Is There A Decent Adjustable Safety Razor Under $50?

Is there a “good” adjustable safety razor you can buy new for under US $50? Although there are a fair number of low-cost adjustable safety razors, I think there are only a handful of inexpensive adjustable razors that are acceptable, including the Vikings Blade “Meiji” ($47), the Weishi Nostalgic Adjustable ($20), and the Qshave Adjustable ($15), but they may be manufactured in tariff-sensitive areas and none of them will win awards for durability.

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Vikings Blade Emperor “Meiji”

The Vikings Blade Emperor “Meiji” Edition (about US $47) is essentially a short-handled variant of the Vikings Blade Emperor Augustus razor.  I find these razors acceptably-built and flexible enough for most shavers.

The razor feels solid, hefty, and well-balanced, even with its relatively shorter handle. The action of the TTO mechanism and the adjustment dial are good.  Despite the short handle I find the Meiji easy to hold and I haven’t had any slippage problems.

Like some other Vikings Blade razors, the Meiji features a “dual comb” head design with a solid bar on one side and a scalloped bar on the other.  For me the smooth safety bar gives me a more comfortable-feeling shave with less blade feel, while I get noticeably more blade feel using the scalloped side, given the same adjustment setting. I can’t tell any actual difference in the amount of stubble reduction from either side–it’s more of a feedback kind of thing for me.  The shaving angle “sweet spot” is easy for me to find.

Like most other lower-cost adjustable razors, the adjustment settings are painted on.  And some users (including myself) have found the plating inconsistent. It may be related to individual production runs: I’ve seen a batch of reviews that were good, reviewers that had issues, then another batch of good reviews again. It seems to run in cycles.

The adjustment should be suitable for everyone except those who want either a very mild or a very aggressive shave.  Personally, I prefer relatively “mild” razors and I get excellent results using the 2-2.5 range with the Meiji.

While most of Vikings Blade razors are manufactured in China the business itself is Australian. So depending on shipping practices US tariffs may be lower than expected.

Weishi Nostalgic Adjustable

The Weishi Nostalgic Adjustable safety razor (Currently about US $20. Note that there is a non-adjustable “Weishi Nostalgic” as well) seems to be more thought out than other lower-cost adjustable razors, with a more user-friendly design. It has a long handle with good texturing for a secure hold, a contrasting color scheme (for higher-visibility numbers on the adjustment dial), good balance, and a wide range of adjustment (particularly at the low end of the scale–this razor can get very mild indeed).

The razor’s long-term durability concerned me when I purchased it in 2018, but I have used it somewhat regularly and it has held up reasonably well. I have found that the Weishi’s head clogs a bit when used with a thick lather. But my shaves with the Weishi have generally been very good–about equal that of the other adjustable razors I use regularly that cost much more.

The Weishi Adjustable is manufactured in China. It is also available as an OEM product so you may see similar-looking models under a number of different brand names. Quality control will be up to those other brand names, though.

Qshave Adjustable

Far-East manufacturer Ming Shi launched the Ming Shi 2000S adjustable safety razor in 2016. Qshave re-branded that razor as the Qshave Adjustable–making it a clone of a copy–but Qshave puts their units through additional quality-control tests, making it a little more reliable.

The Qshave Adjustable clearly takes its inspiration from the Merkur Futur:

Although visually quite similar there are some aspects of the Qshave that set it apart from the Futur. This razor has a wider range of adjustment compared to the Futur, especially at the low end. And as you might expect at the price point, the Qshave does “cut a few corners” in manufacturing. For example, the dial markings are painted on instead of etched in like the Futur. Some users report the printed dial numbers wear off after extended regular use (mine is just beginning to show fading, after almost 10 years of admittedly pretty occasional use.

My shave experience with the Qshave is actually quite positive–I think it shaves me better than the Futur! Although the handle is still smooth its smaller diameter seems to help me keep a more secure grip. And while the razor’s head is still relatively large, the wider adjustment range (vs. the Futur, especially at the mild end) gives it better performance for me. The razor’s quality control reputation is still a cause for concern to me though.

This razor is made in China. The design is also available from a number of other brands including Encalife (affiliate link), Van Der Hagen, Shave Factory, and others. However, pay close attention to brand-specific reviews, as each brand does their own quality control checks.

Recommendations

I doubt any of these razors will be heirlooms passed down generations. They get the job done, with varying degrees of build quality and durability. If the US $50 is a hard price point, I think the Weishi and the Vikings Blade are the ones to take a closer look at.

But if you can afford juuust a bit more, the Parker Variant (US $65) and the Pearl Flexi (US $70)–both manufactured in India–and the Merkur Progress (US $65) manufactured in Germany are worth serious consideration.