Thread: Shavette: The gentle mistress

I'm imaging the Shavette, with all its sharpness, squared cornersness and all round it's not the sameness. How could a blade have a war ready reputation full of bloody face massacres, the forums made shaving with a shavette sound like taking a nap on elm street. I personally found it should be described as the gentle mistress, she treats me right, but she ain't the wife.

The Parker SR1 was the name of my mistress, I found her on amazon for 20 bucks. In my opinion you should put some thought into it. I'm not trying to make you fall in love, just a little fling. Shavette for beginners means no messing around by not stropping right; using a not shave ready razor; or down time after you tap that against the sink (see what I did there?).

The only other razor I own is a Gold Dollar starter. That is the key point to this. My razor is kind to me, but the shavette is the bad girl always ready and waiting to go at it.I am not in any way comparing this 20 dollar shavette to the three hundred dollar mammoth tusk and elvish steel razors on the market.

In conclusion, the shavette is a very affordable back up, travel ready, easy maintenance REPLACEMENT for lower level razors. Even if you own a better razor, shavette should NOT be feared and should be used when traveling, or when very busy. Hoping this helps people thinking about getting a shavette. I use Shark blades, can buy a pack of 20 for a couple bucks or of over 100 for twenty bucks.

Gave away my Feather folder and have the CJB and Sam Seong. For my hands I like the Sam Seong better for the grip angle. They are in the low $30 range and the Feather SS is higher but still a really nice razor I may buy in the future. Blades are Feather and about $20 a pack of 20ea. so they have about a half year of shaves in one pack.
Yes they are a very nice change of pace and I like them for a one pass and out the door shave when in a hurry. I only have a limited few straights that I can trust to do that.
Have fun anyone that wishes to try them!
~Richard

What is the difference between regular and feather! Quality?

I use a Dovo Shavette with Dovo/Merkur long blades (black non-combed blade guard) and love it for travel. I do find that the shave can be ever so slightly more harsh than my straights, but hey, I got my start on this thing! I too like to get back to it every now and then, and it does save me a bit of time (or if I am feeling clumsy it saves me a round trip ship and $25). Either way I think Shavettes are great tools for shaving and I think using one in the rotation would be good for just about any wet shaver.

Originally Posted by whitelightning

What is the difference between regular and feather! Quality?

Hard to tell. They are exact replicas of the earlier Feather styles. They are Brass as was the feather folder I gave away.
The newest Feathers are stainless steel I believe.
~Richard

I believe the DX is stainless and the SS and RG are plated brass.

The Shavette forum is very helpful and there is some great info.
I find the DX folding shank and balance to be close to that of a "regular" 6/8 straight.

For low maintenance - and travel they are hard to beat.
There are lots of choices and price points.
And blades? Not as many choices as DE - but there are choices and it's very YMMV.

Smooth Shaving...

Originally Posted by MJC

I believe the DX is stainless and the SS and RG are plated brass.

The Shavette forum is very helpful and there is some great info.
I find the DX folding shank and balance to be close to that of a "regular" 6/8 straight.

For low maintenance - and travel they are hard to beat.
There are lots of choices and price points.
And blades? Not as many choices as DE - but there are choices and it's very YMMV.

Smooth Shaving...

The Feather Artist Club SS is stainless, I have one. Not sure, but I think that's what the SS means. Who knows. I've never figured out what DX means.

Howard

Originally Posted by SirStropalot

The Feather Artist Club SS is stainless, I have one. Not sure, but I think that's what the SS means. Who knows. I've never figured out what DX means.

Howard

Father Artist Club SS ad DX are both stainless steel.


I am always struggling putting the Feather Artist Club in an existing category.

AC's feel and heft (DX in particular) have more in common with straight razors; the ease at which the blade can be changed and does not require stropping or honing has more in common with shavettes.

But then again, I always associate shavettes with lightweight (borderline flimsy) constructions. while the ACs are solidly built.


The definition that I like best is SRD's: No Sharpen Straight Razors




B.

Dovo Shavette here for travel reasons (I'm not losing a Filarmonica to customs cause they don't like the look of it....). The Dovo works great, and if I lose it meh.... its $40 lost

Originally Posted by SirStropalot

The Feather Artist Club SS is stainless, I have one. Not sure, but I think that's what the SS means. Who knows. I've never figured out what DX means.

Howard

Thank you, it's the RG that is plated Brass.
Ditto for the CJB.

Could the D in DX stand for Deluxe?