The Paladin™ Sumo™ handle-design was inspired by the Simpson IM3, (produced for I. Magnin, a former San Francisco-based, luxury department store). The IM3 is more commonly known as the Snowman or Bumblebee. That brush turns up in the wild very rarely. We were fortunate to have a good friend and collector in San Francisco give us two examples of the IM3 for study. We love the whimsical design; it’s hard to look at an IM3 or Sumo without smiling. But what surprised us is that the shape is also highly ergonomic. We’re pleased to make it available to wet-shavers again. Most will probably find the Sumo best-suited to face-lathering.

At present, we only offer knots containing what is commonly referred to as 2-band badger hair, the characteristics of which combine resilient (springy) shafts with soft tips. High quality knots of this type are prized for their overall performance. The resilience of 2-band hair confers optimal backbone without excessive density. As a result, 2-band knots typically deliver superior lather production and flow-through without sacrificing comfort in use. We offer these knots first and foremost because they are what we prefer to use ourselves. Please take care to note additional details regarding the various knots installed in listed brushes .

Material: Lapis Lazuli (polyester resin)
Socket diameter: 26 mm
Handle height: 55.3 mm ± 1 mm
Handle diameter: 42.3 mm ± 1 mm
Knot measurements: see accompanying front-side (top) photo.