Premium Razors vs the rest

Still love my Yoda lightsaber by you.

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I consistently get my best shaves from my Maggards V3 on the MR22 handle. No matter what i use for a blade it seems, i get a DFS or better in 3 passes with no real touchup, just a couple of spots to buff out. Doesnt matter if I use a Derby Extra green or a Feather, same results.

Of course, I only own a few razors...Old Type, Suoer Speed, Tech, 33c, and my Maggards for DE...

I wouldnt mind trying a "premium" razor, but I can never justify that kind of expense to myself...I would rather spend the money on soaps and splashes, personally, but I certainly dont begrudge anyone else!

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Some of my most memorable shaves have been with the humble Gillette tech.

There's definitely something to be said for modern technology, materials, equipment, & processes. Many of the razors made today could never have been made otherwise.

There's definitely something to be said for the quality of craftsmanship & design ingenuity of the vintage razors. I've yet to see anything impress me as much as the twist-to-open mechanism on a GEM MicroMatic razor. That thing is truly brilliant. To see that done today would probably cost $500 or more.

There's definitely something to be said for modern technology, materials, equipment, & processes. Many of the razors made today could never have been made otherwise.

There's definitely something to be said for the quality of craftsmanship & design ingenuity of the vintage razors. I've yet to see anything impress me as much as the twist-to-open mechanism on a GEM MicroMatic razor. That thing is truly brilliant. To see that done today would probably cost $500 or more.

Very good points. The vintage razors were the trail blazzers and ones who came up with all this stuff. Yes, the patents are all gone and they no longer make them, but they are the ones who deserve most of the praise for any razor made today...at least in my opinion.

As for the Gem, you are probably correct and if someone was to make one, it would cost more then the most expensive DE on the market....and then people would be screaming about cost. Why would I pay $100-200 (guessing) for the same modern version of the razor I can get elsewhere for next to nothing.

Makes you appreciate those little $10-15 razors sitting at the Flea Market. I now have two of these little Techs that have a screw in 2 piece handle that shortens and could only imagine what they'd cost in Stainless, machined form today.

It doesn't get an better then the Tech for me, so I'm glad they are still fairly cheap. I believe it was one of the razors that P&G was going to reintroduce, so I'll be watching but probably won't buy as it won't be Stainless or anything different then the vintage ones.

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I consistently get my best shaves from my Maggards V3 on the MR22 handle. No matter what i use for a blade it seems, i get a DFS or better in 3 passes with no real touchup, just a couple of spots to buff out. Doesnt matter if I use a Derby Extra green or a Feather, same results.

Of course, I only own a few razors...Old Type, Suoer Speed, Tech, 33c, and my Maggards for DE...

I wouldnt mind trying a "premium" razor, but I can never justify that kind of expense to myself...I would rather spend the money on soaps and splashes, personally, but I certainly dont begrudge anyone else!

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Chris, I can easily relate to this.  I have mostly vintage razors and am more than happy with them.  It's funny but I seem to get just okay shaves from my Gillette Tech and, indeed, rarely use it.  However, years ago, someone recommended to me the STAR DE razor that was a competitor of the Tech back in the early 50s.  I purchased one in superb condition from eBay for only $8.00 and to this day it remains one of my go-to DEs.  Also, I love shaving with a piece of history.  I've mentioned it before, elsewhere on the site, but I always wonder what those vintage razors could tell me if they could talk.  Who were their previous owners, what part of the world did they call home, how many owners were there before I came along?  You get the idea.  It's nice to start your own bit of history but it's fascinating to think of what went before.  But, hey, that's just me.  Here is my STAR DE:

Freddy That STAR is a beauty!

Freddy

My Tech is my "least favorite" of my vintage razors. It is not nearly as comfortable as my Super Speed, and doesn't shave nearly as close as the Old Type. It's pretty, and I it's a decent shave, just not as good as my other vintage razors, or even my moderns. I may relegate it to travel status, though I honestly don't travel that much...

I would really like to get my hands on a T3 adjustable. Preferably a Slim or a Black Beauty Super Adjustable, but really...any Gillette with a T3 date code would make me happy. Evidently 1973 was not a popular year for manufacturing razors, OR there are so many of us born that eyar, that they have all been collected already!

And that STAR is a looker!

@Bruce and BadDad, thanks for the kind words.  I guess I'm just trying to say that sometimes the best surprises happen when we least expect them and cost isn't always the deciding factor.

Chris, have you tried a Schick Adjustable Injector razor and injector blade?  It's a Single Edge offering a top notch shave, at least on the face.  I don't know what it would be like for a head shaver like yourself.

@Bruce and BadDad, thanks for the kind words.  I guess I'm just trying to say that sometimes the best surprises happen when we least expect them and cost isn't always the deciding factor.

Chris, have you tried a Schick Adjustable Injector razor and injector blade?  It's a Single Edge offering a top notch shave, at least on the face.  I don't know what it would be like for a head shaver like yourself.

I have not, yet, had the opportunity to try a Schick Injector. There are 2 at a local curio/antique shop that I may pick up, but I just haven't pulled the trigger on them yet. I am the only one in town that seems to be interested in vintage razors, so I am not real worried about them getting grabbed up on me. Town only has about 3500-4000 permanent residents, and these razors have been sitting in these shops for several years, just waiting for a guy like me to come around...

I tried shaving with a GEM Featherweight. Not to my liking. I did not enjoy the experience or the shave at all. Could be techniqe, could be bad blade choice. I would rather trade it or give it to someone than keep trying...