RIP Kent BK/BLK Silvertips

I recently visited the Kent Brushes web site to see if there were perchance any new products and discovered that their BK/BLK Silvertip badger brushes are no longer listed for sale.

I inquired of Kent: Has Kent discontinued the BK/BLK 4/8/12 series of Silvertip badger shaving brushes? If so, are there plans to introduce comparable Silvertip brushes in the future?



Kent's customer service promptly responded: Yes we are no longer making any brushes with badger hair, we have a new fully synthetic shaving brush range which has been designed to have the same look and feel as luxurious as the badger brushes.


Indeed Kent now offers Silvertex brushes in the same sizes and with the same handle as the discontinued Silvertip models.  They have the same model number but with an "S" added, e.g., BLK8S, and the prices are from 35-50 Pounds Sterling.


I realize there has been a love/hate dichotomy on ShaveNook regarding the Kent silvertip brushes of recent years.  I generally prefer two-band brushes myself but still enjoy occasional sessions with my Kent BLK8 and BLK4 brushes, particularly when using the also discontinued Penhaligon's Blenheim Bouquet and Sartorial shaving creams, aftershaves, and EdTs.

Whatever one's opinion of Kent Silvertip brushes might be surely this marks one more "end of an era" moment for classic shaving accoutrements.


RIP Kent BK/BLK Silvertips.

Interesting. I wonder if the other major brush makers will eventually follow suit.

What I find interesting on the Kent website is their brush dimensions.  
The first thing I look for when checking out a brush...is what?
Knot size.  Right?
Kent doesn’t list the size of the knot on any brushes.
What’s up with that?

I never liked the floppy knots or handles on Kent brushes.  However, it's still sad to see a storied British brush maker end up like this.  I don't know if synthetic brushes will save Kent.

(02-22-2021, 07:57 PM)TheLegalRazor Wrote: I never liked the floppy knots or handles on Kent brushes.  However, it's still sad to see a storied British brush maker end up like this.  I don't know if synthetic brushes will save Kent.

I agree. When market preferences changed to denser knots and more backbone, Kent never changed their approach. While I am not saying that they should have eliminated their mops, they should have at least created a few offerings for those who like to face lather. It's like only making golf clubs for lefties...it does not make sense.

Lefties with a slow swing speed...

(02-23-2021, 11:10 AM)jackgoldman123 Wrote: Lefties with a slow swing speed...

That's me!

(02-23-2021, 11:14 AM)ChiefBroom Wrote:

(02-23-2021, 11:10 AM)jackgoldman123 Wrote: Lefties with a slow swing speed...

That's me!

so these 3 lefty golfers are at a bar...

(02-23-2021, 11:48 AM)jackgoldman123 Wrote:

(02-23-2021, 11:14 AM)ChiefBroom Wrote:

(02-23-2021, 11:10 AM)jackgoldman123 Wrote: Lefties with a slow swing speed...

That's me!

so these 3 lefty golfers are at a bar...

I win. I play banjo and was a lawyer.

Forgot to mention Bohemian bloodlines.

Kent joins Czech & Speake, Floris London, Penhaligon’s.


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(02-23-2021, 12:21 PM)Salty sailor Wrote: Kent joins Czech & Speake, Floris London, Penhaligon’s.


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Yes, seems there's a mass extinction among venerable brands of Georgian and Victorian era men's shaving/grooming businesses.

Has the market flattened that much, primarily North America and Europe, or did they simply fail to keep their products relevant or let quality lapse?

(02-23-2021, 12:21 PM)Salty sailor Wrote: Kent joins Czech & Speake, Floris London, Penhaligon’s.


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I would not put Floris in this category.   The new Floris soaps are excellent, and bring back the best of the classic British triple milled soaps.

http://shavenook.com/showthread.php?tid=...ght=Floris

(02-24-2021, 05:20 AM)TheLegalRazor Wrote:

(02-23-2021, 12:21 PM)Salty sailor Wrote: Kent joins Czech & Speake, Floris London, Penhaligon’s.


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I would not put Floris in this category.   The new Floris soaps are excellent, and bring back the best of the classic British triple milled soaps.

http://shavenook.com/showthread.php?tid=...ght=Floris

Thanks for pointing out the newly improved Floris shaving soaps.  I missed that development.

I was also under the impression Floris was reducing if not eliminating the "footprint" of their shaving products except aftershaves since they're down to only one (not very good IME) shaving cream.

I find Floris' depressingly expensive aftershaves to be absolutely spectacular; they have a high Hamamelis virginiana content plus glycerine and PEG-40 Castor oil, lower alcohol content and IMO the Santal fragrance is intoxicating.  I restock whenever I see a price reduction from the $75 100ml list price.

Indeed that is sad news.  I’ve had a BK4 silver tip with a faux ivory handle for several years.  I love this brush, both aesthetically and in terms of performance.  I love the feel of the silver tip on my face: it’s cloud-like and envelops my face as I lather.  I don’t regard it as being mop like at all; some Vulfix are though.  It’s a pleasant change from today’s fad for impenetrable bricks of badger.  The blade of my razor does far more exfoliation of my face than any shaving brush unless the knot were a loofa. 
Unfortunately, this seems to be the trend today in wet shaving of, out with the tried and true and in with the novel.  We’ve seen it with Trumper and Penhaligons and their aftershaves as well.  Too sad.

I believe it was near the beginning of 2019 that Kent announced this. If you want to search on Facebook I know it is there. I feel it is a shame, but it is their choice. Synthetic is no where near a replacement for badger. Not to say synthetic does not have a place, but as a lover of badger, it is no where near replacing it yet.

(02-24-2021, 05:20 AM)TheLegalRazor Wrote:

(02-23-2021, 12:21 PM)Salty sailor Wrote: Kent joins Czech & Speake, Floris London, Penhaligon’s.


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I would not put Floris in this category.   The new Floris soaps are excellent, and bring back the best of the classic British triple milled soaps.

http://shavenook.com/showthread.php?tid=...ght=Floris

I was only talking about companies using badger in their brushes.

Floris is actually my favourite soap, it’s wonderful and I strongly recommend anyone to give it a go.


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I believe badger hair is being phased out due to difficulties obtaining hair and increasing cost. Just my opinion.

The Kent P12 Silvertip twins, first series: shorter loft and firmer face feel, but still as soft as can be. Circa 1998. 

(02-28-2021, 03:41 AM)Shaun Wrote: The Kent P12 Silvertip twins, first series: shorter loft and firmer face feel, but still as soft as can be. Circa 1998. 

WOW! Those P12 are indeed a lovely sight