Absolutely gorgeous! I love it!

The photo's on the site don't do justice to the beauty of this handle. The SynBad knot is near perfection as it whips up great lather yet has backbone and is smooth on the face. For a pre made brush this one is outstanding.

The Rubberset 400 repro handle in aluminum, and German synth brush sold me. I'm not a collector or connoisseur. I am a fan of the Rubberset story. Americana, all that. I think there may have been a Canadian plant or sub-contractor, too. Customer service and shipping were very good. Glad I bought it.

TLDR: Holds water well, holds heat well, builds a great lather on face or in a bowl. Buy this knot, you won't be disappointed.

Let me just start by saying I have extremely discerning tastes and am not easily impressed. I've been wet-shaving for ~15 years and while I've owned many brushes, I have only kept 4 brushes in my stable: Simpson Duke 3, Simpson Chubby 2, and Kent's BK4 & BK8...all in Silvertip and/or Manchurian Badger. I've tried a couple of synthetics over the years, but was always disappointed with the feel, lather, or some other facet of their performance. While skimming through the B&B forums, I noticed a few posts calling out Andrew and AP Shave for high-quality synthetics. I figured I'd give it another go since it's been several years since my last synthetic trial so I ordered a beautiful ebonite handle and 26mm G5A knot from Andrew.

When my brush arrived, I was extremely impressed by the look and finish of the handle, but the know was exceptionally similar to the badger I've grown accustomed to. When I used it for the first shave, I was blown away by the quality of the lather, the heat retention, feel of the bristles, and overall shave quality. I've since used it a few more times, and each shave has been just as luxurious and enjoyable. I can't speak to the longevity as I've only owned the brush for a little over a week and shaved with it ~3 times, but I can say this brush and knot have earned a permanent place in my brush stable...and that's not easy to accomplish!

Not much else to say other than the title. When I opened the packaging I had a big smile on my face, couldn’t have been more pleased with the brush in my hand! Also knowing this blank design comes from another hobby type I was excited at the fact this was even being turned into a shaving brush! Thank you APshaveCo!

This is the best brush I own, and I own several. I absolutely love it.

Awesome knot

I am really enjoying this handle. Beautiful as seen on the site. Finished well and the shape is comfortable on the hands. Glad to purchase this classic pour and pair it with my favorite knot.

First off, I'm not one to subscribe to the need for a Synthetic to feel like a badger. However, the quality, plush feel of the G5C fibres are a class on their own.
Imagine the softness of the Synbad knot (another fantastic option) but more robust and dense.
The backbone is fairly significant when first lathering up, but once you start creating a shave-ready consistency the thin fibres give way and allow for a really nIce cushion feel.

I'm not a badger purist by any means, but I really feel that even the most ardent of badger lovers would at the very least, appreciate what this knot has to offer.

In short, if there was ever a knot that has the ability to 'bridge the gap', the G5C would own that status.

it lathers as well as my SHD Silvertip knots from Maggard's. I tend to use the 26mm on a brush handle from TurnedTimber(i has a fishing fly in the handle, what can I say) or my 30mm G5A in a Darl Bloom from Cayuen.
both lather incredibly, clean easily when done.
and it is half the price of a good silvertip knot

This brush looks so good in person. Great feel in the hand. I would put it against some of my others costing 3-4 times the price.

I have several AP Shave Co brushes. This one, like the others, has excellent fit and finish and is very comfortable to use. I paired mine with a 28mm SynBad Fan. I use it for both face lathering and bowl lathering. It provides a very plush experience.

Feels amazing, looks amazing and lathers amazing! Truly everything you could ask for.

Whatever the issue is that made it a scratch & dent, I cannot find it. Saved a couple dollars and have a great piece.

To sum it up, I have a lot of synthetic brushes, this has become my favorite by far! Soft, and so easy to lather with. I cannot be happier. If you're on thr fence, don't be. Just get it and you won't be disappointed.