I've been on the road a good deal as of late and haven't had time to do much in way of reviews and comparisons. The Muhle R41 in the 2011 and 2013 versions did intrigue me however, so here we go.
Here are the dimensions and weights per my digital scale and digital calipers.
Cap Weight 2011: 11 grams
Cap Weight 2013: 13 grams
Cap Height 2011: 41.18 mm
Cap Height 2013: 42.04 mm
Cap Width 2011: 18.54 mm
Cap Width 2013: 19.89 mm
Baseplate Weight 2011: 15 grams
Baseplate Weight 2013: 16 grams
Baseplate Height 2011: 41.26 mm
Baseplate Height 2013: 42.23 mm
Baseplate Width 2011: 24.99 mm
Baseplate Width 2013: 25.20 mm
These are certainly 2 different razors as far as dimensions go. The 2013 has more weight, more height and more width. Blade exposure is far less in the 2013 model. Blade gap is very close to the same.
If you look at the pictures closely, you will see the cap difference right away. On close inspection of the baseplate, you will see some noticeable differences as well; particular the thickness on the ends of the baseplate itself. Blade exposure between the two is very obvious.
Shaving Results:
Enough has been written about the 2011 R41 over the past couple of years, so I won't get into that here. Suffice to say, it's a very aggressive, very close shaving razor that while many love, many others simply can't get along with it.
Tools for today's shave:
2013 R41 with Gillette Silver Blue Blade and iKon OSS handle (my handle of choice)
La Toja
Semogue 2012 SE Boar/Badger
Witch Hazel afterwards
Results:
Handling: Very good - angles easy to find - will be far easier to use for most than the 2011.
Feedback: The 2013 has a considerable amount of feedback - should please everyone in that regard.
Smoothness: Far smoother than the 2011. No harshness to speak of. Upon speeding up on my 2nd and 3rd passes, I was looking to get "bit" along the way. Surprisingly, I didn't and there were no weepers at the end of my 3rd pass.
Closeness: The 2011 will probably shave you closer - but not by enough to matter.
Blade Exposure: Not even close - the 2011 has far more blade exposure.
Blade Gap: Oddly enough, the 2011 & 2013 are very close in this regard.
Build Quality: Both are built to Muhle standards which is generally pretty good. No, it's not a polished stainless, but it's far cheaper, will last a long time and will out-shave most, if not all, of the current SS offerings. The 2013 does cover the exposed blade ends more so than the 2011.
Verdict: This is a very impressive razor. I own a mint condition Barbasol Floating Head (among many other razors), and the 2013 R41 is very, very much like shaving with the Barbasol - and the 2013 may actually shave a tad bit closer. I had read somewhere else where that was reported, but found it rather hard to believe until I had experienced it firsthand.
In the final analysis, I would go so far as to say that the 2013 R41 and a R89 (or EJ 89), would take care of the vast majority of shaving needs for a good many people (particularly those wanting to keep their costs somewhat reasonable).
As a daily shaver on my face - the 2013 Muhle R41 will be reached for far more often than my 2011 R41.
In every picture below, the 2011 R41 is always on the left and the 2013 R41 is on the right; the exception being a cap comparison where the 2011 is on top.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![.jpg]()
R41A.jpg (Size: 481.83 KB / Downloads: 149)
Differences in the cap are easy to see. Upon closer inspection, the plate has changed as well.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![.jpg]()
R41B.jpg (Size: 298.49 KB / Downloads: 151)
Image may be NSFW.
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R41C.jpg (Size: 338.34 KB / Downloads: 147)
Image may be NSFW.
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R41D.jpg (Size: 321.41 KB / Downloads: 152)
If you look closely, it appears that the 2013 plate is actually a bit "taller" in this picture.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![.jpg]()
R41E.jpg (Size: 236.57 KB / Downloads: 150)
It seems that the 2013's plate has been beefed up a bit on both ends.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![.jpg]()
R41F.jpg (Size: 513.4 KB / Downloads: 150)
Image may be NSFW.
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R41G.jpg (Size: 472.04 KB / Downloads: 149)
Image may be NSFW.
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R41H.jpg (Size: 281.95 KB / Downloads: 144)
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![.jpg]()
R41I.jpg (Size: 281.59 KB / Downloads: 140)
The much more aggressive blade exposure of the 2011 is easy to see
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![.jpg]()
R41J.jpg (Size: 423.48 KB / Downloads: 141)
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![.jpg]()
R41Ja.jpg (Size: 436 KB / Downloads: 141)
Notice the much more exposed blade ends in the 2011 vs the 2013 (endcap exposure)
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![.jpg]()
R41K.jpg (Size: 519.34 KB / Downloads: 142)
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![.jpg]()
R41L.jpg (Size: 241.73 KB / Downloads: 140)
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.![.jpg]()
R41M.jpg (Size: 344.84 KB / Downloads: 138)
Here are the dimensions and weights per my digital scale and digital calipers.
Cap Weight 2011: 11 grams
Cap Weight 2013: 13 grams
Cap Height 2011: 41.18 mm
Cap Height 2013: 42.04 mm
Cap Width 2011: 18.54 mm
Cap Width 2013: 19.89 mm
Baseplate Weight 2011: 15 grams
Baseplate Weight 2013: 16 grams
Baseplate Height 2011: 41.26 mm
Baseplate Height 2013: 42.23 mm
Baseplate Width 2011: 24.99 mm
Baseplate Width 2013: 25.20 mm
These are certainly 2 different razors as far as dimensions go. The 2013 has more weight, more height and more width. Blade exposure is far less in the 2013 model. Blade gap is very close to the same.
If you look at the pictures closely, you will see the cap difference right away. On close inspection of the baseplate, you will see some noticeable differences as well; particular the thickness on the ends of the baseplate itself. Blade exposure between the two is very obvious.
Shaving Results:
Enough has been written about the 2011 R41 over the past couple of years, so I won't get into that here. Suffice to say, it's a very aggressive, very close shaving razor that while many love, many others simply can't get along with it.
Tools for today's shave:
2013 R41 with Gillette Silver Blue Blade and iKon OSS handle (my handle of choice)
La Toja
Semogue 2012 SE Boar/Badger
Witch Hazel afterwards
Results:
Handling: Very good - angles easy to find - will be far easier to use for most than the 2011.
Feedback: The 2013 has a considerable amount of feedback - should please everyone in that regard.
Smoothness: Far smoother than the 2011. No harshness to speak of. Upon speeding up on my 2nd and 3rd passes, I was looking to get "bit" along the way. Surprisingly, I didn't and there were no weepers at the end of my 3rd pass.
Closeness: The 2011 will probably shave you closer - but not by enough to matter.
Blade Exposure: Not even close - the 2011 has far more blade exposure.
Blade Gap: Oddly enough, the 2011 & 2013 are very close in this regard.
Build Quality: Both are built to Muhle standards which is generally pretty good. No, it's not a polished stainless, but it's far cheaper, will last a long time and will out-shave most, if not all, of the current SS offerings. The 2013 does cover the exposed blade ends more so than the 2011.
Verdict: This is a very impressive razor. I own a mint condition Barbasol Floating Head (among many other razors), and the 2013 R41 is very, very much like shaving with the Barbasol - and the 2013 may actually shave a tad bit closer. I had read somewhere else where that was reported, but found it rather hard to believe until I had experienced it firsthand.
In the final analysis, I would go so far as to say that the 2013 R41 and a R89 (or EJ 89), would take care of the vast majority of shaving needs for a good many people (particularly those wanting to keep their costs somewhat reasonable).
As a daily shaver on my face - the 2013 Muhle R41 will be reached for far more often than my 2011 R41.
In every picture below, the 2011 R41 is always on the left and the 2013 R41 is on the right; the exception being a cap comparison where the 2011 is on top.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
R41A.jpg (Size: 481.83 KB / Downloads: 149)
Differences in the cap are easy to see. Upon closer inspection, the plate has changed as well.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
R41B.jpg (Size: 298.49 KB / Downloads: 151)
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
R41C.jpg (Size: 338.34 KB / Downloads: 147)
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
R41D.jpg (Size: 321.41 KB / Downloads: 152)
If you look closely, it appears that the 2013 plate is actually a bit "taller" in this picture.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
R41E.jpg (Size: 236.57 KB / Downloads: 150)
It seems that the 2013's plate has been beefed up a bit on both ends.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
R41F.jpg (Size: 513.4 KB / Downloads: 150)
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
R41G.jpg (Size: 472.04 KB / Downloads: 149)
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
R41H.jpg (Size: 281.95 KB / Downloads: 144)
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
R41I.jpg (Size: 281.59 KB / Downloads: 140)
The much more aggressive blade exposure of the 2011 is easy to see
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
R41J.jpg (Size: 423.48 KB / Downloads: 141)
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
R41Ja.jpg (Size: 436 KB / Downloads: 141)
Notice the much more exposed blade ends in the 2011 vs the 2013 (endcap exposure)
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
R41K.jpg (Size: 519.34 KB / Downloads: 142)
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
R41L.jpg (Size: 241.73 KB / Downloads: 140)
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
R41M.jpg (Size: 344.84 KB / Downloads: 138)