Muhle R41 Review (Incl. Twist & Grande) Open Comb DE Razor

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In today’s article we do a Muhle R41 review and buying guide (including also a review of the Twist & Grande razor versions); Admit it, there are just days when you feel you do not have the time to go through the trouble of having to make three or even four passes before you can get that close shave you prefer.

This is a normal phase that most men go through at some point, especially when they have busy days.

As such, there is nothing to be ashamed of.

Now, for your close shave grooming need, there are several razor options that you could choose to explore.

Muhle R41 (Summary)

For starters, you could use products like a cartridge razor and risk having a razor burn or use a more efficient tool like a slant razor,  a straight razor – or maybe even better – an open comb double edge safety razor like the safety razor we are reviewing today.

Okay, this Muhle razor is not an open comb razor per se but rather a hybrid of the traditional open comb razor design and the scalloped safety bar design that have popped up in the recent past.

It is designed with little exposure of the razor blade than its predecessor.

But even then, many men that prefer wet shaving deem it to be one of the most aggressive safety razors in the market.

The open tooth comb safety razor design this uniquely chrome-plated beauty features is what makes it more aggressive than the closed comb safety razors on the market.

This razor is able to shave off thicker hair, like a 3-4 day growth beard – with fewer passes to give you a close shave still in the comfort of your home.

However, if you are a beginner and learning the ropes of classic shaving, you should go for Muhle closed comb razor which is less aggressive – making it a perfect safety razor choice for beginners.

After you have gotten a hang of this type of shaving and are confident you can do I without nicking yourself, then you can make the shift. I am sure you will find it very satisfying.

Individuals who are experienced in shaving with safety razors have gone on record to state that this safety razor is well built.

Some even go ahead to state that it is a major upgrade from the previous one.

As such, it is designed to provide a safer and closer shave even though it has a slightly larger top cap.

Upon more investigations, it turns out that the previous version had many persons complain of its aggressiveness.

It was causing too many problems even to expert wet shavers who are skilled in the art.

But even with this fact, when the new design was introduced to the market, some were still skeptical and afraid to give it a try.

Those who fell in love with the upgrade loved the fact that in just two or less passes your facial hair achieved a clean look.

They went to the extent of calling it “The Beast” and though it might have been caged, it might not be tamed, so you should take this as a warning. It shaves as close as a straight razor!

What To Expect From The Muhle Open Comb Razor

The R41 comes in three designs to meet the shave needs of consumers.

There is a two-piece Twist design, a 3-piece Grande and a 3-piece Traditional/conventional design.

In addition to the three, there is also a version that features a traditional design but comes with a different color handle, if you are the kind who wants a traditional with a slight twist to it, you will surely love the traditional Rosegold design.

Muhle R41 Traditional (Classic) Version

What shines brightly from all the reviews written is the fact that Twist and Grande both come in at 90 grams (3.17 oz.) while the 2013 R41 is the lightest weighing in at 64 grams (2.26 oz.).

You should, however, note that the two feature similar dimensions; 107 mm long and 41mm wide and a handle diameter of an impressive 14mm (0.55 inch).

Muhle R41 Twist Version

At a hefty 4.2 inches (107 mm), the Twist is the longest variant (along with the Grande) from Muhle.

In addition to this, it also is the heaviest of the various models at 3.17 ounces (90 grams).

One of the biggest reasons to choose this over the others, is the easier assembly.

Muhle R41 Grande Version

Both the Grande and the Twist have the same length.

However, the Grande is to be slightly lighter by around 10 grams.

Unlike the Twist, the Grande is a 3 piece razor. So basically,  a heavier and longer version of the Traditional.

What is even better about this one is the fact that you can actually change the product’s grip in the event you feel the knurling is not as deep as you would like to provide you with greater grip.

Ease of Loading The Blade

Both the Grande and the traditional variant feature a 3 piece design while the Twist is made to be a two piece design.

You should, however, know that courtesy of its two-piece design and the fact that it is more expensive than the traditional variant of the R41.

This is the logic that should be used when making a choice between the three variants: if you have large hands and are looking for a safety razor that will be easy to assemble, then the Twist is ideal for you.

Just remember you will have to part with slightly more $ to take it home.

On the other hand, if you could care less about the price and need a product that is easy to clean as well as assemble, then the Grande is perfect for you.

Grip

Explaining the knurling that the R41 has can prove to be slightly tricky.

Here is why.

From afar, the knurling looks like waves spiraling down the handle while upon closer look they seem to just line crisscrossing each other to make tiny diamond shapes on the surface of the handle.

But what many people seem to agree with, is the fact that the knurling on this safety razor is not as deep and still one might notice some slipping.

The Grande and Traditional both feature a flat handle.

The Twist comes with a protruded handle that provides slightly more grip in the event your hand slips down to the very last bit of the handle.

Aggressiveness

Many people who have used this razor in the past refer to the product as “the beast“.

The original version of the R41 was a lot more aggressive.

So much so that Muhle just had to redesign the product to slightly tame the wild beast.

The design that this safety razor feature is what is responsible for the aggressive nature of the “Beast”.

The open design refers to a design where the safety bar has not been made to be flat – it comes with some indentations that allow for the shaving lather to pass through while you are shaving.

In addition to this, the design exposes the skin to the blade more – ensuring a cleaner, closer shave in an impressive two passes.

The indentations make the safety razor perfect for individuals who have mastered the art of classic shaving – those who are comfortable and have total control of their hand and razor in the process.

This feature still gives it the ability to tame a 5-day rough beard.

Length

All the R41 variants come with different lengths which provide you the user with some room for choice and preference.

The three-piece design measure  107 mm/ 4.2 inches and 94 mm/ 3.7 inches respectively.

The 2-piece measures 107 mm/ 4.2 inches and is the heaviest of the 3 at 90 g/ 3.17 oz.

If you have large hands and prefer a blade that has a longer handle, you will prefer the Grande or Twist.

If you have medium-sized, or small hands, the Traditional will work best.

What Do Other Reviews and Users Say About Mühle R41?

On shaving forums, the likes of ShaveNook.com, a lot of wet shavers share their experience and have gone on record praising the razor design of the R41 saying that it has the ability to provide for a BBS close shave on beards and it shaves facial hairs that have a roughness of 5 days.

The fact that the open design of the R41 lets the cream pass-through ensures that the product does not clog up and even if it does, it is far less often than vs Merkur 34c HD.

On eCommerce sites that cater to men’s grooming, some individuals have gone on record and left reviews  stating that their search for a close shave ended up settling on the R41.

At this point in our review, it is probably necessary to issue a warning.

If you are just fresh to wet shaving with a safety razor; if you still are learning the ropes and all, you should probably avoid this safety razor since you just might end up nicking your face. But as mentioned earlier in the article, a good option is then to start with the sibling R89. We are currently working on a post where we do a comparison review of R41 vs R89.

Muhle R41 Sets, Accessories and Blade Recommendations

Since the R41 is a safety razor that is NOT for beginners, I assume that a complete kit is not for you, since you most likely have some or most of the necessary accessories.

Accessories

However, there are some safety razor add-ons that you might want to consider.

Stand

It doesn’t get much better than this: Mühle Classic stand (Razor and Brush  – Please keep in mind if you have a brush already – this stand will only fit up to 25mm knot size.

If you already have a stand for your brush, then this one will be a good match: Mühle Classic stand (Razor only)  Fits R89, R106, R 107, R41, R101, R102, R89 Grande and R 41 grande. It should also accept Merkur’s models: 11C, 15C, 23C, 25C, 33C, 34C, 37C, 41001, 42001, due to its neck size.

Travel Cases and Pouches

Currently, there are no travel case or pouch available at Amazon, but you can order directly from Mühle. At West Coast Shaving they have a leather case that fits the R41 Grande model (also R89 Grande).

If you don’t want to go all-out regarding shave travel bags, you should at least consider this Shave Blade Guard .

By the way – did you know that Mühle is also making high-end shaving brushes? Slightly expensive, but for sure great German quality.

Blade Recommendations

Aggressiveness (not only for the R41 but for any kind of safety razor) also depends on what kind of safety razor blade you are using.

Try with a variety pack  to find your perfect fit.

But you will not go wrong with either a Muhle Stainless Steel , a Feather  or Astra .

Muhle R41 Verdict (All Versions)

The Muhle safety razor comes in 3 variants which vary not only in weight, handle size, length, and weight but also in cost. If you love the 3 piece design, go with the R41 Grande or the traditional version of the R41.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a safety razor with a 2-piece design then the R41 Twist is perfect for you.

If the R41 safety razor is a fit for your grooming preferences you will not be disappointed! As always, the safety razor is just a piece of the shave puzzle – take your time and use good blades, shave cream or soap for the best result.