Parker PTB Professional Straight Razor with Replaceable Blades – All‑Stainless‑Steel Push‑Type Design + 5 Parker Platinum Half Blades – Barber‑Grade Razor for Precision Shaving & Detailing

Professional barber here. This razor is a big step up from a lot of other razor handles in this price class. It grips the shavette tightly and leaves only a sliver of the blade exposed, making for a nice smooth glide over the skin. Push load mechanism is a bit finicky at first but after a few days break in it’s faster and easier to load. This handle is rather light as some reviewers mentioned, though I fail to see why this is a problem; never understood why people want heavier razors - to me the weight causes no difference in control if you have good technique. Works fine with all the brands of blades I’ve tried loading into it. The Parker blades it comes with are pretty good also. All in all, very good product for the cost. Many barbers will recommend other more expensive brands - those may look or feel fancier, but in terms of performance, expect seriously diminishing returns for anything above this price point.

So, after several years of using this shavette, here's my unbiased report. Except I am biased, however, because this thing is really that good. I've had in my hands many other shavettes that are so-called "of the same design", but they really aren't. This Parker has much thicker and stiffer metal in its construction. While the others feel actually cheap, this feels just the opposite. It has heft. Its solid. It does feel premium. It is a great offering from Parker and worth every dime. Will this replace my Dovo or my Boker? Nope, but darned if it isn't close. Its a pleasure to use, honestly, and it goes on every camping trip or out of town or hotel stay.

The Parker PTB is my first straight razor, albeit a disposable single edge blade type of razor. I've always wanted to see if I could shave using a straight razor but the initial cost was very prohibitive being in the $300-$400 range just to start up with razor, strop, soap, etc. The Parker PTB Shavette allows me to attempt this with very little money out of pocket, 1/10th of the cost at least. At approximately $20, I could not pass this up. I ordered the Parker PTB along with the "Colonel Conk Watertight Travel Container with Soap" and chose the free shipping. I received both pieces in a single Amazon box from FedEx within two days instead of the expected 7 days or more I was expecting that normally comes with these free shipping offers. The Parker PTB was packaged nicely in a small box with a black sleeve covering the box. The floor on the inside of the box was lined in what I would consider a red velvet type material indicating some "class" to the Parker line. Within the Parker PTB box was housed the actual PTB, 6 replacement single-edged razor blades and illustrations describing how to "load" the razor blades into the PTB's head. The Parker PTB has a black plastic handle that does not feel to be flimsy at all, which was surprising. It feels very sturdy to the touch and while shaving. The metal arm appears to be stainless steel and is also sturdy to the touch and during use. The head that holds the disposable razor blade pushes out the end of the metal arm. To load the blade, I slid the entire head out of the metal arm for ease of inserting the blade. The hardest part I found was actually attaching the blade to the head and getting the top portion of the blade beneath the retaining metal flap that holds the razor snuggly against the inside of the head. But, I believe my fear of cutting myself on my first attempt probably didn't help with securing the blade to the head. My first shave was actually not that good. This was definitely due to me being new to the straight razor shaving club and my technique was definitely flawed. I have now shaved three times with the Parker PTB and am loving it. I would recommend this Parker PTB to anyone looking to attempt shaving with a straight razor for the first time or for someone who is looking for a razor that is cost effective. Giving the Parker PTB Straight Edge Shavette 5 Stars was an easy decision. *** EDIT ON 20130423 *** OK, I've had almost two weeks with this razor and I've used it several times. I like it; however, I have discovered that it is very easy to "gouge" yourself with the outside corner of the blade. Unlike some normal straight razors that have a rounded tip, the corner on the PTB blades are pronounced and caution is warranted. I have gouged my cheek a couple of times so far and thus, I am trying to tweak my technique a little more. I believe with lots of practice and patience, I will be able to get a decent shave with the PTB. But for right now, my Safety Razor is still King.

Fantastic quality and easy to load. Lightweight and has a good feel in the hands

I bought this razor with five others to switch to straight blade shaving. Of the six, this was the worst one and rapidly discarded. The positive is the long stem on the other side of the blade to hold the razor properlly and comfortably, offering more control. The strong negative is that to place the disposable blades in the holder, it cupped the blade slightly, which didn't unbend regardless of how you put the slide holder back onto the razor. This cup would cause a massacre on my face because of the uneven cutting surface. I would not recommend it while there are so many other good options available.

Great quality razor I’ve bought this brand before and will continue buying this brand again

The only complaint that I have with this razor is that initially it is rather hard to load. But once you have loaded it several times, a technique is developed that EASES the process; still some dexterity is required for loading. Other than that, I find this "shavette" (and I would guess all others, I suppose with some exceptions,) HARDER to use than a standard straight razor. I mostly have no nicks with a straight razor but do, occasionally with this Parker. With this style razor one must be more exact with the angle of the blade, (as compared to a straight razor,) as approaching a more shallow angle will cause the blade to come off the skin and a more steep angle increases the possibilities for razor burn and nicks. For me, the bottom line is: this is a razor that will require your attention to detail and once mastered is suitable for shop use as well as a daily shaver. (As you know, in shops, the possibilities of health issues are present with standard straight razors and largely absent with shavettes.) AFTER 8-10+ SHAVES: The more I use this razor the more I like it. I am using Super-Max Platinum blades (snapped in half,) and have had the closest ever shaves, (which includes Mach3 shaves.) Some people question the quality of this razor; I find it quite good, actually exceptional for the price. GREAT PURCHASE, NOT JUST A TRANSITIONAL RAZOR AS SOME BELIEVE. Razors like this are used around the world by professionals everyday. Other considerations concerning straight razors; to keep the razor shave ready, you will need to hone, which requires honing stones (AND SKILL.) You will need a strop and be willing to take the time to maintain the razor; none of these things are required for a shavette.

The razor is a great item, worksflawlessly while shaving no hash pull and the cut is close and amazingly clean I will say a steady hand is best and practice will make sure you cut yourself less but I have no problems.

it’s a Parker PTB, fix 35g weight overall feel good handle is litte thicker , but yes at this price it is 4x expensive, i also have few more shavettes yes that also do the job done, but after learning this tool for just shap my beard i got feeling to make a collection of it, so i plan to buy 5 different kind of shavettes and this is 3rd one, but the 300₹ around of razor also do the job, extra 800₹ is for brand name i want one razor from this brand that’s why i buy it, i like it, Your choice. Thank You.

替刃を付けた状態で実測35g以下と、非常に軽いシェーベットです。その軽さ故に顔全体の硬い髭を剃る用途には向きません（できないことは無い）が、逆に眉毛を整えたり体毛・うぶ毛を剃ったりの用途には疲労感無く使用できます。価格も考えると間違いなく良品です。

Muy buena calidad y facil uso.

I am able to get better shave in lesser time. Requires less water since I don't have to continously wash it to remove stuck hair as in case of Gillette razors. It took a little practice and some youtube videos to master the art of using a straight blade. Easy to load and change blades. So go ahead and use it even if its your first time.

La calidad de ensamble, la posición de la cuchilla y la distribución de peso es excelente, mi única queja es el cuidado que le ponen al translado de las piezas en la planta donde las producen ya que venia con muchos rayones en el metal y en las cachas, particularmente las cachas me parece que son de un color negro muy opaco y también viene muy rayado, el logo de Parker en las cachas es un sticker lo cual me parece un chiste, me encanta el producto pero lo tratan tan mal que cuando llegan al cliente final parecen de segunda mano, no soy el único que opina lo mismo