Kent BK4

Dave T · Post by **Dave T** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 7:41 am

I recently got a Kent BK4. I should say I finally got one. I've admired the shape - it's one of my favorites - but put off getting one in favor of Simpsons, Rooneys, Plissons, Shavemacs, etc. I've used it for a week now with creams, and I'm very impressed. I'm not sure why it performs so well. It's not dense; the hairs aren't stiffly firm, though they do seem to hold up; the hairs are quite flexible but not at all floppy. The hair is very soft but with good backbone. Amazingly, at least to me, the hair retains water nearly as well as much denser brushes. I have to shake it before creaming up. The middle of the brush retains lather very well, yet it gives up the lather freely. The brushing experience is something to look forward to when I get up in the morning and think of what's ahead of me and think of lathering up with the BK4.

The point I'm getting to is that with the exchange rate moving so much in favor of the US dollar, the BK4 is a bargain for Americans if ordered from somewhere overseas, such as The Gentleman's Shop. Robert sells the BK4 without VAT for 34.04 English pounds, which is in the range of 55 US dollars (as of today). So, my high recommendation for anyone looking for their first high quality brush, or for anyone, is to go in search of the BK4 from an overseas vendor. I don't think you'll find a better bang for your buck. It's a very good brush for anyone.

Dave

brothers · Post by **brothers** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 8:04 am

My birthday falls just a couple of days after Christmas. This year I am going to put all of the specific shaving items I want/need on my list(s). The BK4 is already on my list. Thanks for the positive review. It reinforces what I've read from others.

Thalay Sagar · Post by **Thalay Sagar** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 8:25 am

Dave hit it right on the head and the only thing I could add to his description of the BK4's peformance is that the brush also works very well with triple milled soaps. I hadn't realized the price had gotten down to $55. At that price, it is an absolute steal.

goose · Post by **goose** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 8:34 am

Dave,

I totally agree with your analysis. I put off purchasing a BK4 for quite awhile because I thought it would be too floppy for my tastes. Like you, I had tried several brushes that cost 3 times as much, but the Kent is my favorite. As you said it lathers creams very well, but it also great with hard shave soaps.

Clint

rgc · Post by **rgc** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 8:53 am

After much consideration it was the first brush I bought . . . it is the only brush I have to use and I could not be happier. I still look at other brushes and I am considering a Pilson in brass, but, I don't need another right now.

If the $55 is correct, that is a steal as that is what I baid for a used one.

bernards66 · Post by **bernards66** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 11:21 am

Dave, I concur, and have frequently posted similiar for awhile now ( well, since I got the BK4 a year or two ago ). There are a couple of interesting things about it. From looking them over, I always assumed that they'd do a bang-up job with soft creams; afterall, Vulfix Supers do also. The real surprise was how good the thing was with high end hard soaps. That seemed to defy the conventional wisdom. My Kent BK4 will whip up more soap lather, faster, than my Plisson #14 EW. The lather will be slightly less dense, however....but still first rate. Another thing is that, actually, the BK4 is packed fairly densely. It's misleading because, due to the very fine gauge bristle used, and the considerable loft, the brush is quite flexible. But if you look closer, and compare it with, say, a Vulfix 2234, you'll see that the BK4 is denser than you probably thought. It's a rather intriquing brush. And at the price you quoted, a newcomer looking for his first higher end brush would be almost foolish to get anything else. On top of everything else, the Bk4 is just so damn easy to use well; no 'tricks', special techniques, or hoo doo required. It's the Schick Injector of shave brushes in that regard.
Regards,
Gordon

fallingwickets · Post by **fallingwickets** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 11:38 am

one of these days I'm going to fold, but until then its the IK for me

Clive

Dave T · Post by **Dave T** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 12:48 pm

Gordon,

I'll look at the brush's density closer tonight. What you said about the brush actually being quite dense with hair that's finer than usual would explain its water- and lather-holding qualities. I couldn't understand how it could do that with a less dense knot. You hit the nail on the head about its being so darned easy to use. It's the most foolproof brush I've had.

Dave

jayb · Post by **jayb** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 12:52 pm

I agree with everyone here! The BK4 is a splendid brush to say the least. From the way that it's packaged to its performance, it's top-notch English quality. For me, it works better as a bowl-latherer, not so much for lathering on the face. This is probably due to the fact that I am a small-framed guy and my face doesn't have the real-estate as others.

I would not hesitate to recommend this brush to anyone. It's very versatile.

TRBeck · Post by **TRBeck** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 1:11 pm

jayb wrote:I agree with everyone here! The BK4 is a splendid brush to say the least. From the way that it's packaged to its performance, it's top-notch English quality.

Just a point of fact, as I see this mentioned quite often on here: Kent is an English company, but the brushes are made in Italy.

Regards,

goose · Post by **goose** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 1:17 pm

TBoner wrote: Kent is an English company, but the brushes are made in Italy.

Are you sure about this? What's your source?

Thanks,
Clint

Dave T · Post by **Dave T** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 1:48 pm

By the way, the BLK4 is the same as the BK4 but with a black handle, and an attractive one at that.

Dave

jww · Post by **jww** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 3:43 pm

Hmmm -- methinks the BK4 will be added to my shaving wish list -- right up there with a Chatsworth and Moss Scuttle (small, of course -- it hugs the brush better according to user reports.....

).

goose · Post by **goose** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 3:50 pm

Wendell,

Only makes sense. The BK4 is thought to work wonders with MWF.

Clint

Thalay Sagar · Post by **Thalay Sagar** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 4:21 pm

goose wrote:
TBoner wrote: Kent is an English company, but the brushes are made in Italy.
Are you sure about this? What's your source?

Thanks,
Clint

I believe this stems from an assertion made by Giovanni on his forum that Kent has subcontracted out production to an unidentified brush manufacturer in Florence. Joel, in a thread on Zenith brushes, has refuted that assertion. Neither has provided any substantiation for his respective position to date that I am aware of. At least a couple of the English retailers state that the brushes are made in GB. I shot Kent an e-mail asking for its position and eagerly await a response sometime in the next century.

jayb · Post by **jayb** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 5:19 pm

TBoner wrote:
jayb wrote:I agree with everyone here! The BK4 is a splendid brush to say the least. From the way that it's packaged to its performance, it's top-notch English quality.
Just a point of fact, as I see this mentioned quite often on here: Kent is an English company, but the brushes are made in Italy.

Regards,

I've never heard of that before.

TRBeck · Post by **TRBeck** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 5:31 pm

Thalay Sagar wrote:
goose wrote:
TBoner wrote: Kent is an English company, but the brushes are made in Italy.
Are you sure about this? What's your source?

Thanks,
Clint
I believe this stems from an assertion made by Giovanni on his forum that Kent has subcontracted out production to an unidentified brush manufacturer in Florence. Joel, in a thread on Zenith brushes, has refuted that assertion. Neither has provided any substantiation for his respective position to date that I am aware of. At least a couple of the English retailers state that the brushes are made in GB. I shot Kent an e-mail asking for its position and eagerly await a response sometime in the next century.

Chris, you're right: I did get the information from Giovanni. I was unaware of the B&B thread, but it's hard to believe Joel and Gio would disagree on something.
That said, I suppose I offered the fact without substantiation, so I'll retract as best I can and say that I await further evidence (I'd edit the post but none of the rest of this exchange would make sense).

Regards,

Zach · Post by **Zach** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 6:30 pm

Tim, my wife has a dark plastic hair pick; it looks like an afro comb; I bought it for her to replace a 'Goody' pick that I broke; it's from Kent.
I don't have the packaging any longer but I recall my surprise that it said something like "sourced in Italy" on it.
I have also read that Kent is outsourcing production in Florence.

Dale · Post by **Dale** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 6:35 pm

I wonder if Kent's boar brushes are made in Italy while their badger brushes are still made in England?

Dale

Thalay Sagar · Post by **Thalay Sagar** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 6:43 pm

TBoner wrote:
Thalay Sagar wrote:
goose wrote: Are you sure about this? What's your source?

Thanks,
Clint
I believe this stems from an assertion made by Giovanni on his forum that Kent has subcontracted out production to an unidentified brush manufacturer in Florence. Joel, in a thread on Zenith brushes, has refuted that assertion. Neither has provided any substantiation for his respective position to date that I am aware of. At least a couple of the English retailers state that the brushes are made in GB. I shot Kent an e-mail asking for its position and eagerly await a response sometime in the next century.
Chris, you're right: I did get the information from Giovanni. I was unaware of the B&B thread, but it's hard to believe Joel and Gio would disagree on something.
That said, I suppose I offered the fact without substantiation, so I'll retract as best I can and say that I await further evidence (I'd edit the post but none of the rest of this exchange would make sense).

Regards,

Joel and Giovanni disagreeing on something? Will wonders never cease! I'm just waiting for their discussion to be held in 30 point font. Frankly, I could care less where the brush is made so long as it works, lasts and meets the desired specs. A company like Kent stopped being a cottage industry some time ago and subbing work out is to be expected. And who knows, both could be "right" in that Kent makes its hairbrushes in Italy and maybe some of it's shaving brushes, but reserves the higher end for production in GB, as Dale suggested. At the end of the day, the BK4 is still a hell of a brush.