Reddit mentions of Simpsons Commodore X2 Best Badger Shaving Brush

Hey All,

I'm wondering if anyone might know some history about this brush. It's a Geo. F. Trumper X 2 Best Badger. I found it at an estate sale for $3 and I'm wondering if it's worth holding on to and keeping in new condition, or if it's nothing special I'll just start using it! I'm curious because I don't see it being sold anywhere and It appears to be pretty old.

Picture - X 2 Best Badger

It appears to be extremely similar to this brush by Simpson, but I'm not sure the connection.

https://www.amazon.com/Commodore-Badger-Shave-Brush-Simpson/dp/B003B3Y9M8

Thanks!

Very cool. So you do have some context.

The EJ best badger was one of my first badger brushes, and I just wasn't all that impressed. The medium size sells for about $50, while your other recommended brushes, the Colonel X2L and Commodore X2, are available on Amazon for $60-65. And somebody who's willing to wait a week for transatlantic shipping can get a Duke 2 (US retail $92) for $68. It's hard to justify the EJ when the cost to upgrade to a Simpsons is what you might spend for lunch.

My problem with Simpsons best badger brushes is that the two I owned were almost intolerably scratchy. I know some guys love them, and have been told that there's considerable variation from batch to batch. Maybe I just got two bad brushes in a row, but if so that's a risk that anybody buying one will have to take.

For a few extra bucks the OP can get into a BK-4, which I agree is an incredible brush. And these days it's under $75 because of the weak pound.

I find Kent brushes luxuriously soft, but some people don't like them because they're so pillowy. For somebody like that, a Semogue SOC 2-band is perfect. Scrubby as hell, but very soft tips. And at $57 it's a bargain.

A lot of people (myself included) have had quality problems with Rooney since Lee Sabini left. It's gotten bad enough that several vendors have cut ties with the manufacturer. They're great brushes, but there's a decent chance you'll get a shedder, and if you do you're SOL.

Shavemac brushes are outstanding. Period. My favorite brush is probably the Savile Row 3824, which uses a Shavemac 3-band silvertip knot. AoS now sells re-branded Muhle brushes for about three times what they should cost.

TL;DR - I don't totally disagree with your recommendation of a Simpsons Commodore or Colonel, it's just that their best badger brushes seem to be hit-or-miss. I still can't get behind the idea of an EJ brush, though.