I like little brushes and I cannot lie. This brush is a more refined version of the Berkeley 46 in Best, which can be very rough and hog lather. The 55 handle is the perfect geometry too with a lone ridge that's slightly higher than the double on the Berkeley. And although it's a little scrubby when starting to face-lather my TOBS creams, it becomes gentler and splays nicely never becoming that "wall of badger" that so many people love. Super precise swirling and painting always putting the lather exactly where I want it. This brush makes 3 perfect passes of lather from a fingertips worth of whatever TOBS cream I choose. It never hogs lather either (or traps water at the base of the knot) like the large knotted dense badgers like my Classic 1 in Best can.
This ain't my first Simpsons rodeo, all their badgers I've owned open up, get softer, and subtly change character after 10 or more shaves, if this one relaxes and softens just a minor amount it will be one amazing little brush. Righ