The META-4 Safety Razor | Flare Tip Series | 316 L Stainless | Clog Proof
Meet The META-4!
Fans of our classic Prismatic will be drawn to this one for sure! Many of you know our Prismatic was an homage to the Vintage Kirby Beard Co Razor by Leresche, The META-4 is also based on this razor too...but not in the same way.
"Hey guys, you really outdid yourselves this time. I have several of PAA razors and have been satisfied with all of them. However, this META-4 all SS razor tops the list. I didn't think you could beat the Prismatic DE but you did. I can't begin to list all of the attributes that this razor has, the looks, the weight, the feel, and the performance are spectacular. This will be my go to razor. Thanks again!" ~ John Meyer, Customer
**Please note that this item does not qualify for any discounts
Not The Prismatic
Many of you have been requesting a stainless, CNC Machined version of the Prismatic since its release and we wanted to honor that request but...
Honestly, The META-4 is truer to the original design when it comes to the geometry except we chose to extend the length of the razor head in order to cover the blade tabs. We also altered the blade mount posts as we did with the Prismatic.
"I just received my order this morning and have to say thank you. 1st the razor Meta 4 is a great razor. The weight balance, blade alignment is dead on." ~ Joe Sellers, Customer
Low Profile Head
My problem with a lot of modern and vintage razors, especially butterfly designs, is their bulky, clunky heads. If you have ever tried to shave under your nose with one of these razors you know what I mean. But with the Low Profile design of the META-4 you can get right up in there! [More on this below]
Shaves Like A Dream
To my face and a few others, The META-4 is pretty mild but extremely efficient. That said, I believe this is a GREAT razor for both newbs and gents who have been doing it for years! I really feel like this may be the perfect daily driver even for fellas who typically skip a day! As I write this I am feeling my neck, and damn if it's not a baby butt smooth shave! The handle has a great weight to it and the knurling is SUPER Grippy by design, not to mention beautiful.
Flare Tip Series
That's right folks, just like our Ascension SELECT the META-4 is also part of the Flare Tip Series, meaning you can mix and match the Flare Tips! Also, if you prefer a shorter handle, you can remove the flare tip! The choice is up to you! [Find Colored Tips on Offer In Drop Down Menu!]
316 L Stainless Baby!
The META-4 is machined from Marine Grade Stainless Steel, called type 316L, and resistant to certain types of staining familiar to those in the hobby; tea stains, hard water marks, soap stains, etc. While similar to the cheaper 303 & 304 Type Stainless Steel, which is common in the food industry, 316L exhibits better corrosion resistance and is stronger at elevated temperatures. This my friends is built to last!
Type 316L steel is an austenitic chromium-nickel stainless steel that contains between two and three percent molybdenum. The molybdenum content increases corrosion resistance, and improves resistance to pitting, and again, tea staining...Music to the ears, no?!
Type 316L grade stainless steel is particularly effective in acidic environments. This grade of steel is effective in protecting against corrosion caused by sulfuric, hydrochloric, acetic, formic, and tartaric acids, as well as acid sulfates and alkaline chlorides.
Now, let's dig into some history...
Being from the USA most of us modern wet shavers and collectors seem to be Gillette-centric, and rightly so. But in being so we miss out on so many great vintage, highly efficient, European designs, Leresche being one of them. They were a company that I believe was light years ahead of their time (and Gillette) in their day! Doing a google image search you will see these relics to be fine examples of not only beatific form, but also function! The Razor makers of Leresche were true masters in their craft and would give modern designers a real run for their money today!
The Kirby Beard Co. razors are *mostly known for their eye catching scalloped top cap and their continuous solid guard bar. Very unique in their time (the 30's and 40's), and very unique now. Most importantly, they are known by many an old time collector as great, GREAT shavers!
There really is something to be said about the slim head design when it comes to getting into those hard to reach places on the neck, or under the nose, compared to top heavy, clunky modern head designs we have been drowning in for the last 15 years. Not to mention the physics behind the scalloping top cap design yield similar effects comparable to the DOC top cap reservoirs, however less dramatic. (*NOTE: Not all of Kirby Beard Co's Razors had the Scalloped top cap.)
Like most of these classic, hard to get razors, they too were put out of business, not by Gillette this time but by Nazis bombing their plants during the 2nd World War! That said, I am very happy and grateful to be able to save these fine shavers from being lost to history and once again restore them to their rightful place of honor, The Modern Shave Den, and at a more than fair price. Meet The META-4!
Specs:
Complete Razor: 107 Grams (3.77 oz)
Approx Length: 93 mm (3.67")