Vikings Blade Chieftain
- Price
- Quality
- Value
- Aggressiveness
Summary
Are Vikings Blade making a claim that the Chieftain is better than other safety razors? They may have a valid argument, check out our review to learn more.
Product: Vikings Blade Chieftain
Rating: 4.8/5 stars with over 2,600 reviews
Cheapest Place to Buy: Amazon
Chieftain – the leader of a people or clan”
Are Vikings Blade making a claim that their flagship razor is better than the rest?
Probably.
If you take a look at their ratings on Amazon, they are backing up this claim quite nicely.
This is our review of the Vikings Blade mighty Chieftain.
Who Is Vikings Blade?
Vikings Blade is family owned and operated company currently led by fourth generation owner Robert Vu.
While they are Swedish Themed they are actually based out of Australia. The company was started by his grandfather who originally produced shaving creams and soaps.
It wasn’t until Robert’s father took over in 1985 that they began introducing safety razors and shaving brushes.
They even purchased their own manufacturing company so they could have more oversight in the quality control process.
Maybe this is why the Chieftain is so well loved on Amazon?
They are serious about their product, you will even see several responses from the owners themselves on Amazon.
What Is The Chieftain Razor?
This high-end safety razor is made with premium Swedish metals and like we mentioned in the last section, very strict quality control.
This chrome plated safety razor has a butterfly head giving you super-fast blade changes. 5 seconds in fact, just be careful not to cut yourself!
The handle has deep knurling giving you a sure grip when shaving even if you are covered in shaving soap.
They have also included microcombs in the head underneath the blade exposure which will help reduce nicks and friction when shaving. This should also help reduce irritation.
The shaving kit itself comes with a suede travel case the has a mirror inside as well as 5 stainless steel blades to get you started. They are said to be on the smoother side vs. the sharper side of razor blades.
Guys with sensitive skin love this razor. You will see many reviews from them, one even switched from electric shavers and had problems with ingrown hairs. Not anymore!
Most of the negative reviews are guys who think this razor is too mild for them or they are new to wet shaving.
This is considered a mild razor so if you have a coarse beard you may either want to buy some sharper blades with this or seek out a more aggressive razor.
Even though it is on the mild side it will be one of the more comfortable shaves you get which makes it good for those of you with sensitive skin.
When Would You Choose Vikings Blade Chieftain vs Godfather?
If you are not a fan of butterfly safety razors, then you will want to opt for the Godfather which has a more traditional 3-piece screw off head.
The Godfather also has a longer handle which might be better if you have bigger hands. Some say it is slightly less aggressive than the Chieftain.
With the longer handle comes a little added weight which will help the razor do most of the work when you shaving requiring almost no pressure when shaving.
The head has a smaller profile which might help you get in the harder to reach areas easier like under your nose.
Overall, these are two similar razors and should give similar shaves. They have minor differences but the same great craftsmanship.
Why Should You By The Original Vikings Blade Over A Replica?
For starters, when you buy the original Chieftain from Vikings Blade you will get a lifetime warranty on your blade. There are not many companies who offer this.
Since they bought their own manufacturing facility and can oversee production, they can make sure they produce a quality product enabling them to offer such a generous warranty.
They even make their razors in small batches so they have even more control of the quality vs. mass producing them like a cheaper knock off.
The companies who duplicate this model use cheaper pot metals whereas Vikings Blade imports Swedish metal alloys and processes them to ensure long use with no corrosion.
All of their reviews on Amazon are Verified Purchases.
You get what you pay for, if you find a cheap replica for around $10 expect to get that level of quality.
Where Should You Buy The Vikings Blade Chieftain?
Amazon is actually the only place you can buy the Chieftain. Vikings Blade exclusively launched the Chieftain on Amazon and it is now one of their best sellers.
However, this is not a bad thing. You get to see over 2,600 reviews from actual customers. You also get free shipping.
It is also easy to quickly compare this razor to others if you aren’t 100% sure on which one you want to go with.
However, you won’t ever truly know until you try it for yourself.
Conclusion
If you are considering making a switch to a double edge safety razor the Chieftain should certainly be in the running.
It is slightly more expensive than some of the other popular brands like Merkur or Parker, however you do get what you pay for.
This highly rated razor is sure to serve you well if you have an average beard or sensitive skin.
Of course, there is only one way to really find out.
Hello,
That’s a pleasure to invite me to visit your site, “To shave or not to shave” That’s the question!
But when you shave make it a ritual, ONLY THE WET SHAVERS KNOW WHY!
Very interesting site where you display a quality product with a very inspiring name! VIKINGS BLADE. Only the name gives you the feeling of a warrior that is shaving with his sword!
It is a high quality product. A person that buys that razor knows what he is doing. A lifetime guarantee for a personal gadget!
Greets,
Attila
Thanks Attila, I appreciate the comments. Sounds like you really know your stuff!
I use an electric shaver and its good for my head, but not so great for my beard. And I don’t consider my beard as a heavy one either.
I’ve been considering getting away from my cheap disposable razors that have been my go to for shaving my face for a while.
I like the quality of the Viking Chieftain and I don’t mind paying a bit more for a product that is obviously designed to last.
You will not be disappointed Chazz. There is a little bit of a learning curve when switching to a safety razor but just be sure to take your time in the beginning and you will be fine.
Let me know if you decide to make a purchase how you like it!
Interesting review on the Viking Blade Chieftain. The name itself makes it sound durable. I like the convenient case for it, that would make for a great gift. Also the fact that it comes with starter stainless steel blades.
The Godfather is pretty nice as well. Both seem like great quality and the warranty can’t be beat.
All of the customer reviews says it all and this looks like something I could get for my Father who has everything.
Sounds like a great gift idea, thanks for the thorough review.
You’re welcome Patsy, I’m sure your father would love either of these safety razors. Vikings Blade products are built to last.
I have recently purchased the Vikings Chieftain from Amazon and can definitely second the above observations about the quality and shaving properties of this razor. I do have very coarse facial hair and found the included Viking blades rather insufficient for my needs. However, using Voskhod blades in the Chieftain has yielded very good results and a pleasant shaving experience. In addition, I have started to pre-treat my face with a little bit of Argan oil before I shave, creating a very smooth and close shave with virtually no nicking whatsoever.
Good to hear Archibald! Thanks for stopping by and the tips.
My only negative is that on one side I get a smooth shave but when I go to the other side it really pulls and is not smooth. It has been this way for several changes of blades.
Hey Joe, what blades are you using? Some guys use a sharper blade than the Vikings that come with it.
I somewhat recently started shaving with DE Safety Razor and my first purchase was a Vikings Blade Chieftain, partially due to this article. As I was first considering the Parker 99R and Merkur 34C HD, and this article implied this was a superior razor.
I cannot say I was disappointed with my Vikings Blade overall, as it got me into wet shaving, and gave me a baseline for what a “new” razor should feel like, but I now thoroughly prefer vintage Gillette safety razors.
There is nothing wrong with the Vikings Blade, but it’s basically an inferior rip off of the 1947 Gillette Super Speed, that’s branded as though it’s a technological advancement. I own a 1972 Black Handle Gillette Super Speed, and I find that it’s superior to the Vikings Blade in most regards… and many regard the late ’40’s and early ’50’s Super Speed even better than the 1972 model, due to the higher weight of older models.
Then there are the countless clones, which many have suggested are identical in appearance and performance that can be had for much cheaper also on Amazon, such as the Baili BD521L, Baili BD177, Baili BD179, Elkaline Safety Razor, and Bigfoot Shaves Safety Razor… I almost wish I would have gotten one of those.
And to top it all off I’m a Minnesota Vikings fan, and that certainly influenced my decision to get this one. #SKOL
Overall, I would not suggest this razor… I would go to eBay and get an American made Gillette Super Speed and clean it up, or go on Razor Emporium or something if you want to spend $40-50 and find a vintage Gillette Super Speed… Don’t make the same mistake I did. Start with the Gillette Super Speed, move on to an adjustable later, you won’t regret it.
Thanks for your thoughts Bobby, as with most razors, they will work better for some than others. Glad you were able to find one you like!