High end razors not used as much

Member said:
"You're the reason the gene pool needs a lifeguard."

I am not so sure about that.
Have you ever seen teenagers genes?
They all want help - a leg up.
But where are they going to put that leg?
The knees ar full of holes.
No future at all.

I just love my Merkur 38C and red Edwin Jagger DE89. I can't imagine getting enjoyment enough from another razor to bother ordering or paying for one. I get perfect shaves, easily. I'm not looking for improvement.

I understand the art of some of the razors, and can appreciate holding the quality of a flawlessly made product. I'm glad they are out there. But I'm just not moved.

...There is nothing miraculous about the Wolfamn's[sic] geometry and that would be simple to knock off but its the fit and finish that is the truly wonderful thing and that would take just as much time for a knock off as the original although the time of a person to do that goes for a slightly lower hourly rate in China than in North America.

There is no doubt high end "boutique" razors are fit & finished to the nth degree. We can all agree on that and also that there is nothing wrong with pride of ownership. However, when people start saying the shave is "light years" better than "fill in the _____ run of the mill razor" my BS alarm goes off. They then have crossed the line into unabashed confirmation bias IMO. Just my 2 cents.

I completely agree with you. There are only so many angles, blade gaps and so forth that will result in a comfortable and efficient shave, the rest is window dressing. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy using beautiful, well made tools as much as the next person and razors are no exception but there are limits and all that beauty and expensive metal doesn't necessarily result in a superior shave. Like I said above, if the Rockwell 6s had been the first razor I'd ever bought it could easily have been the last razor. It shaves very well at all plate settings from mild to aggressive and on #6 is virtually indistinguishable in shave from the Wolfman in my opinion. And the Rockwell is not exactly a pretty razor, well designed but made with the metal injection moulding process and it has that dull grey finish but I can overlook all that because of how well it shaves. A novice could buy that razor and learn on plates 1 and 2 and gradually step up to 3 and 4 and occasionally use 5 or 6 once they've become accomplished enough. And for a total razor investment of around $100 they could have a razor that would do the job very well for the rest of their life. I'm not sure if there is a better value razor out there. There are definitely cheaper, effective razors on the market like the Dorco Pl602 which sells for around $5.00 but it hasn't got the flexibility of the Rockwell.

This is about the whole concept of luxury items like cars. Why spend the extra money on a Mercedes Benz when a Ford will do the exact same thing for way less money? Go figure.

I will blatantly commit heresy and defy any "high end" razor to beat the shave I got this morning from my Gillette Fusion.

I don't think it is heretical at all.  As we've seen, our preferences are all over the map.  Obviously, I prefer my traditional razors, be they modern or vintage, and shaving soap or cream and brush.  However, when I travel or have guests, the Fusion is just faster, easier to pack (especially if flying), and less complicated for my friends.  The classic example of that last part...

My friend from Scotland will be arriving on Wednesday for three and a half weeks.  I visit her in September for about the same amount of time.  We have been doing this for more than twenty years, long before I started traditional wet shaving.  I live in an older two bedroom but one bathroom apartment and, in the morning, usually she makes herself a cup of coffee and I go into the bathroom to shave and wash up.  The first year she came after I started wet shaving, she said that she didn't think I'd ever get out of the bathroom and said that she could bathe and put on her makeup faster than I could shave and wash up.  It has been a lot easier, if not as nice, to go with the Fusion and gel than getting teased about the time I take in the bathroom.

What I find interesting about the Gillette Fusion and my traditional shaves is that while both can, and often do, give me a BBS shave initially, the traditional shave keeps my face feeling smoother much longer than the Fusion shave.

...There is nothing miraculous about the Wolfamn's[sic] geometry and that would be simple to knock off but its the fit and finish that is the truly wonderful thing and that would take just as much time for a knock off as the original although the time of a person to do that goes for a slightly lower hourly rate in China than in North America.

There is no doubt high end "boutique" razors are fit & finished to the nth degree. We can all agree on that and also that there is nothing wrong with pride of ownership. However, when people start saying the shave is "light years" better than "fill in the _____ run of the mill razor" my BS alarm goes off. They then have crossed the line into unabashed confirmation bias IMO. Just my 2 cents.

Be careful. Somebody will just say you are jealous because you don't have ________, and IT IS light years better. Like I said before it has become a, "Keeping up with the Jonses," exercise that is amusing to watch.

An interesting discussion.  I have a stable of high end and low brow razors that I regularly use.  The only criteria to stay is it needs to provide a shave above a certain level that I have in my head.  For example, the hairs go in a specific direction under my jawline.  All the razors (minus the AC Feather DX and my Schick proline) can either cut the hairs in the area or they go.  The PAA Bakelite Slant can easily do it but the Asylum RX (Feather AC type razor) could not so it goes and the PAA stays.    I have a Timeless Ti and a toggle that can do it as well as a Fatip old cap that stay in my rotation.  I try not to sell any that meet this cut off since I always end up re-purchasing because I miss them.  As a member on this board suggested (Freddy or EFDan I think?)  just put it away and bring it out later, it will save you lots and lots of money.  None are game changers and none are light years ahead of each other.  Either they meet or exceed the cut off or they go.

...Be careful.  Somebody will just say you are jealous because you don't have ________, and IT IS light years better.  Like I said before it has become a, "Keeping up with the Jonses," exercise that is amusing to watch.

It's mere capitalism at work and there is nothing inherently wrong with that. That's why some eat Cap'n Crunch and other Cheerios.  
But, I'd wager there are no forums where people are saying that one cereal tastes "light years" better than another (although I could be wrong   ). I enjoy reading the reviews on these "boutique" razors when they are objective and don't wander aimlessly with gushing and excessive bloviation that is over the top like some fat, bald, gold chain bedecked 70 yr. old with a new Ferrari trying to pick up women half his age or younger.  

You make very good points - I think a large part of the crappy cartridge shaves we all used to get is that we had lousy technique.  Virtually no prep, splash of water, shot of foam and a quick single pass of the razor rinse and splash on some aftershave and we wondered why we had bad shaves.  Yes, the DE experience has certainly developed our technique hasn't it?  I've told a few friends who are reluctant to try the DE shave that they could dramatically improve their daily shave by just upgrading to decent soap and a brush and doing a second pass or even a third.  Some guys won't change though, its like they enjoy complaining about their crappy shave. You can only try.

I figured you missed it - it was hard to see on my laptop so I could imagine on a handheld device it would have been almost invisible.

The underlined. I'm so sure of that. Some hot water was all the prep that I used, canned foam, and most of times, a single WTG pass followed by multiple ATG passes until I was done, but no XTG in between. Sometimes I went ATG without relathering, applied pressure, etc, etc... No wonder I could just shave every two or three days. Nowadays, I shave on a daily basis for extended periods of time, no problem, and to be honest, I usually resort to multiblades when my skin feels a bit tired. They provide very consistent and smooth shaves if used with proper (that is, DE) technique .

I agree Marko, it's all about the prep when it comes to getting a great shave. However, I think anything over 3 blades is insane and is unneeded.  I get great shaves from my Sensor loaded with an inexpensive Personna Tri-Flex cartridge.

Clayton

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I used to think the same, regarding the 3 vs 5 blades. It was my thought that 5 blades should result in more irritation. Well, my experience proved that wrong, though each case is different and other guys may have a different experience. I find the Fusion to be more efficient and actually milder on the skin, and safer to use, than the Sensor 3. It is not, however, better in this regard than the Mach 3 is. It's just the price of the Fusion carts, which is ridiculous, that makes that I reach for it only when a quick shave is needed. It really excels in those.

I will blatantly commit heresy and defy any "high end" razor to beat the shave I got this morning from my Gillette Fusion.

I don't think it is heretical at all.  As we've seen, our preferences are all over the map.  Obviously, I prefer my traditional razors, be they modern or vintage, and shaving soap or cream and brush.  However, when I travel or have guests, the Fusion is just faster, easier to pack (especially if flying), and less complicated for my friends.  The classic example of that last part...

My friend from Scotland will be arriving on Wednesday for three and a half weeks.  I visit her in September for about the same amount of time.  We have been doing this for more than twenty years, long before I started traditional wet shaving.  I live in an older two bedroom but one bathroom apartment and, in the morning, usually she makes herself a cup of coffee and I go into the bathroom to shave and wash up.  The first year she came after I started wet shaving, she said that she didn't think I'd ever get out of the bathroom and said that she could bathe and put on her makeup faster than I could shave and wash up.  It has been a lot easier, if not as nice, to go with the Fusion and gel than getting teased about the time I take in the bathroom.

What I find interesting about the Gillette Fusion and my traditional shaves is that while both can, and often do, give me a BBS shave initially, the traditional shave keeps my face feeling smoother much longer than the Fusion shave.

I agree that a proper DE shave lasts longer. I used "heresy" as a kind of joke . Most of us prefer the feel of a traditional DE razor over a modern multiblade, I am myself in that club. Therefore, publicly admitting that a Fusion actually gives you an overall better shave sounds kind of... heretical

(Yesterday, 08:33 PM)BPman Wrote:
"This is about the whole concept of luxury items like cars. Why spend the extra money on a Mercedes Benz when a Ford will do the exact same thing for way less money? Go figure."

I believe that concept is called "prestige". Too many people think it rubs off if you get close enough to one who purportedly possesses it.
It is similar to "celebrity" that is supposed to carry the same transferable qualities as "prestige"
Both are close relatives of "hyperbole" which comes under the genetic classification of " B.S."

Thus the immense popularity of selfies.

Fortunately though, razors must prove themselves.

I must temper my intemperate rant.
There is shown in this thread a great appreciation for art.
There is no denying that the creators of some razors and brushes and soap containers can rank with the very best artists in any medium.
They are superb ande deserve full credit for their talents.