All orders shipping to destinations within the USA for The Cygnus Razor qualify for FREE Shipping, but will Require a Signature for Delivery. To waive the signature, and our liability for loss, please email support@phoenixshaving.com. International orders for the Cygnus Razor will ship via DHL Express, or UPS International service, separately from any other items in your order. We cannot combine items to ship with the Cygnus to international locations. There are No Discounts available for this razor. The Cygnus Has Landed Shave Cadets! Meet The Cygnus, a razor that bridges the past and future with style, efficiency, and just the right amount of rebellious charm. Inspired by the subtle, haunting elegance of the Merkur 1904 handle and the mysterious allure of the Merkur 71, the Cygnus is our tribute to vintage craftsmanship with a bold, contemporary twist & tweak. Made in the USA, it’s not just a razor, it’s a piece of history reimagined in both form and function! The Design: Almost 3 Years In The Making As a lifelong fan of vintage German razor handles, I was always drawn to their art deco flair, balanced weight & fulcrum. The only thing missing? A grippier surface, especially for shower shavers like me. Enter the Cygnus: longer (3.5"), meatier, and crafted for the modern wet shaver, with just the right amount of knurling. Thanks to the raw copper, it has what I call an "Invisi-grip", you’ll swear it was coated! I also extended the length of the cap so as to cover any blade tab exposure and flattened the blade posts in the same fashion of all our PAA Razors! The raw copper maintains heat, and the bottom cap glides! (read on) What’s Under the Hood? Top Cap & Handle: Polished Raw Copper with a beautiful matte finish. No plating here, just straight up, raw copper that develops a rich, unique patina over time. Want to keep it shiny? A little copper polish does the trick! Base Plate: FDA-approved Acetal Copolymer, an engineering plastic known for its durability, low moisture absorption, and chemical resistance. It’s tough, stable, and built to withstand the rigors of daily shaving. I could have gone with Bakelite like the original but I thought about adding to the history of the design and taking it into the future! Then there's the, dare I say, sexy, luxurious chocolate color of the plate. Seriously, in combo with the copper it is candy for the eyes! Chocolate & Copper Baby! Why We Chose Acetal Copolymer for the Cygnus Base Plate The Cygnus base plate is made from Acetal Copolymer, a modern engineering-grade thermoplastic, not bakelite, not acrylic, and definitely not a shortcut...but intentional. [Just A Friendly WARNING: There Is A Limited, Small Batch, Amount Available] Acetal Copolymer is trusted in industries where precision, stability, and strength matter most. Think aerospace, military gear, automotive parts, medical devices, and food-safe machinery. Here’s why we chose it: Superior to Metal in Key Areas Resists corrosion better than many metals, especially in wet or humid environments (like your shave den). Low friction and high wear resistance make it ideal for parts that slide, shift, or face repetitive contact, like a razor base plate. Dimensionally stable even under temperature swings or water exposure. No warping, swelling, or cracking. In Short, Not Your Grand-pappy's Plastic Unlike vintage plastics like bakelite, Acetal is engineered for durability and longevity in the modern world. It doesn’t chip, patina, shatter, or degrade with regular use. It also won’t absorb water like other plastics or cheap injection-molded parts. This base plate will virtually last forever! Safe, Reliable, Proven, EPIC This same material is FDA-approved for food contact and is widely used in industrial fluid systems and high-performance plumbing. It’s tough enough for mission-critical components, yet light and precise enough to pair perfectly with our raw copper top cap and handle. In short, Acetal Copolymer isn’t a compromise, it’s an upgrade. It's the kind of modern material that does what metal can't, giving the Cygnus a performance edge without sacrificing heritage-inspired design. And yes, it pairs beautifully with raw copper for balance, added glide, control, and just the right touch of sci-fi sophistication. (this is possibly the most important part.) A Nod to the Past: The PAA Way The Merkur 71 is a razor shrouded in mystery, likely born in the mid-20th century (but I suspect earlier). Its exaggerated lather gutters and bakelite base plate whisper of an era long gone, possibly shaped by wartime resourcefulness. (at least in regard to the bakelite model. Yep, they also offered a metal base plate at some time and multiple handles too!). We've captured that spirit, blending it with modern materials and design tweaks for a razor that feels both timeless and cutting-edge. Why The Cygnus Safety Razor? The name Cygnus is a multi-layered homage. It draws inspiration from (dark) Disney's sci-fi classic, The Black Hole, while also honoring the old-school "Shavelandic tradition" of naming razors after birds (don't ask me why this became a thing). But Cygnus isn’t just any bird, it’s the swan, a timeless symbol of grace and strength, much like this epic razor itself.For those in the know, there’s also a playful "tip of the top hat" to Marc Bolan (pun absolutely intended, if you know, you know), adding another layer of charm. Polish it or Let It Patina! The phrase “Tellurium & Acetal Hybrid” carries a delightfully retro sci-fi/pulp vibe, perfectly aligning with the razor’s (and our) aesthetic. I like to think of it as word-collage, weaving together references to create a rich, thematic experience from the name to the "Franken-Razor" design, to the shave! Key Features: Made in the USA Machined, finished, and laser engraved raw copper for the purists! Exceptional grip with minimal knurling Balanced for precision and control This is more than just a safety razor. It’s a tribute to the past, a tool for the present, and a legacy for the future! Meet The Cygnus, your new favorite razor! Weight: Total Razor Weight: 119.5 grams [4.21 ounces] Copper Handle Weight: 93.9 grams [3.31 ounces] Copper Top Cap Weight: 18.1 grams [0.63 ounces] Acetal Baseplate Weight: 7.5 grams [0.26 ounces] Dimensions: Handle Length: 89 mm [3.5 inches] Handle Width At Widest Point: 14.3 mm [0.56 inches] Top Cap Length: 43.5 mm [1.71 inches] Top Cap Width: 19.67 mm [0.77 inches] Baseplate Length: 43.5 mm [1.71 inches] Baseplate Width: 24.7 mm [0.97 inches] Copper components Machined from UNS C14500 tellurium copper Over 99 percent copper Raw, un-plated matte finish that develops a natural patina over time RoHS compliant under EU Directive 2011/65/EU Base plate Acetal copolymer FDA compliant grade approved for food contact Low moisture absorption and high dimensional stability Manufacturing Made in the USA