This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Learn More. The Rockwell 6C vs 6S; which is the best razor for you? Well, this depends on your budget, whether you consider a safety razor as a lifetime investment, among other things we consider in this review.
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Rockwell Razors
The Rockwell 6C and 6S are some of the newest and most popular razors in the market today. With an incredibly successful Kickstarter campaign, Gareth Everard and Morgan Nordstrom developed and patented the Rockwell Razor system. This innovative system utilizes base plates with different ‘blade gaps’ which allows you to control the mildness and/or aggressiveness of the razor.
You might then be wondering; what is the difference between the Rockwell 6C vs 6S? And most importantly, which razor should you get. This guide will discuses the pros and cons of each and hopefully make it clear as to which razor is best for you.
The Rockwell 6S Review
The Rockwell 6S is the original Rockwell Razor. It is made in the United States from stainless steel and has a good heft to it. The build quality is excellent and the razor feels premium. Moreover, the matte silver stainless steel finish (of the original version) is both handsome and classic.
The Rockwell 6S comes with 3 base plates. Each base plate has 2 settings which allows you to select how mild and/or aggressive you want the shave to be. The first plate has the settings 1 and 3. The second plate has the settings 2 and 4. While the third plate has the settings 5 and 6. The 1 and 2 settings are the most mild and least aggressive settings. While the 5 and 6 settings have the most blade gap and as such are the most aggressive.
Selecting and changing base plates it pretty straight forward. With the razor assembled, the base plate number that you can see is the ‘aggressiveness’ number you are shaving with.
Keep in mind however, that unlike a true adjustable safety razor such as the Merkur Progress where you can simply change the aggressiveness setting without having to disassemble the razor. The 6S and 6C both require you to disassemble the razor, then assemble it back with the setting you want.
This can be a hassle and annoyance mid-shave and many men simply choose one setting they like and stick with it throughout the shave. So if you are looking for an adjustable razor where you don’t have to disassemble the razor mid-shave, there are other razor options out there that best fit this true “adjustable razor” definition.
Currently the Rockwell 6S comes in 4 different colors; matte (silver), matte black, blue and red. Selecting a color truly is personal preference but if you are going for a more classic look then get either the matte silver or black. If you want a more modern and trendy look, the red and blue are great options.
Pros
- Durable stainless steel razor
- Adjustable base plates that allow you to select the aggressiveness of the shave
- Great build quality and design
Cons
- Costs $100-130 (depending on color). Which is not a lot for a stainless steel razor, but still is a lot for something you shave your face with!
- The stainless steel finish does not glide as well on your skin when you shave
- Not a true adjustable razor (i.e. you need to disassemble the razor in order to change the ‘aggressiveness’)
The Rockwell 6C Review
The Rockwell 6C is identical to the 6S in every way except for the fact that it is made in China and from a chrome plated zinc alloy (which makes it slightly lighter as well). What does that mean exactly? It means that although the 6C looks and feel durable, it is not as durable as the stainless steel 6S. As such, if you are planning on passing down a razor to your grandkids, go for the 6S and save yourself the heartbreak.
Other than that, you get the same 3 base plates with the exact same 6 settings ranging from 1 to 6. The design of the razor is also identical to the 6S. The Rockwell 6C comes in 2 colors; white chrome and gunmetal chrome.
The white chrome is a beautiful finish with a great shine similar to the Edwin Jagger DE89 Chrome. Personally however, I favor the gunmetal chrome color since its darker appearance makes it look vintage and unique.
Pros
- Same adjustability as the 6C but at only a fraction of the cost ($50 vs $100-130)
- Shaves better (more smooth) compared to the stainless steel 6S
Cons
- Not as durable as the stainless steel 6S so you can’t expect it to last as long
Rockwell 6C vs 6S
The main difference between the Rockwell 6C vs 6S is that the 6C is made from a chrome plated zinc alloy while the 6S is made from stainless steel. The 6S is obviously more durable and more likely to survive multiple falls compared to the 6C.
But that added durability comes at a cost, in fact double the cost. The Rockwell 6S costs around $100-130 while the 6C costs $50. That is a significant difference.
The Rockwell 6C is slightly lighter than the 6S but it is impossible to tell the difference without holding both side by side. Both razors have good heft which makes them effortless shavers.
With that out of the way, let’s discuss how the 6C shaves in comparison to the 6S. The smooth chrome finish gives the 6C excellent glide over your skin as you shave. Many wet-shavers, who have shaved side by side with the 6S and 6C, have felt that the 6C glides better, which results in a smoother shave.
Furthermore, the base plate settings on both these razors are identical going from 1 to 6. So you have the same adjustability with the 6C as you do with the 6S.
I’ve personally used the 6C for over 2 years now and can confidently say that it is one of the best, if not the best safety razor I have used.
Conclusion
The Rockwell 6S is a premium stainless steel razor that will last a lifetime, but that comes with a hefty price tag of $100-130. The 6C is not as durable as the 6S but it costs only $50 and you get the same base plate settings so you have the same control over the mildness or aggressiveness of the shave.
Moreover, the chrome finish on the Rockwell 6C provides a better shaving experience since it glides better on the skin compared to the stainless steel 6S.
As such, unless you are planning on passing down a razor to future generations, I would just go for the 6C and spend the remaining $50 on a 5 year supply of safety razor blades!
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I hope you enjoyed this Rockwell 6C vs 6S review. Are you new to wet shaving and looking for an affordable and high quality safety razor? Then definitely check out ‘The Best Safety Razor for Beginners.‘
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