  So, spending an extra 15 to 20 dollars (and up) assures you a shaving instrument with much more precision. And The Godfather gives you just that.

But for those on a budget, the CS-202 is a nice little razor. If you travel, it’ll do the job and you won’t stress-out if it gets lost.  Losing a 15 dollar razor is not as bad as losing your 40 or 50 dollar razor!

For other great razors and wet shaving gear, check out The Shave Stop!