Aristocrat, Indeed

Gentlemen,

Some double edge safety razors, no matter their age, or formidable competition, deserve the esteem in which they are held. The Gillette Aristocrat is a perfect example, for it is truly an Aristocrat.

Through the years, I have shaved with a long parade of double edge razors, old and new, closed or open comb, mild or aggressive, and none has sweetened my shave as much as the Gillette Aristocrat. I have two 1948 models — both saved for my grandsons — and shave with them from time to time. I am a predominantly straight razor shaver.

No, the Aristocrat is no match for the Muhle R41 in the closeness of shave, or the Above the Tie , or the Wolfman , or the scores of other impressive shavers. The Aristocrat is a mild razor that can give a comfortable shave. For me, a sweet shave.

The 1948 Aristocrat is my favorite of all the double edge razors I have used. Matched with the Feather, Super Iridium, Gillette yellows or Personna red packs, the razor gives me a fairly close shave, but more importantly, a comfortable shave. Not only that, but the razor's overall design, looks, weight, grip and quality make me feel as if I'm holding a jewel in my hand.

I just like this razor. Love it is more correct. If I were to have one double edge safety razor, the 1948 Gillette Aristocrat would be it, because for me, it is the sweetest.

Gentlemen, do you have a double edge razor that you can call your sweetest?


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Yep,Open comb new deluxe.with a custom handle.

That's one nice looking DE! and the Ali. And the copper bowl is awsome, where did u find it :)

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Originally Posted by MrMagnus

That's one nice looking DE! and the Ali. And the copper bowl is awsome, where did u find it :)

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Thank you for the kind words, Mr.Magnus. The copper bowl is from the Turkish site Bestshaves.net:

Copper shaving cup [coppercup] - $5.60 : Bestshave.net, International supplier of shaving equipment

I love my Aristocrat as well, a very good shaver.
My favorite is a very similar one, the Gillette President.
Paired with my Gillette yellow-packs or Minora blades it is the most comfy shaver I have.

Out of my decent selection of DE's I would have to pick the 58 red tip with feather blade. Just an awesome combo.

Obie the razor an bowl look great. But the brush is what caught my eye. Its a beauty. :tu

I have one of these, picked it up from a flea market...case and everything...was the first DE I had used in 30 years...it's in great shape.

Two friends, who knew I was into straight shaving, then each gave me a Gillette adjustable Fatboy (they still even had the plastic cases), in great condition (why DE's I don't know, guess they thought it was the same), those were fun to use. For the number of times I've used a DE, I really couldn't tell the difference between any of them. :shrug:

I did want to try the Merkur Slant, that is supposed to be the closest to a straight shave, and didn't really notice any difference either.

Everytime I think I'll use a DE, the thought of passing up a straight shave just takes it out of the picture, and I grab a straight. But the vintage DE's hold a lot of memories, no doubt about it....

edit to add: and seem to have found that the Lord blades are very nice....

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Originally Posted by RollinCoal69

Out of my decent selection of DE's I would have to pick the 58 red tip with feather blade. Just an awesome combo.

Obie the razor an bowl look great. But the brush is what caught my eye. Its a beauty. :tu

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Thanks, my friend. The brush is my custom Brad Sears silvertip in cocobolo. The brush is designated as OB1, the starter in the series of OB custom brushes Brad offers. I love this brush for the comfort and the beauty of the handle and the sweet knot.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1973971...?ref=listing-2

I have the same aristocrat as you do Obie. It is hands down my favorite above all my DE razors. A sweet no rush razor.

Attachment 174007

When I want a 100% guaranteed comfortable shave it's the Edwin Jagger DE89 for me. It's not my closest shaving razor, that would be my slant. If I could only have one razor, the 89 would be it. Of course, 6 months from now I may give you a different answer!

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Originally Posted by lz6

I have the same aristocrat as you do Obie. It is hands down my favorite above all my DE razors. A sweet no rush razor.

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This was my first DE. Dad gave it to me, and when he passed away last month, I pulled it out to remember his gift from a yard sale about 10 years ago

Cannot say that I like DEs, but I just bought your copper bowl.
Your photos have always inspired me.

Thank you very much Obie!

Slur, you are very welcome, and thank you. Yes, that copper shave bowl is quite attractive and adds a touch of the exotic to the shave den. Enjoy it.

This happens to be a very nice razor , I get mine out on occasion very gentle to do a little " blade buffing". Really nostalgic feeling. Tc

I have a '46/'47 Aristocrat and it gives a good shave. There's a little more heft to it (as opposed to a '40's Super Speed) and it just feels regal. Although I use my straights, I often use a DE when I need to save time. This one I'll use on occasion even when I have plenty of time. I'm a huge fan of the razor.
BTW: Thanks for the pictures.

Well, I don't know Obie. I have heard those Aristocats can be very sharp but having to feed them and change their litter boxes is a real pain. I also don't think they would like the lather all over themselves. They can be fastidious you know.

I'll stick with my feather DS-2 thank you.

Spendur,

As long as they are fastidious, that's what matters.

As for the Feather, I had both the 1 and the 2 and they couldn't even shave a turnip, let alone my Assyrian beard. Beautiful razors, yes, but . . . OY!

I can't date the Gillette I have that I use on occasion when nostalgia strikes and I think of my father. I was not in his town when he passed and before I could tell my brothers that I wanted his Gillette (to my knowledge I think it was possibly only one of two he owned in his life time) they settled his affairs so my mother didn't have to do it. Last year I went on eBay, specified Gillette DE's and looked at over 2,000 razors before I found one that, as best I can remember, was identical to his. I have a couple of other DE's (and other single blade razors) but it's the Gillette I gravitate to when I don't use a straight.

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Originally Posted by Obie

Spendur,

As long as they are fastidious, that's what matters.

As for the Feather, I had both the 1 and the 2 and they couldn't even shave a turnip, let alone my Assyrian beard. Beautiful razors, yes, but . . . OY!

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Why Holy Dedan. You speak blasphemy.

Back in my day you'd be pounding sand in the Roman legion defending the Parthian Border. But then again you would probably have taken a key part in the Vespasian Coup.

Spendur, my friend,

Not Roman Legions. Ashurbanipal's Assyrian infantry on the Plains of Nineveh in Mesopotamia.

My thanks to Obie, a man of impeccable taste, for starting this thread. Here is my humble contribution ;

a·ris·to·crat
əˈristəˌkrat/
noun: aristocrat; plural noun: aristocrats
a member of the aristocracy.
something believed to be the best of its kind.
"the trout is the aristocrat of freshwater fish"
Origin
late 18th century: from French aristocrate (a word of the French Revolution), from aristocratie (see aristocracy).

1916 Aristocrat in faux ivory case, along with a 1934 Aristocrat TTO with open comb

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A pair of post war Aristocrats with no date code, and without the notch to catch the blade when loading. I forget when that was added, but these are probably early post war production. Great shavers all. :chapeau

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Jimmy,

Thank you for posting those aristocratic razors. Ah, the joy of shaving with them . . .

I gave a Gillette to my Father-in-Law and I have two that I use from time to time but I couldn't tell you what they are to save my life. As far as favorite DE's, well, they are tools that I use when I can't use a straight for lack of time. Only having three DE's (does a Rolls count) a favorite hasn't emerged, little wonder as I still haven't settled on a "favorite" SR, and keep adding new ones every day.

Good topic, I like both the Aristocrat and the Ambassador in the later models.
Very smooth shavers.
~Richard

Here is my Aristocrat. Dad bought it at a yard sale in NH many years ago. Attachment 175495