The Parker Adjustable Single Edge Injector is a relative newcomer to the safety razor space, having been released in November of 2020 after being worked on off and on for many years. Parker has since released a version 2 of the Adjustable Single Edge Injector; however, for this review I will be discussing the first version. I will also point out the updates made to version 2. But, before we get into the review, let’s take a brief look at the history of the company.
Parker: “For almost 50 years, Parker Safety Razor has been the gold standard for fine grooming supplies. Parker Safety Razor products are hand crafted and undergo extensive engineering and quality testing. A family-owned business, Parker Safety Razor produces products that are a reflection of our commitment to excellence and value. We use and enjoy our products just like our customers do, so we have pride in every product that is produced. This is our guarantee of quality to you.”
Parker Adjustable Injector Specifications:
- Razor type: Adjustable Injector Razor
- Blade Type: Standard Injector Style Razor Blades – loaded with one new blade
- Weight: 1.24 oz./35g
- Length: 4.96 in./126mm
- Handle material: Stainless Steel & with Ridged Plastic Grip
Loading the Blade: Loading the blade is pretty straight forward (see the instructions below). As long as you have an injector with the key, you’re good to go. The key gets inserted into the razor, the blade loader is slid to the rear of the injector, and then pushed towards the razor to load a blade. The used blade is pushed out and is ready to be placed in a blade bank.
The Shave: Injector razors are slightly different to use than a DE razor. The had lays flat on the skin in order to keep the blade at the proper angle. With the Gen1 adjustable injector with my growth, settings 1, 2, and mostly 3 are not very usable as they are too mild for me. Settings 4 and 5, while mild, do provide a smooth and comfortable shave.
Blade Gap: I have been unable to find specifics on blade gap, but for me, the lowest setting is far too mild and inefficient for my growth. I tend to prefer setting four or five. While those settings are still on the mild side, they still provide as an efficient shave as my vintage Schick Model G.
Adjustability: The adjustment knob is very smooth and easy to use. The settings range from 1 (the mildest) to 5 (the most aggressive). For me, the first three settings are far too mild for my growth type on my face. I have used setting three for a head shave with better results. Setting 4 and 5 are the most efficient settings, but still on the mild side. Don’t think just because the razor is mild that you can’t cut yourself. The exact opposite is true.
Construction: The construction of the razor feels very solid. I like the plastic grip on the underside of the razor as it provides a nice grip on the razor, especially when one’s hands are wet. While I’m not sure if the construction is heirloom quality, the razor should easily last many years and provide countless comfortable shaves.
Price: The razor is available for $34.00 and comes with a pack of 20 blades, with one being pre-installed.
Changes to the Second Version: Since the initial release of the Adjustable Injector, Parker has made some modifications to the razor and released a second version. Some of those changes include:
- The low end of “adjustability” has been biased upward a bit, making it a little less mild at the low end–though still quite mild. The high end of adjustment has not seen any changes.
- The blade loading mechanism is smoother.
- The Parker logo has been etched into the metal part of the handle. The overall shape of the handle remains the same between versions, but some have reported the additional etching provides a slightly better grip.
Final Thoughts: The Parker Adjustable Injector is a comfortable razor to use, but the lower settings are practically useless for me growth type. I tend to keep the razor set to 5, and occasionally use setting 4. Even on setting 5, I find I have to do a little more cleanup than with other razors. Some of this could be due to the blade used as I have not experimented with many injector blades. The razor is comfortable to use, but it’s not one I reach for very often, I have used the razor on setting 5 on my head with less buffing required for a close shave.
Have you used a Parker Adjustable Injector razor? After reading the review, do you want to try one? If you have used one, what are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.
Disclaimer: The opinions shared in this review are those of the reviewer and are not necessarily those of The Razor Company, or other parties involved.
JBT