The Single Edge Gang

Marko, I've only used vintage SEs as there are no modern razors that accept GEM blades unless you count the OneBlade in which you must remove the spine from the blade. There's no way I'm buying one of those. Rumor has it that Colonial Razors has one in the works though.

I would also recommend the Featherweight or more specifically the Pushbutton version. I also get great shaves from the Micromatic Bullet Tip. If you're into something a little more aggressive, the Ever Ready 1924 is a good option. I like that razor a lot too. All of these can be had on ebay or etsy for a song. If you want to try a modern SE that takes the Artist Club style blades, the RazoRock Hawk is the cheapest one at $20-25 if you can grab one when they're available. I don't have one (yet) but all reports I've read are pretty good. Good luck in your search! Just make sure you get the PTFE coated GEM blades. The other ones are garbage IMO.

Thanks wyze0ne and Freddy for the great advice. I'm going to keep my eyes open for Gems, the Featherweight by the sounds of it. I really want to see what the SE world is about but I'm not really interested in dropping $$$$ on these modern SE razors or any razor for that matter.

I have an extra featherweight. PM me and I'll send it your way

Marko , be very careful...this thread was a big reason I tried SE shaving too, which then started me down a new rabbit hole of RAD

But seriously, I personally got into it as it just added more variety to shaving. The variety is one of the things I enjoy most. Personally, I know I will continue use both SE and DE's and some day I plan on trying shavettes and eventually a straight razor. So, for me, it's not a matter of DE vs SE but rather the options available.

FWIIW, if you are looking to get into this for a low investment (under $10), I have found my Schick L1 to be the smoothest of my SE's. I think it and the M type are mostly similar in terms of aggressiveness and both are readily available on ebay.

I use DEs as well, I agree about the variety. But it is easier for me to get a BBS shave with an SE than any DE I use. But still love my vintage Gillettes

Marko, I have lots of razors, both SE and DE. My favorite by a far margin are the SE razors. The blades are stiffer as has already been mentioned and I find that they give a more comfortable shave. The longevity of the blades has already been mentioned, But I can easily get 20 shaves out of a blade and it's not at all unusual for me to get 30 shaves from one. These are comfortable shaves too. The feel of the blade changes a it ages, but a comfortable BBS is obtained and I can the blade when efficiency drops, or if I get bored. Thirty shaves from a $.25 blade is pretty thrifty.

I wrote that I have both SE and DE razors. Most of my DE razors are stored away, but a few remain in my cabinet. The ones that remain are the pre-'21 Gillettes which I use with a shim installed, and an '11 and a '13 R41. Most of the time my hand automatically reaches for a SE razor, and most often the blade is in an ER '24.

I have used modern SE razors and vintage injectors for me they simply have no soul. They give a great shave, but they don't speak to me during the shave. The vintage SE razors that use spine back blades are loud, some louder than others, and tell the shaver when the angle is correct and the razor and blade are happy.

Even though the blades appear to be hardware store blades, don't use those. The acknowledged best spineback blades in a vintage razor are the GEM SS ptfe coated blade. That blade coupled with a Featherweight will be a more or less mid aggressive combination and that's pretty much the mildest easily obtained SE razor. There is one other that is milder and it's the GEM Junior Bar lather catcher. I can't use one because it's just too mild for me, and I've had 2 of them because I couldn't believe the first one was so mild and it had to be a bad razor. But there are folks who like that razor a lot.

Let us know how you make out with the FW that W_C wants to send you. Well done W_C !

FWIW, not all that many years ago I could get as many FWs as I wanted for about $3 per in group lots on ebay. I haven't spent a great deal of time on ebay, but the last time I looked the price had gone up on ALL vintage SE razors. That's good and bad. It has contributed to the attractiveness of the modern SE razors and has made them possible. But the vintage SE razors are IMO special and fewer folks will experience them as the supply dries up and the prices continue to rise.

Happy Thanksgiving!
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You too w-c!

Saturday Afternoon SOTD
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Personna Injector//Chick Blade//Stirling Finest//Route 66//Platinum

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Not the typical SE, but will gives great shaves. Anyone else here use the Rocnel?

Saturday shave
RR Black hawk / Kai Capt mild ( 4 )
B&B essential boar
MLS paradise frost
Witch hazel
Victoria & Margaret vetiver and sandalwood AS
Two pass DFS before going shopping with family in for the holiday

Saturday shave
RR Black hawk / Kai Capt mild ( 4 )
B&B essential boar
MLS paradise frost
Witch hazel
Victoria & Margaret vetiver and sandalwood AS
Two pass DFS before going shopping with family in for the holiday

How's the hawk treating you?

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Not the typical SE, but will gives great shaves. Anyone else here use the Rocnel?

I'm not wild about the Roncel.  For me (and I am speaking only of my experience), it has the advantages of neither a true DE nor a true SE, it is too heavy, it is too aggressive, which may be due to the weight, and while the shaves can be good I didn't find them exceptional.  I shall be using mine again, eventually, to see if I don't change my mind.