I have the Vikings Blade Emperor Augustus, I believe it is made in Indonesia not China, though they may have changed. And yes, there is a bow to the blade, weird but it works. and the ring thing, its a feature, an anti lock-jamming feature that prevents the head from locking up or jamming if you try to adjust while the silos are closed due to the design of the adjustment mechanism. I prefer it over even my Model T now, because it is a neutral blade exposure razor, so it feels smooth without too much blade bite. You didn't mention this but the razor also has an asymmetric head, with one side scalloped and the other a straight bar. Scalloped side for closer to the skin shave, straight bar for a gentler blade approach. The down sides: You will find that the silo doors are synced with the adjustment, meaning you get the doors to open the most at max setting and at 1, the doors are open but aren't opened all the way, this can be annoying when putting in razors. Also, because of this, sometimes the doors can't close properly, you need to loosen the silo and close it again sometimes for the door to settle in properly. The other thing is that the color of the razor are plated and mine is showing a little wear with the champagne platting looking lighter and no longer the light golden yellow when it was new. Shave quality though at this time I have to say even beats out Rockwell's Model T. I have an issue with my Model T that has the blade alignment and balance sometimes skewed with one side showing more blade (very much more) than the other side. This can be fixed by opening and closing the Model T. I have never had an alignment issue with the Vikings Blade, except for that weird bow effect.
Hello, I did buy and am currently using the Viking Emperor Augustus razor. The directions on a little card that came with it states to not adjust the razor head unless its fully closed. I have kept to this direction and mine does not become loose like your video implied and I continue to get a great shave with it using a Van Hanson and derby blade so far. Love your reviews, keep it up thanks for all the info.
Matt, when the knob becomes loose or the baseplate becomes tilted the razor needs to be reset by removing the blade, close the doors and set it to max. Then squeeze the baseplate and top cap together and click it 3 or 4 times. Now you can open the doors and load a blade, you can then adjust the aggression without opening the doors, every time you need to open the doors you must set it at MAX, then you can open the doors. No need to open the doors while adjusting. You have to remember every time set to MAX before opening it:)
Regarding the Emperor's adjustment dial issue, on the Vikings Blade product page, this was addressed in a Q&A by a representative from the company. ========== Q: The adjustment dial is loose and does not widen the blade gap from mid-point to most aggressive settings. Is this normal or a defect? A: Hello Brooklen, This phenomenon is not a defect and can be fixed easily. It will happen to all adjustable razors including the legendary Gillette Slim Adjustable - when the user forgets to set the baseplate to maximum aggression and then open the butterfly doors. The instruction leaflet says only open the butterfly doors when the aggression is set to max. Perhaps you missed that part. Not a big issue! This can be reset easily. First, turn the adjustment knob so that the knob is at the lowest position (maximum aggresion). Then, reset the baseplate as instructed in the below video: ruclips.net/video/Ou2A29U4qKk/видео.html Baseplate will now drop back to where it should be. Then you can now turn the adjustment knob back as usual :) If it doesn’t work, try reset the baseplate again a couple of times. This is something that all springload adjustable razors will experience- but it’s an extremely easy fix. Let me know how it goes! Robert ========== Nice review, matt. Hope this info helps.:)
I have never seen, or heard of, this happening on a slim adjustable. Curious to see if Matt has as no doubt he has seen more than I have. Matt would also have a copy of slim's the original instructions to see if they recommend this
Just now watched your review and I agree with you. I just bought the Viking Blade Emperor “Meiji” and love it. I’m able to use a Feather blade at 3 then 2 on my neck. Awesome shave. As far as the adjustment dial, yes it does kinda free wheel when turning to a higher setting from a lower one but does not effect the blade angle or gap. You can go from hi to low with butterfly closed but need to open slightly to go from low to high. Small inconvenience for the quality of shave. I appreciate your videos, thank you your unbiased reviews and commitment to the wet shave bunch. Al
Even if posting straight-up honest reviews may cost you a sale here and there (inevitably), it will gain you more in the long run in the way of a loyal and trusting following. You definitely earned my respect and when i scrape up some cash my next wet shave purchase will be from you.
For anyone wondering on the bow effect. Its from VikingBlade, "For aesthetic reasons, razors made in 2020 had 2 symmetrical burrs in the head to create a bowing blade appearance. It was sometimes misunderstood and we have since restored the traditional straight blade look" They also fixed a lots of issue with the newer models. I used Parker variant, Emperor MEIJI, Rockwell T2 on the adjustable section. All 3 work perfectly but my go to would be the Emperor Meiji. Not because it outperform the other 2. It just look nice haha.
I own a VB emperor chrome and like it. Main observation is just the adjustment dial. Same as you, you have to open it, adjust and lock. Doesn’t bother me though. The other comment is that my hand tends to reach for the dial while shaving and in some occasions the dial became loose. Doesn’t change the blade gap though. Perhaps it is the reason they haven’t spring loaded it. What I don’t like is the number edging, specially in the chrome version. The blade sits nicely. I like its weight, grip, length and how it shaves. Surprised you didn’t comment on the difference between both sides of the safety bar. All in all, I like it and it’s in my rotations.
I have that vikings razor and love it. I never noticed that dial moving like that on mine but I'm use to opening up the head before i adjust it. The bottom is meant to be unfinished as it's like that in all the pictures I've seen. It's a dual comb design, not sure if you noticed that. I've gotten some wonderful shaves from it and have recommended it to fellow wet shavers.
Just got back to wet shaving and got the Vikings Meiji. My blade seems pretty even. One thing Viking notes is that you should open and replace blades at “max” setting (otherwise it seems common that occasionally you have to reseat the head). I don’t think the dial was ever intended to click at solid increments : mine seems to have enough tension for me to rotate the dial and keep it there.
Read The Manual: Viking states to adjust, open, set, then close. I've had an Emperor Augustus for several years and it works perfectly when setting per their directions.
I've purchased the Viking's Blade Emperor Augustus Adjustable and I have to tell you, it's not for the timid! The loading issue is minor. To open the doors fully, first release the tension and then move the dial all the way to 9, and it'll open fully. Drop in the blade, make sure it's aligned properly, set it to the number you want, and THEN close the doors. I haven't tried the St. James soap yet, but I intend to at some point.
I just got my Vikings Blade The Emperor as my old DE razor broke. I love it so far, except for what you pointed out with the adjustment ring being loose if you adjust it at all after closure and your first setting adjustment. Not sure why, but glad to know it isn't just me. I haven't had it come "loose" while shaving, just odd. If you want to adjust during a shave, you must open, close, and adjust. Other than that, I really like it.
Great video First razor I purchased when I started wet saving (month and a half ago)and I get good three pass shaves with it. Like the heft and color scheme. Trying different blades from beginners kit from Razor Emporium to see which blade I like. Can’t wait to see how it compares to the Gillette adjustables I got at an antique store 1 Fatboy 1 slim 1 short and 1 long black beauties plus 4 other Gillette razors for $130
I posted on this video before, but have some more observations about Vikings Blade and adjustable you might be used to. I was starting to get some skin irritation, so thought I'd get a Parker variable to compare. I also have just scored a replated Gillette 195, and have seen your other videos on it (thank you for all the resources you provide). I saw your older video on "broken" razors and how opening/closing doors helps with the adjustment of the Gillette. It has the adjustment plate have tabs that go past the base plate. So I do see how the doors lock everything when the they are closed. If you look at the Viking's Blade (at least my Emperor Meiji), you'll see that there's just a plate that the blade sits on (and the whole adjustment raises and lowers the guard plate below). So if you go by the recommendation of putting the blade in when the adjustment is max, the doors are fully open and the blade rests on the top plate. By design, you are supposed to be able to freely move the dial (and you can see the guard go up and down). Probably for blade evenness, it might be better to only open its doors when on max. As an aside, I also saw your video on the 195 and how different the machining is due to it being so high volume. I definitely can see it now that I have one...it does seem like what an expensive metal composite Pro Glide DE razor would be (only made in l960 and $1.95: or only 14.70 today). That's amazing to think considering how new DEs have to be so much more expensive because of the manufacturing costs.
Hi Matt, yes the spring issue you saw with the dial is a common problem. The way to reset it is by opening the TTO fort and closing it like the old Gillette adjustable.
I have the Vikings Blade Crusader Ragnarr it does that too so I put a WD 3in1 Oil and massage the mechanical parts of the razer then I wash it with soap with some soft sponge after that the adjustable knobs work without opening the knob at the bottom to open the blade cap anymore I think its cause the adjustable knob is tightly sealed on the razor neck. so its stiff brand new. Its still a quality shave though I still enjoy it.
Update... my VB Emperor on max seems to shave slightly closer than my parker slant. It's a scary sensation. My beard is coarse so the parker slant works better but really irritates sensitive areas. For my multifaceted beard and skin I need a variable razor. The VB does a good job and I have no issues with setting changes.
Vikings instruction leaflet says only open the butterfly doors when the aggression is set to max. From my experience I noticed if you tighten the blade too much then the spring inside the adjustable mechanism doesn't operate as it should then the adjustable wheel moves freely once you go from low to high.
I've been using the Emperor since Christmas, nicks have dropped to zero. Styptic pencil is getting lonely. The rotating dial is not an issue. You adjust the razor with the doors open and after you lock it down the razor will not change aggressiveness even if the dial moves a bit.
I just used my Vikings Blade Emperor for the first time today. I have to say that it was a fantastic shave. Very smooth and enjoyable. It's not a perfect razor. I found that the base plate would adjust down evenly, however, when adjusting back up, the base plate would become uneven (almost like a see saw) which then made the blade gap uneven. A work around I found was to adjust from Max to 1 ONLY, not the other way around. I love it though, one of my best shaves. :)
OK.....after more fiddling with the Razor I discovered that if I don't tighten the barn doors after loading the blade then the base plate will drop and raise evenly. Once i reach the desired setting then tighten........All good :)
Mine works the same way. Leave it loose to adjust then tighten it down after you get your setting. I don't care to twist it while it is tight. It doesn't sound mechanically friendly.
Good video sounds unbiased! Was tempted to buy a Viking emperor Augustus model but with a blade that’s uneven at times, I’m going for a second Gillette 195 Fatboy From e-bay! I like the solid spring click with each razor setting ! That’s something that none that I’m aware of the Chinese razors HAVE! That should happen solidly with each adjustment with the butterfly doors closed!
On my Gillette slim, I used to start off on 5, do one pass, then go down to 1 and do a pass in the opposite direction. Currently switched to doing my first pass on 7 and my last pass on 3. Not sure if anyone else changes their blade gap between passes but i find the lower numbers word well with going against the grain
I haven't read all the comments so you may have already had the question about the noticeable blade bow answered. Here's what Vikings Blade says about that. This razor has 2 symmetrical burrs on the door corners which slightly bow/bend the blade. NOT a defect. This is part of our new 2020 mold and has passed all QC standards. Razors made from this mold repeatedly give an excellent smooth shave and this has been confirmed by all our genuine beta testers, despite the bowing effect which might be misunderstood.
Hi Matt, just getting started with wet shaving, well first try I was 17 and my dad Gillete did carve pieces of me so I not count this. I bought a similar to vikings, Weishi 9306-f design and when adjusting the blade it stay uneven so, if I set to 5 one side of the edge is ok then the other is almost 1mm off, this happen with all levels except the 1 off course. Great videos.
I have the Viking Chieftain, a Gillette Super Speed, and a couple of straights. I really like the viking. It is more aggressive than the Gillette and feels much more solid in my hand and on my face. Viking is an Australian company that simply outsources their manufacturing to China. That's not really the same thing as calling it a Chinese razor. I don't refer to iPhones as being Chinese. Any company that wants to survive in today's world has to outsource their manufacturing. Viking does a really good job. Their marketing is superb. Their packaging is top notch. I would recommend them to anyone starting out.
I have not shaved for 34 years, always worn a very short A0 clipper beard. I would like to start shaving again. My beard is only med course, and I used to get razor burn with injector blades. I am thinking I want to get the Rockwell 6S in gunmetal, could you offer some advice?
Thanks for another awesome video! Just received my first Vikings Meiji in the mail today! The look of the razor is super cool, but I'm still wondering if I need to open the doors each time before making an adjustment, or can I keep them shut? I usually like to open each time just to take the pressure off the parts. Love to hear your feed back! Thanks!
An excellent comparison video, Matt. I recently purchased the Vikings Blade Crusader, (which is the long handled cousin of the Emperor razor featured in the video). It arrived nicely packaged, but, with multiple nicks and scratches, most likely from sub-standard machining/assembling. The blade bowed, and suffers from "Janky Blade Parabolas". I returned this razor. There are threads on a Badger and Blade forum which suggest that Vikings Blade razors are re-branded Baili razors. It seems like a possibility, considering the poor quality of manufacturing.
So I brand new to safety razors I just got my first razor from Viking not adjustable tho, so now 8m looking for a adjustable one. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for this video
On the Viking did you notice one side had a scalloped bar while the other side was smooth? Supposedly the scalloped side is more aggressive ... I wasn't sure how or why that would be or if it was true.
I have the same razor and it does feel a little more aggressive but not by much. I can feel the difference when I switch sides. I'm thinking the teeth lift the hair up as you do your pass.
Yes. It’s a shame the review didn’t pick this up. I got one from Amazon and sent it back for this reason. I didn’t want to be thinking about which side to use. As like most people I use both. Got the Variant next and love it. Nice and heavy to just let the head do the shave and makes such a sweet noise. Parker for me anytime.
Issue with the adjustment mechanism and a bowing blade, however still favouring over the Parker. Well done persevering with the Viking. I would have thought anything other than a perfectly straight across blade would cause issues no?
Thank you for reviewing the emperor by Viking. this is a product I am considering buying. I really enjoy your videos they are very informative and assist me to a better choice for purchasing a double safety razor. I m interested in a double edge butterfly opening and that it is adjustable since I get razor burn easily and if I stretch my skin with my facial hair disappears.
Great showdown shave, Matt. The Vikings Blade looks great but I''m not sure I want to invest in one. I have the Chieftain, it's an okay razor. My Rex Ambassador remains my "go to" razor. Have a great and safe week.
Hello Mat. I have received my Vikings blade meiji adjustable. In this video you use a Vikings blade emperor. Me base plate is tilt. They have a short video of solving this issue..but I don't think it does. Did you notice this issue in yours? Or is it normal because of the spring? Or do you perhaps have an advice?
Glad that you did a comparison video for Vikings Blade. I have followed this manufacturer with interest. And curious to know how you feel the Emperor compares to a Fatboy.
Nicely done Matt💈💈 I have the Parker Variant (gun metal) and I find it to shave very well. I, like you, sport a Van Dyke and have no issues with the rather large head. I can see using under the nose it might be of concern🤔 My REX AMBASSADOR is of course on a different level shall we say😉 The Vikings Blade unfortunately does not ring any bells for me. St. James is on the SAD list, won't be long. Thanks for another great video and honest review👍 Enjoy!
I have the Parker Variant and like it very much. I'm on pension so I can't buy every razor I'd like but I've looked at the Viking razor you used more than once. I appreciate the comparison video. Thank you very much. Thanks for your other videos also. My shirt size is medium if I win the shirt. I would like that much. William
I would like to see you use some different gem razors.I use a bunch of vintage de razors.kinda of getting into the gems.like a straight on a stick.I switch them up all the time.a little adventure that way.love your vids
I've had some St. James samples and liked it. On any Vikings Blade Razors I've had, finding the sweet spot angle and maintaining it is always a problem so I wouldn't buy another of their products. Fancy packaging won't win me over again with Vikings Blade.
How would you compare the VB Emperor and Parker Variant razors with the Rockwell 6C/6S? I know the latter is not a true “adjustable”, but as a daily, ‘go-to’ razor, how would the Rockwell fare?
I have a Chieftan and purchased an Emperor frosted chrome. The quality control was so poor, i made a video as part of my review on Amazon. I was very disappointed.
Hey Matt! I’m considering purchasing the Rex Ambassador, but am concerned it may be too aggressive for me. I currently have the Vikings Blade Emperor and shave on a 5 and 3. How would you compare the aggressiveness?
I went from the Vander Hagen to the variant. ( been using the variant for almost a year) and there was nothing unnatural about it.. Blade angle exposure and just over all ergonomics.. I shave everything with it and since day 1 I picked it up and have had no issues or feedback.. Other than its heavy so pick up more if u are shaving ur chest and go to move.. Or.. You.. Um.... Lol will slice urself.. Lol.. Not that I did that.. But it shaves amazing..
If you compare Vikings Blade Chieftain razors to the cheap Baili BD179 razors they are exactly the same...except Baili charges $11 and Vikings Blade charges $29 They also had a Godfather razor which was just the Baili BD191.
Baili was making Viking razors for a while then Viking found baili copying there razors and selling them dirt cheap so Viking cancelled the contract with the and went and built 2 new production building and started making them there selves at least that what I've read on that
I've seen videos where Matt has mentioned being on the second or third shave with a blade. For comparison or 'showdown' shaves I believe he uses a new blade so they are equal.
I'm changing to DE safety razors and I'm on the fence with the merkur 34c, edwin jagger de89, and the chieftain by viking blade. Just starting out trying to stay in the $40-$50 range. Suggestions?
El Grande from wet shave products has an Edwin Jagger type of head and is only $20. From there, get a variety pack of blades to see which types you prefer
Merkur and Edwin jagger are both excellent. The Rockwell 6c is also great and very friendly for new wet shavers. And even the veterans like it very much.
I have a VB Emperor and have had lots of issues with the knob turning. The adjustment does slip a little from time-to-time. The doors don't close evenly and I can't see the numbers or the tick mark on the adjustment knob. I am not happy with the purchase at all. At this point I have moved on and now use a rhodium plated fatboy your shop revamped for me.
I purchased the Viking Meiji and it's the worst shave of all of my razors. The Viking Meiji is made cheap. The doors don't open all the way, the blade shifts during shaving, the blades alignment is not the same on each side. No way will I buy another Viking product. I haven't used a Parker variant yet but if it's anything like the Merkur Progress, it would be FAR superior to Viking Emperor. Love your videos and don't want to be negative, but I completely disagree with you on the Emperor being fine construction.
Interesting video. I LOVE Gillette adjustables, have probably 12 and all work fine, also both Merkur's. But both the Parker and Vikings I had to send back as I never could get a decent shave with either, even with the setting at MAX with 5+ different sharp blades. The only chinese razors that have worked for me: Qshave (Futur) and Parthenon V2 both are very good ( i have tried all). Gillette just posted an 8 Billion $ loss.....
@@RazorEmporium that doesnt sound good to me. I found my Mergress (Progress) too aggressive on all settings, if the Variant just identical I guess the only modern adjustable razor I can run to is the Vikings Emperor (and yes I align the Mergress properly with the arrow)
I had tried the Vikings blade emperor and had a shave with it. Was not impressed with this razor. I had it set to one. And I was getting more nicks on my neck. So I sent it back to amazon.com. I get a better shave with my muhle R41 better then the Vikings blade emperor.
Aren't these practically the same as the Bali razors? Maybe the Viking uses better materials than Bali, I don't know. I have neither. I think for around $60, I'd rather purchase the Merkur Progress or Futur where the build quality is a known factor. Thanks for the vid, Matt!
@@RandomDudeOne think hes referring to the chieftain. They claim they hired the baili guys to manufacture their design and baili oem'ed it and claimed that viking was selling a marked up version of their razor ,its on their site
So I used the Augustus on 8 with a lord blade and the Parker slant with a parker blade. Each had 1 shave on the blade. I didn't realize the blades were different until after I was cleaning up. Both performed equally well. I shaved my head, neck, and face and I could not feel a difference. Performance-wise, the Parker cut was more efficient. The razor required less pressure to shave and perhaps made it not quite as forgiving. This was my first shave with the Augustus on level 8. I will crank it up in the future to see what happens. I do think I like the feather blades the best. I am working my way through a variety pack currently.
Hey Matt! I have the same problem with my Emperor (chrome edition) and the blade being bent slightly. I contacted the company and sent them some pictures of it. When they had a chance to study the pictures, the said they could see my concern, but that it was within the tolerance they allow. That being said, I probably will not be a returning customer....
JHi Matt- Great shave and razor review; thank you! I don’t have either of these razors, but I do have the St James of London Blackpepper and Lime shaving cream. I enjoy the performance of the soap as well as the scent. Enjoy the rest of the week and all the best, Matt!
Nice job! It appears that Viking is not quite ready for Prime Time with this razor. The mechanics are not up to the potential of the design. All the best, Zac
It’s about time people stopped buying cheap and poorly manufactured Chinese products. Don’t be lured into a purchase by fake reviews, sooner or later your Chinese razor will fall apart of the finish will deteriorate.
Van Der Hagen is made better then that cheap over priced Viking crap I listen to RUclipsr who said they were great come to find out he was getting payed by them now I got 60 dollar toy razor my nephew get practice shaving with
Emperor is not an inferior product, it is vastly superior to Parker Variant. Variant is known for bad quality control, and bad blade alignment issues. No such problems with Vikings blade, the alignment is always perfect and it's price is also better (the Frosted Chrome version) than the variant.
I have the Vikings Blade Emperor Augustus, I believe it is made in Indonesia not China, though they may have changed. And yes, there is a bow to the blade, weird but it works. and the ring thing, its a feature, an anti lock-jamming feature that prevents the head from locking up or jamming if you try to adjust while the silos are closed due to the design of the adjustment mechanism.
I prefer it over even my Model T now, because it is a neutral blade exposure razor, so it feels smooth without too much blade bite.
You didn't mention this but the razor also has an asymmetric head, with one side scalloped and the other a straight bar. Scalloped side for closer to the skin shave, straight bar for a gentler blade approach.
The down sides:
You will find that the silo doors are synced with the adjustment, meaning you get the doors to open the most at max setting and at 1, the doors are open but aren't opened all the way, this can be annoying when putting in razors.
Also, because of this, sometimes the doors can't close properly, you need to loosen the silo and close it again sometimes for the door to settle in properly.
The other thing is that the color of the razor are plated and mine is showing a little wear with the champagne platting looking lighter and no longer the light golden yellow when it was new.
Shave quality though at this time I have to say even beats out Rockwell's Model T.
I have an issue with my Model T that has the blade alignment and balance sometimes skewed with one side showing more blade (very much more) than the other side. This can be fixed by opening and closing the Model T.
I have never had an alignment issue with the Vikings Blade, except for that weird bow effect.
Hello, I did buy and am currently using the Viking Emperor Augustus razor. The directions on a little card that came with it states to not adjust the razor head unless its fully closed. I have kept to this direction and mine does not become loose like your video implied and I continue to get a great shave with it using a Van Hanson and derby blade so far. Love your reviews, keep it up thanks for all the info.
Matt, when the knob becomes loose or the baseplate becomes tilted the razor needs to be reset by removing the blade, close the doors and set it to max. Then squeeze the baseplate and top cap together and click it 3 or 4 times. Now you can open the doors and load a blade, you can then adjust the aggression without opening the doors, every time you need to open the doors you must set it at MAX, then you can open the doors. No need to open the doors while adjusting. You have to remember every time set to MAX before opening it:)
Seems like a poor design if all that is needed.
@@RazorEmporium it’s not at a Rex or a Fatboy, that’s for sure.
@@RazorEmporium it’s also not $250
ok merci pour l'explication
Regarding the Emperor's adjustment dial issue, on the Vikings Blade product page, this was addressed in a Q&A by a representative from the company.
==========
Q: The adjustment dial is loose and does not widen the blade gap from mid-point to most aggressive settings. Is this normal or a defect?
A: Hello Brooklen,
This phenomenon is not a defect and can be fixed easily. It will happen to all adjustable razors including the legendary Gillette Slim Adjustable - when the user forgets to set the baseplate to maximum aggression and then open the butterfly doors.
The instruction leaflet says only open the butterfly doors when the aggression is set to max. Perhaps you missed that part.
Not a big issue! This can be reset easily.
First, turn the adjustment knob so that the knob is at the lowest position (maximum aggresion).
Then, reset the baseplate as instructed in the below video:
ruclips.net/video/Ou2A29U4qKk/видео.html
Baseplate will now drop back to where it should be.
Then you can now turn the adjustment knob back as usual :)
If it doesn’t work, try reset the baseplate again a couple of times. This is something that all springload adjustable razors will experience- but it’s an extremely easy fix.
Let me know how it goes!
Robert
==========
Nice review, matt. Hope this info helps.:)
I have never seen, or heard of, this happening on a slim adjustable. Curious to see if Matt has as no doubt he has seen more than I have. Matt would also have a copy of slim's the original instructions to see if they recommend this
Mark Szorady Vikings blade spokesmen ova here!! 🤣🤣🤣
Does this also apply to the Gillette fatboy series?
@@mikerose51 dam right he is he gets paid by Viking his videos now says he dose
Just now watched your review and I agree with you. I just bought the Viking Blade Emperor “Meiji” and love it. I’m able to use a Feather blade at 3 then 2 on my neck. Awesome shave. As far as the adjustment dial, yes it does kinda free wheel when turning to a higher setting from a lower one but does not effect the blade angle or gap. You can go from hi to low with butterfly closed but need to open slightly to go from low to high. Small inconvenience for the quality of shave. I appreciate your videos, thank you your unbiased reviews and commitment to the wet shave bunch.
Al
Love your honesty Matt, and your reviews are always top notch.
Even if posting straight-up honest reviews may cost you a sale here and there (inevitably), it will gain you more in the long run in the way of a loyal and trusting following. You definitely earned my respect and when i scrape up some cash my next wet shave purchase will be from you.
For anyone wondering on the bow effect. Its from VikingBlade, "For aesthetic reasons, razors made in 2020 had 2 symmetrical burrs in the head to create a bowing blade appearance. It was sometimes misunderstood and we have since restored the traditional straight blade look" They also fixed a lots of issue with the newer models. I used Parker variant, Emperor MEIJI, Rockwell T2 on the adjustable section. All 3 work perfectly but my go to would be the Emperor Meiji. Not because it outperform the other 2. It just look nice haha.
It's also more shorter length good for gripping other shaving part area.
I own a VB emperor chrome and like it. Main observation is just the adjustment dial. Same as you, you have to open it, adjust and lock. Doesn’t bother me though. The other comment is that my hand tends to reach for the dial while shaving and in some occasions the dial became loose. Doesn’t change the blade gap though. Perhaps it is the reason they haven’t spring loaded it. What I don’t like is the number edging, specially in the chrome version.
The blade sits nicely. I like its weight, grip, length and how it shaves. Surprised you didn’t comment on the difference between both sides of the safety bar.
All in all, I like it and it’s in my rotations.
I have that vikings razor and love it. I never noticed that dial moving like that on mine but I'm use to opening up the head before i adjust it. The bottom is meant to be unfinished as it's like that in all the pictures I've seen. It's a dual comb design, not sure if you noticed that.
I've gotten some wonderful shaves from it and have recommended it to fellow wet shavers.
Thanks for the honest review Matt. It's interesting seeing the differences.
Just got back to wet shaving and got the Vikings Meiji. My blade seems pretty even. One thing Viking notes is that you should open and replace blades at “max” setting (otherwise it seems common that occasionally you have to reseat the head). I don’t think the dial was ever intended to click at solid increments : mine seems to have enough tension for me to rotate the dial and keep it there.
Read The Manual: Viking states to adjust, open, set, then close. I've had an Emperor Augustus for several years and it works perfectly when setting per their directions.
I've purchased the Viking's Blade Emperor Augustus Adjustable and I have to tell you, it's not for the timid! The loading issue is minor. To open the doors fully, first release the tension and then move the dial all the way to 9, and it'll open fully. Drop in the blade, make sure it's aligned properly, set it to the number you want, and THEN close the doors.
I haven't tried the St. James soap yet, but I intend to at some point.
I just got my Vikings Blade The Emperor as my old DE razor broke. I love it so far, except for what you pointed out with the adjustment ring being loose if you adjust it at all after closure and your first setting adjustment. Not sure why, but glad to know it isn't just me. I haven't had it come "loose" while shaving, just odd. If you want to adjust during a shave, you must open, close, and adjust. Other than that, I really like it.
Great video
First razor I purchased when I started wet saving (month and a half ago)and I get good three pass shaves with it. Like the heft and color scheme. Trying different blades from beginners kit from Razor Emporium to see which blade I like. Can’t wait to see how it compares to the Gillette adjustables I got at an antique store
1 Fatboy 1 slim 1 short and 1 long black beauties plus 4 other Gillette razors for $130
I posted on this video before, but have some more observations about Vikings Blade and adjustable you might be used to. I was starting to get some skin irritation, so thought I'd get a Parker variable to compare. I also have just scored a replated Gillette 195, and have seen your other videos on it (thank you for all the resources you provide). I saw your older video on "broken" razors and how opening/closing doors helps with the adjustment of the Gillette. It has the adjustment plate have tabs that go past the base plate. So I do see how the doors lock everything when the they are closed. If you look at the Viking's Blade (at least my Emperor Meiji), you'll see that there's just a plate that the blade sits on (and the whole adjustment raises and lowers the guard plate below). So if you go by the recommendation of putting the blade in when the adjustment is max, the doors are fully open and the blade rests on the top plate. By design, you are supposed to be able to freely move the dial (and you can see the guard go up and down). Probably for blade evenness, it might be better to only open its doors when on max. As an aside, I also saw your video on the 195 and how different the machining is due to it being so high volume. I definitely can see it now that I have one...it does seem like what an expensive metal composite Pro Glide DE razor would be (only made in l960 and $1.95: or only 14.70 today). That's amazing to think considering how new DEs have to be so much more expensive because of the manufacturing costs.
Hi Matt, yes the spring issue you saw with the dial is a common problem. The way to reset it is by opening the TTO fort and closing it like the old Gillette adjustable.
I have the Vikings Blade Crusader Ragnarr it does that too so I put a WD 3in1 Oil and massage the mechanical parts of the razer then I wash it with soap with some soft sponge after that the adjustable knobs work without opening the knob at the bottom to open the blade cap anymore I think its cause the adjustable knob is tightly sealed on the razor neck. so its stiff brand new. Its still a quality shave though I still enjoy it.
Update... my VB Emperor on max seems to shave slightly closer than my parker slant. It's a scary sensation. My beard is coarse so the parker slant works better but really irritates sensitive areas. For my multifaceted beard and skin I need a variable razor. The VB does a good job and I have no issues with setting changes.
Vikings instruction leaflet says only open the butterfly doors when the aggression is set to max. From my experience I noticed if you tighten the blade too much then the spring inside the adjustable mechanism doesn't operate as it should then the adjustable wheel moves freely once you go from low to high.
I've been using the Emperor since Christmas, nicks have dropped to zero. Styptic pencil is getting lonely. The rotating dial is not an issue. You adjust the razor with the doors open and after you lock it down the razor will not change aggressiveness even if the dial moves a bit.
I just used my Vikings Blade Emperor for the first time today. I have to say that it was a fantastic shave. Very smooth and enjoyable. It's not a perfect razor. I found that the base plate would adjust down evenly, however, when adjusting back up, the base plate would become uneven (almost like a see saw) which then made the blade gap uneven. A work around I found was to adjust from Max to 1 ONLY, not the other way around. I love it though, one of my best shaves. :)
OK.....after more fiddling with the Razor I discovered that if I don't tighten the barn doors after loading the blade then the base plate will drop and raise evenly. Once i reach the desired setting then tighten........All good :)
Mine works the same way. Leave it loose to adjust then tighten it down after you get your setting. I don't care to twist it while it is tight. It doesn't sound mechanically friendly.
@@chewbacca7856 Thanks for the Tip. Works even better now !!
I've got a Vikings Blade Crusader adjustable (their take on a Slim Adjustable) that i'd be happy to allow you to test run if you were interested.
The emperor appears to be an improved ambassador. Can't believe it costs so much less
Good video sounds unbiased! Was tempted to buy a Viking emperor Augustus model but with a blade that’s uneven at times, I’m going for a second Gillette 195 Fatboy From e-bay! I like the solid spring click with each razor setting ! That’s something that none that I’m aware of the Chinese razors HAVE!
That should happen solidly with each adjustment with the butterfly doors closed!
On my Gillette slim, I used to start off on 5, do one pass, then go down to 1 and do a pass in the opposite direction. Currently switched to doing my first pass on 7 and my last pass on 3. Not sure if anyone else changes their blade gap between passes but i find the lower numbers word well with going against the grain
Great video and honest review!!! But you have to fix your close up at the camera. I didnt even see the razor .... Thank you!
I haven't read all the comments so you may have already had the question about the noticeable blade bow answered. Here's what Vikings Blade says about that. This razor has 2 symmetrical burrs on the door corners which slightly bow/bend the blade. NOT a defect. This is part of our new 2020 mold and has passed all QC standards. Razors made from this mold repeatedly give an excellent smooth shave and this has been confirmed by all our genuine beta testers, despite the bowing effect which might be misunderstood.
Hi Matt, just getting started with wet shaving, well first try I was 17 and my dad Gillete did carve pieces of me so I not count this. I bought a similar to vikings, Weishi 9306-f design and when adjusting the blade it stay uneven so, if I set to 5 one side of the edge is ok then the other is almost 1mm off, this happen with all levels except the 1 off course. Great videos.
I'm really scared to use it.... 🤣
I have the Viking Chieftain, a Gillette Super Speed, and a couple of straights. I really like the viking. It is more aggressive than the Gillette and feels much more solid in my hand and on my face. Viking is an Australian company that simply outsources their manufacturing to China. That's not really the same thing as calling it a Chinese razor. I don't refer to iPhones as being Chinese. Any company that wants to survive in today's world has to outsource their manufacturing.
Viking does a really good job. Their marketing is superb. Their packaging is top notch. I would recommend them to anyone starting out.
I have not shaved for 34 years, always worn a very short A0 clipper beard. I would like to start shaving again. My beard is only med course, and I used to get razor burn with injector blades. I am thinking I want to get the Rockwell 6S in gunmetal, could you offer some advice?
Great razor. Do it!
Thanks for another awesome video! Just received my first Vikings Meiji in the mail today! The look of the razor is super cool, but I'm still wondering if I need to open the doors each time before making an adjustment, or can I keep them shut? I usually like to open each time just to take the pressure off the parts. Love to hear your feed back! Thanks!
Yes open
@@RazorEmporium Thank you again for your help once again. It's so cool to get your reply! I'm loving the cold water shaves thanks to you!
An excellent comparison video, Matt. I recently purchased the Vikings Blade Crusader, (which is the long handled cousin of the Emperor razor featured in the video). It arrived nicely packaged, but, with multiple nicks and scratches, most likely from sub-standard machining/assembling. The blade bowed, and suffers from "Janky Blade Parabolas". I returned this razor. There are threads on a Badger and Blade forum which suggest that Vikings Blade razors are re-branded Baili razors. It seems like a possibility, considering the poor quality of manufacturing.
What blades do you usually use when reviewing razors?
Perma sharp or pol silver
So I brand new to safety razors I just got my first razor from Viking not adjustable tho, so now 8m looking for a adjustable one. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for this video
Fatboy!!
On the Viking did you notice one side had a scalloped bar while the other side was smooth? Supposedly the scalloped side is more aggressive ... I wasn't sure how or why that would be or if it was true.
I have the same razor and it does feel a little more aggressive but not by much. I can feel the difference when I switch sides. I'm thinking the teeth lift the hair up as you do your pass.
I never noticed. I have used both sides and noticed no difference but I will pay closer attention next time. Thanks for the info.
Yes. It’s a shame the review didn’t pick this up. I got one from Amazon and sent it back for this reason. I didn’t want to be thinking about which side to use. As like most people I use both. Got the Variant next and love it. Nice and heavy to just let the head do the shave and makes such a sweet noise. Parker for me anytime.
Very honest review. Useful!
I don't know nutthin' bout machining or razor mechanics. My only criteria is that it works for me,,, :-)
Issue with the adjustment mechanism and a bowing blade, however still favouring over the Parker. Well done persevering with the Viking. I would have thought anything other than a perfectly straight across blade would cause issues no?
Thank you for reviewing the emperor by Viking. this is a product I am considering buying. I really enjoy your videos they are very informative and assist me to a better choice for purchasing a double safety razor. I m interested in a double edge butterfly opening and that it is adjustable since I get razor burn easily and if I stretch my skin with my facial hair disappears.
Great showdown shave, Matt. The Vikings Blade looks great but I''m not sure I want to invest in one. I have the Chieftain, it's an okay razor.
My Rex Ambassador remains my "go to" razor.
Have a great and safe week.
I love your videos. These showdowns are amazing!
Hello Mat. I have received my Vikings blade meiji adjustable. In this video you use a Vikings blade emperor. Me base plate is tilt. They have a short video of solving this issue..but I don't think it does. Did you notice this issue in yours? Or is it normal because of the spring? Or do you perhaps have an advice?
It's made cheaply - not sure it can be solved. Yes mine was tilted.
Great comparison 👍 could do with posting links to what your using in the video if you can.
Does the viking have a blade misalignment issue?
Yes
Glad that you did a comparison video for Vikings Blade. I have followed this manufacturer with interest. And curious to know how you feel the Emperor compares to a Fatboy.
Spence 1000 I don’t have a fat boy, but I have an super adjustable and the Emperor is virtually identical in shave.
Nicely done Matt💈💈 I have the Parker Variant (gun metal) and I find it to shave very well. I, like you, sport a Van Dyke and have no issues with the rather large head. I can see using under the nose it might be of concern🤔 My REX AMBASSADOR is of course on a different level shall we say😉 The Vikings Blade unfortunately does not ring any bells for me. St. James is on the SAD list, won't be long. Thanks for another great video and honest review👍 Enjoy!
Vikings Blade razors are rebranded Chinese ones sold at a much higher cost. If you want one buy it from aliexpress.
Not true. Vikings Blade razors came first and then the Chinese made cheap copies of them.
I have the Parker Variant and like it very much. I'm on pension so I can't buy every razor I'd like but I've looked at the Viking razor you used more than once. I appreciate the comparison video. Thank you very much. Thanks for your other videos also. My shirt size is medium if I win the shirt. I would like that much.
William
Thanks for the honest reviews.
I would like to see you use some different gem razors.I use a bunch of vintage de razors.kinda of getting into the gems.like a straight on a stick.I switch them up all the time.a little adventure that way.love your vids
The vintage GEM and Ever-Ready SE's a loads of fun. Valet Autostrops too. Not a week goes by without using one at least a couple times a week.
I've had some St. James samples and liked it. On any Vikings Blade Razors I've had, finding the sweet spot angle and maintaining it is always a problem so I wouldn't buy another of their products. Fancy packaging won't win me over again with Vikings Blade.
How would you compare the VB Emperor and Parker Variant razors with the Rockwell 6C/6S? I know the latter is not a true “adjustable”, but as a daily, ‘go-to’ razor, how would the Rockwell fare?
I have a Chieftan and purchased an Emperor frosted chrome. The quality control was so poor, i made a video as part of my review on Amazon. I was very disappointed.
Hey Matt! I’m considering purchasing the Rex Ambassador, but am concerned it may be too aggressive for me. I currently have the Vikings Blade Emperor and shave on a 5 and 3. How would you compare the aggressiveness?
Great comparison Matt StJames make some great stuff 👍🏻
I went from the Vander Hagen to the variant. ( been using the variant for almost a year) and there was nothing unnatural about it.. Blade angle exposure and just over all ergonomics.. I shave everything with it and since day 1 I picked it up and have had no issues or feedback.. Other than its heavy so pick up more if u are shaving ur chest and go to move.. Or.. You.. Um.... Lol will slice urself.. Lol.. Not that I did that.. But it shaves amazing..
The 37c is the only razor I have that seems unnatural.. And it rides high.. Very high.. It's odd
Cool to learn about new stuff...Thanks!👍
If you compare Vikings Blade Chieftain razors to the cheap Baili BD179 razors they are exactly the same...except Baili charges $11 and Vikings Blade charges $29
They also had a Godfather razor which was just the Baili BD191.
Baili was making Viking razors for a while then Viking found baili copying there razors and selling them dirt cheap so Viking cancelled the contract with the and went and built 2 new production building and started making them there selves at least that what I've read on that
@@3stooges242 Wouldn't surprise me, China doesn't care about copyright law in the slightest.
The future of razors I can see it now, a “laser blade that burns the skin off”
They sort of have that but it tends to permanently stop beard growth
Thanks for the showdown.
Aside from on-camera, do you use a new blade for every shave, or do you work them until dull?
I've seen videos where Matt has mentioned being on the second or third shave with a blade. For comparison or 'showdown' shaves I believe he uses a new blade so they are equal.
The blade is designed to be bowed!
You should review all kinds of razors not just safty razors
He does
He does cartridges, Shavettes and straight razors. All that’s left is a GEM razor.
Why don’t you use the blades that come with it?
Because then I'm auditioning the blades instead of the razor.
I'm changing to DE safety razors and I'm on the fence with the merkur 34c, edwin jagger de89, and the chieftain by viking blade. Just starting out trying to stay in the $40-$50 range. Suggestions?
El Grande from wet shave products has an Edwin Jagger type of head and is only $20. From there, get a variety pack of blades to see which types you prefer
Of those 3 razors mentioned, I’d go with the EJ DE89. I would also recommend Rockwell 6C overall. Smoothest razor out there.
Go with Merkur 34C, world's best popular with German quality. It's not aggressive and also not mild but very smooth and accurate.
Merkur and Edwin jagger are both excellent. The Rockwell 6c is also great and very friendly for new wet shavers. And even the veterans like it very much.
Go for a Karve Christopher Bradley Razor. Start with a b or c plate. Much better than any merkur or EJ
Great video Matt.
The Vikigns Emperor is heavy. It's tiring to hold.
I have a VB Emperor and have had lots of issues with the knob turning. The adjustment does slip a little from time-to-time. The doors don't close evenly and I can't see the numbers or the tick mark on the adjustment knob. I am not happy with the purchase at all. At this point I have moved on and now use a rhodium plated fatboy your shop revamped for me.
The new directions say, "...adjust the razor with the doors closed [only]".
They aren't perfect, but an adjustable razor at a reasonable price point is welcome.
I purchased the Viking Meiji and it's the worst shave of all of my razors. The Viking Meiji is made cheap. The doors don't open all the way, the blade shifts during shaving, the blades alignment is not the same on each side. No way will I buy another Viking product. I haven't used a Parker variant yet but if it's anything like the Merkur Progress, it would be FAR superior to Viking Emperor. Love your videos and don't want to be negative, but I completely disagree with you on the Emperor being fine construction.
Interesting video. I LOVE Gillette adjustables, have probably 12 and all work fine, also both Merkur's. But both the Parker and Vikings I had to send back as I never could get a decent shave with either, even with the setting at MAX with 5+ different sharp blades. The only chinese razors that have worked for me: Qshave (Futur) and Parthenon V2 both are very good ( i have tried all). Gillette just posted an 8 Billion $ loss.....
Nice honest review.
Great video nice comparison 👍
what about the merkur brand?
we did a show down between variant and progress- they are near identical.
@@RazorEmporium that doesnt sound good to me. I found my Mergress (Progress) too aggressive on all settings, if the Variant just identical I guess the only modern adjustable razor I can run to is the Vikings Emperor
(and yes I align the Mergress properly with the arrow)
“I’m a 9 man” 😂
Please, my razor goes to 11.
I'll stick to products made in Germany, thanks for the review Matt.
I had tried the Vikings blade emperor and had a shave with it. Was not impressed with this razor. I had it set to one. And I was getting more nicks on my neck. So I sent it back to amazon.com. I get a better shave with my muhle R41 better then the Vikings blade emperor.
I Had The Parker Gave It Away
Parker Variant is just a bad razor. Vikings blade Emperor is miles ahead of it, not even a comparison.
I'll take the quality of the Parker razor over the Viking.
Aren't these practically the same as the Bali razors? Maybe the Viking uses better materials than Bali, I don't know. I have neither. I think for around $60, I'd rather purchase the Merkur Progress or Futur where the build quality is a known factor. Thanks for the vid, Matt!
Baili doesn't even make an adjustable.
@@RandomDudeOne think hes referring to the chieftain. They claim they hired the baili guys to manufacture their design and baili oem'ed it and claimed that viking was selling a marked up version of their razor ,its on their site
I have a futur razor don’t have problems
Beautiful razor, although the build quality doesn't look too promising. And is quite expensive for a non-stainless steel razor.
I love my viking August razor. I have only gotten as high as 6 so far. Gonna crank it up to compare performance to my new parker slant (which I love).
So I used the Augustus on 8 with a lord blade and the Parker slant with a parker blade. Each had 1 shave on the blade. I didn't realize the blades were different until after I was cleaning up. Both performed equally well. I shaved my head, neck, and face and I could not feel a difference. Performance-wise, the Parker cut was more efficient. The razor required less pressure to shave and perhaps made it not quite as forgiving. This was my first shave with the Augustus on level 8. I will crank it up in the future to see what happens. I do think I like the feather blades the best. I am working my way through a variety pack currently.
Hey Matt! I have the same problem with my Emperor (chrome edition) and the blade being bent slightly. I contacted the company and sent them some pictures of it. When they had a chance to study the pictures, the said they could see my concern, but that it was within the tolerance they allow. That being said, I probably will not be a returning customer....
Im not ashamed that i went straight to 9 on my gillette exec. Also gillette fatboy hype is real i like it as much as my 2009 r41.
Not one, not two, but 3 low key self-compliments! 🤣
JHi Matt- Great shave and razor review; thank you! I don’t have either of these razors, but I do have the St James of London Blackpepper and Lime shaving cream. I enjoy the performance of the soap as well as the scent. Enjoy the rest of the week and all the best, Matt!
Marketing fluff for the Emperor states:
RATTLING END TIP
Automatically drains water and soap scum trapped inside.
Nice job! It appears that Viking is not quite ready for Prime Time with this razor. The mechanics are not up to the potential of the design. All the best, Zac
Look how easily you loaded the blade.:) 2:40.
SuperSpeed! ;)
Gillette superspeed!
Its a zink center
i regret buying the Viking. blade is at a angle, not straight flat. always cuts me . buy something else
It’s about time people stopped buying cheap and poorly manufactured Chinese products. Don’t be lured into a purchase by fake reviews, sooner or later your Chinese razor will fall apart of the finish will deteriorate.
What salty low life gives a thumb down?
captainbackflash Ha, probably works for Parker.
This seems too complicated. I'll stick with regular razors. 😔
#hotdogpie
Van Der Hagen is made better then that cheap over priced Viking crap I listen to RUclipsr who said they were great come to find out he was getting payed by them now I got 60 dollar toy razor my nephew get practice shaving with
Who's that youtuber?
Just come out and say it: Vikings Blade is an inferior product. Full stop.
I'd agree- I just had to try it for myself to confirm.
He said he preferred the Viking over the Parker 17:30
Emperor is not an inferior product, it is vastly superior to Parker Variant. Variant is known for bad quality control, and bad blade alignment issues. No such problems with Vikings blade, the alignment is always perfect and it's price is also better (the Frosted Chrome version) than the variant.