My first post on ATG. (Though I've been reading here for years)
My experience with Hiram.
My razor came with a nice finish and with a good safety bar. But with a poorly made 2 dot plate. Bent in the middle, in the inner side.
Absolutely ineffective shaving with my hard bristles.
I've sent photos back to the shop and got a 3 dot plate as a replacement.
Even this new plate is poorly made. Shorter on one side, I have to keep it halfway screwed, in order to get the blade into position.
Photos were sent back again but they never answered!
So much for customer support! Quality control is very poor: 2 out of 2 plates problematic.
I've used 3 types of Feather SE blades for 3 times.
Feather pro
Feather pro light
Feather pro guard
Same setup, each time after a good preparation.
Fine green vetiver shaving soap
Plisoft 26mm "monster" beige brush
2dot plate
None of the blades gave me a good shave. After 4 passes, my face was still very scratchy.
I had also a bad time with nicks and razor burn, because of the pressure I had to apply.
I had to get my Futur and finish the job. (@3 WTG, @1 ATG)
3dot plate.
The same poor shave with the first two blades.
Only with the Feather pro guard, I had a medium good shave on 3passes + patchword on the chin and whiskers.
The nice thing, is that it was really trouble-free on my neck, where I usually have cuts or razor burn.
This proves, that there is a very good potential in this razor.
Given that I have a difficult time, finding a good sharp - yet comfortable DE blade (2 out of 10 usually), I feel that my choice of SE blades, good enough with Hiram, is very limited.
So, reguarding the quality control, I suggest you stay away if you're not from USA (like me), or waiting time for replacements or/and Custom charges gonna be frustrating.
Final verdict for HIRAM:
+pro
Stunning design.
Nice heavy razor.
Very mild (if you have a sensitive skin)
-
cons
Low quality control
Questionable support
Very mild even with 3dot plate. We need a 4dot!
Limited blade choice (mainly because of the mildness)
Not recommended for thick scratchy bristles.