High-end or nothing?

I have been looking forever for one of these.  It's the only razor that interests me.

I presume you mean the UK Red Tip Superspeed.

Yes, they are rarer than hen's teeth, and they command quite the premium.
Folks who use a US red tip get a little perturbed by this.

If you chance upon a UK Red Tip Rocket, that one is almost identical in form and function.
Except for the TTO section of the Rocket which follows the hydraulic action of the 3rd gen
UK Aristocrat.

Yep I have been on the lookout for YEARS.  No luck yet.

So, how much does a set-up have to cost to be post-worthy?

I really couldn't disagree more with your statement. Cheap shaving kits look nice too. There are inexpensive items that are beautiful.

For some folks, it is not about being post-worthy or beautiful, but about waving a razor handle and ego.  The howling about not being able to get the latest Wolfman Face Vampire razor is proof of this.  The same goes for that duck fat soap, whatever the hell it is called.  Not that there is anything wrong with having that unobtanium razor.  The "if it ain't uber expensive stainless steel, it ain't a razor" thing is just plain silly, however.

A Limited Edition WFVR1 would be kinda cool right? An image of the Rocky Horror Picture Show Lips and Fangs on the base plate with the LE number?

I have been looking forever for one of these.  It's the only razor that interests me.

If you are looking for the razor on the right (Made in England), and curious about the shave, just get a US red tip (shown on left, end cap missing) - they shave 100% the same. I could not tell a difference when I used both with the same blade during the same shave. If you are looking for one to collect, I can keep an eye for you, I have seen them a few times here and there.

If you are talking about a different razor, sorry :/

For me the high-end stuff was worth chasing because, chiefly, I thought it would be the ultimate razor, soap, balm, etc. Usually the old saying is true: you get what you pay for. 

But not when it comes to shaving, for the most part. 

I love my Above the Tie razors. I love them because they're made of stainless steel, they're functional art, they give good and great shaves, and they will certainly outlive me. I love my Timeless and my Wolfman. They too look great, feel great, and give superb shaves. So do my vintage Gillettes. Can I honestly say that a razor that costs nearly $200 or even more gives me a better shave than the Superspeed I got from ebay fifteen years ago? I cannot. I love Martin de Candre. Does it give me a better shave than soaps that are a fraction of the price? No. Do I like the fact that MdeC has a very short list of ingredients and none of them sound like they were created by a mad scientist? Yes. (Also, years ago I saw a movie called The Return of Martin Guerre. Throughout the picture they kept saying, "Martin! Martin Guerre!" So I find it imperative, while shaving with MdeC to say, in my cartoonish French accent, "Mar-TIN! Martin de CANDRE!" You can do this with, say, Proraso but it doesn't have the same ring.)

Finally, I think I'm at the point where, except for special occasions, I'm content to avoid the very high end stuff. One of my inspirations in this regard is Paul H. Films. That man uses products at a range of prices, from Barbasol and a Boots DE to B&M and the new deluxe Doppelganger soaps, etc. He revels in EVERYTHING, and enjoys the plush stuff as much as the nonplush stuff. 

There is one exception where I find the high-end decidedly better to the low: when it comes to shavettes. The Feather SS is much better than the inexpensive shavettes, in my view. Though I prefer the SS to the very high end Feather DX. 

Other than that, I find this hobby quite democratic. One can get a great shave by spending a fortune or by spending very little. 

For me the high-end stuff was worth chasing because, chiefly, I thought it would be the ultimate razor, soap, balm, etc. Usually the old saying is true: you get what you pay for. 


I love my Above the Tie razors. I love them because they're made of stainless steel, they're functional art, they give good and great shaves, and they will certainly outlive me. I love my Timeless and my Wolfman. They too look great, feel great, and give superb shaves. So do my vintage Gillettes.   

One can get a great shave by spending a fortune or by spending very little. 

+1 LOVE my ATT!
Its true, you can get brilliant shaves for $4 or $499, select a budget, push play.  Something for everyone.

Did you know June 1 is $20 SOTD Day? It’s true, everyone posting their SOTD on June 1 must use $20 or under in gear in their posts!

I presume you mean the UK Red Tip Superspeed.

Yes, they are rarer than hen's teeth, and they command quite the premium.
Folks who use a US red tip get a little perturbed by this.

Why would they get perturbed? If the US red tips don't shave as well as the British red tips, then just offer $$$$ for a British red tip or buy one of the Vikings Blade copies.

I have been looking forever for one of these.  It's the only razor that interests me.

If you are looking for the razor on the right (Made in England), and curious about the shave, just get a US red tip (shown on left, end cap missing) - they shave 100% the same. I could not tell a difference when I used both with the same blade during the same shave. If you are looking for one to collect, I can keep an eye for you, I have seen them a few times here and there.

If you are talking about a different razor, sorry :/

Well dang I heard the UK version was a tad more efficient/different shave.  I have the US version.

I presume you mean the UK Red Tip Superspeed.

Yes, they are rarer than hen's teeth, and they command quite the premium.
Folks who use a US red tip get a little perturbed by this.

Why would they get perturbed?  If the US red tips don't shave as well as the British red tips, then just offer $$$$ for a British red tip or buy one of the Vikings Blade copies.

No idea that wasn't my post.

Well dang I heard the UK version was a tad more efficient/different shave.  I have the US version.

Well, there are so much bullshit around vintage razors - and I think some are spread intentionally - to increase the value of rarer items and/or to show off.

Well dang I heard the UK version was a tad more efficient/different shave.  I have the US version.

Well, there are so much bullshit around vintage razors - and I think some are spread intentionally - to increase the value of rarer items and/or to show off.

AMEN!!!       That said,  I use a vintage Gillette Tech for 99% of my shaving for just as well I don't buy into the "snake oil" BS of the artisan market "hoity toity" (spelled correctly for our resident grammar Nazi    ) razors who have somehow "plussed" the laws of engineering and designed a more "efficent" (most overused & abused word in all shavedom) razor made on NASA grade surface grinders and hand finished by naked vestal virgins on Mt. Olympus under a full moon.    Somehow a razor that actually cuts closer has miraculous powers of...................efficiency!! 




The bottom line is that the DE is effectively an evolutionary dead end and trying to somehow "perfect" it is like putting a hemi engine in a Conestoga wagon. It either shaves as close as you want or it doesn't. No need for mystical metals or goofy handles. It's a blade holder. Nothing more, nothing less.