Thread: Found some old Gillette DE razors

Just found these two DE Gillettes for $10. Anyone have a guide to check their production year? Does anyone have any experience using them?

I have some Wilkinson sword blades and gonna clean these up to give safety a go. I've been str8 shaving for 3 months now, but I'd like to try and see how these will do.

There should be a stamp on the bottom of the head. L2 or something like that. The picture on the left looks like a slim adjustable late 70's or early 80's. There is a database online with the production code stamp and years of production.

On the left Gillette Super Adjustable pre 1978 and I think maybe a Super speed what color is it?

Left one is stamped R 3. According to http://razoremporium.com/archive/ r=1971. Must be a Gillette adjustabe TTO razor. Right one has no letter/number stamp but is golden plated.

The one on the right is apparently circa 1940 (asuming it's TTO and not a 3 piece)
http://www.mr-razor.com/Rasierertype...ertypen-09.jpg
If it's gold plated it might also be a Milford (circa 1948) bottom left picture
http://www.mr-razor.com/Rasierertype...ertypen-12.jpg

Sorry my German is autrocious so I can't tell you what it says but I've used the site often for the pictures and date references. Beauty grab for $10 though. I own several SE and DE safety razors (from the pre-revolution days ) while they don't see nearly as much action as they did years ago, every once in a while they still get out there and still render great shaves.

Originally Posted by JayhawkPharmD

Right one has no letter/number stamp but is golden plated.

Then I would have to say a 40's Milord (47-49)

My cousin had the exact razor on the left. His Grandfather passed it on to him, so I cleaned it up for him. After it was cleaned, I shaved a couple times with it, (had the best shave on #4). I quite enjoyed the shaves, and I did some reasearch on it. I believe it was made in the 1970's. Overall nice razor, exceptionally long handle.

The one on the Left is a Gillette Super Adjustable and was likely made sometime in the early 1970's. The one on the Right is definitely a Milord (since you said it was gold plated). For more information about the date codes go to: Gillette Date Codes for Safety Razors and Blades

The Milord came up today on The Shave Den as well: Help identifying a Gillette Razor | TheShaveDen -- if you scroll down a bit there is a wonderful graphic about where the date codes are on the Gillette's that have them.

Nice score. Both of those razors are very nice to shave with. Get a blade sampler to find the blade / razor that meets your needs.

I agree with sampler. Some like the Wilkinson Sword and some really don't. I've had great success with both the Israeli Peronna (blue) and the U.S.A. Personna lab or medical prep blades. Sharp, but very smooth!

Look again. The razor on the right should have a date code under the head. Sometimes is hard to find unless you really clean it up with a tooth brush, etc. Gillette started the date codes in 1930. The right ones looks like the TTO 1953 razors that I have. Gives a pretty nice shave as well, all 4 of my 1953 super speeds.