Thread: Kimson Limited Natural Horn Silvertip Shaving Brush

This is a review of the Limited Edition natural horn shaving brush produced and sold by Vu Kim Son through handicraft-vn.com. If you're looking for an affordable, yet luxurious natural horn-handled brush then this brush is SERIOUSLY worth considering.

After using this brush for six weeks I must say I'm VERY satisfied and impressed - particularly for the price. Here are my findings:


Craftsmanship: The handle is beautifully crafted from real horn and polishes right back up to its original shine with ease.


Price: Can't be beat.

The brush I'm basing this review on is one with rarer shades of color and marbling is labeled on the site as a 'Limited Horn Shaving Brushes' and at the time of this writing was priced at $90.

Other brushes available from this vendor:

Brushes cut from pieces of horn with more common coloring are labeled as 'Standard Horn Shaving Brushes', $50-70 depending on whether they're solid black or various marbling of whites, creams, browns, blacks, etc.

All are fitted with silvertip knots which, while I'm not 100% certain, I believe are hand-tied.

The same handles are available without a knot for about $20 less for those who want to set their own know.

In my eyes these brushes are an absolute bargain at $70 or $90 since a natural horn brush from any of the brand names easily runs at least $225.


Lather Making Ability: Absolutely amazing - though its full potential may not be immediately noticed. The first time or two using the brush I noticed that just a bit less lather forming in my bowl than I was used to. But the moment I stopped pussyfooting around and started to actually work the lather into my beard I instantly noticed why - the brush was holding onto in it's bristles and quickly began to let go of it while I worked on my cheeks.

This was very pleasant surprise. I thought it's slightly larger size and moderate backbone meant it would be relegated to bowl lathering and wouldn't do well with face lathering. Was I ever wrong. It did a great job of face lathering for me as well. So I'd say this baby is good to go in either the bowl or on your cheeks.


Tip Softness: Soft and luxurious - leaves you with absolutely no doubt you're lathering with a silvertip.


Bristle Stiffness: Soft and with enough give to not feel at all scratchy or stiff against your cheeks yet enough backbone to do a great job of face lathering.


Knot Density: I would call say it is actually just a bit more dense than I would expect for a standard silvertip - another unexpected, pleasant surprise.


Knot Size:

• Loft: 51 mm
• Knot: 24 mm
• Handle height: 49 mm

Overall impression: Very impressed. I find both the craftsmanship of the handle and the quality of knot to be very good - and, if I had need of a second brush, would pick up another one in a heartbeat. As for the price, in my opinion this puppy can easily run with the big dogs, and yet for less than half the cost.


Miscellaneous: This brush is made in - and shipped from Vietnam. When I purchased mine, postal shipping ran about $8 and reached Virginia in 10 days. Expedited shipping was also available - via DHL I believe (but I'm not certain).

Email communication with the vendor was very good both in terms of order status, shipment notification, and response to a pre-order question.


All in all, when it comes to a natural horn handle silvertip brush that's classy, sumptuous, and affordable, a Kimson brush is WELL worth the money.

Thank you for the review. I've been looking for a reason to buy a handle from that guy. I was a little unsure about it but this review has made me reconsider. One of those handles with a golden nib would make the brush I've been thinking about for months.

I ordered one from these guys over a month ago. They charged my card and got my money right away but.........still waiting. Since then I ordered a Frank Shaving brush from ebay in China. It was in my hands 6 days after the auction closed. What a beautiful brush, for half the price of VuKim. I will write again when/if I ever receive my VuKim. If I don't get it soon I am considering calling my bank and having the charged reversed.

Shave On!

Chip

Chip,
On my previous dealings with Kimson, my first order taken 3 months to arrive, and the second one just over 6 weeks.
Kimson got nothing in stock; you order it, hi then make it. The quality is first class.
I understand you frustration and concern, I was the same.


Bambos

If that's the case they should make it clear on their website. Like I said very poor communications.

Shave On!

Chip