Thread: First DE shave in decades--pretty good

Although I'm a noob and I love straight razor shaving, the impending prospect of a trip and the idea of having to use a disposable or cartridge when I know I'd be pressed for time everyday was depressing. I wasn't going to carry a straight in my luggage to get lost or confiscated or show up missing and I wouldn't have the time to use it for a week anyway--yeah, it's a work trip with very long days.

When I first started shaving in the 60's I learned on a DE Gillette. So I decided to go back to my youth and after reading the fourms, went on the bay and got a really good condition 1953 Gillette super speed for about $20 with a pack of blades and shipping incld. Maybe it was a little too much, but fairly in the the price range of what a good one goes for.

The razor worked great. I had a really smooth shave, using Lord Platinum blades and some MWF lather. I had forgotten how close a DE can shave.

Plus it's easy enough to travel with and quick enough to use everyday.

In fact, I liked it a lot; even at home I don't always have time to use a straight and I can use this now. I still like my straights better (although I'm not quite as good as I want to be with them yet), but , this DE beats all the new disposable and cartridge stuff hands down.

I'm next going to try some Feather blades soon, since everyone around here seems to like them too.

The blades for the safety razors are so much cheaper than those cartridges, even if you are buying a generic drugstores brand. I enjoy using my safety razors, and look forward to shaving more now, than I ever did when using cartridges, it felt more like a chore.

Good point, I agree completely. That's one of the reasons I started moving away from cartridges; they are more expensive in the long run than razor blades and straights. As I look back over time, I think we have been sold by the big companies an increasingly more expensive trade-off; we pay more for for something that is the newest improved cartridge thingamajig, but it's really only a little quicker, more convenient and less painstaking for an outrageous price. In the deal we give up really good shaves.
That's my .02

Hello oldsCool:

Make sure your blades are packed in your checked suitcase. I usually travel with two straights and a backup Merkur travel double edge in my wet pack, which then is tucked away into my checked suitcase. Yes, the double edge, while not a straight, is fun to use. I get great shaves with DE razors.

Regards,

Obie

I appreciate the advice very much. I also thought that I might be able to just take the DE and get blades at the destination--probably a wally somewhere. Thanks again. I've been checking out the TSA site. I'd rather have luggage lost with a DE than one of my straights.

Originally Posted by oldsCool

this DE beats all the new disposable and cartridge stuff hands down.

I'm next going to try some Feather blades soon, since everyone around here seems to like them too.

Absolutely, and due to my SR's and DE's I'll never have to buy or use another cartridge/disposable razor for the rest of my life

Since you have experience with DE's I'd say rush out and buy a pack of Feathers and see for yourself what all the hype is about. But be warned, the sharpness of those blades will become the standard by which you judge other blades forever.....