Thread: New VS Vintage DE razors

Incidental to this thread I shaved a 30-hour beard yesterday - shaved half my face with a GIllette Slim Adjustable and the other with a (new-ish) 2014 Muhle R41. The vintage Slim was set at #7 and both razors had new Personna Blue blades; I prepped with warm water and Noxema cream, lathered with Stirling soap - three passes and warm- then cold water rinses.

Conclusion? From first pass to last I couldn't tell a difference - the results seemed identical.

The Slim (in the photo below) is opened up to #9 and seen next to the R41 where blade exposure seems similar. If anything this test left me more impressed than ever with the 55-year old Gillette's quality and versatility. I think the Muhle R41 would be harder to clog than the old Gillette but I shave often enough that a clogged razor isn't a concern. Besides, I never clogged a straight razor so there's always that if I ever seriously beard-up and then decide it has to go.

With either the Muhle or the Slim I can easily get by with a single (ATG) or double pass at 24-hours - about the same as a straight. Neither of the safety razors provoked redness or irritation nor would I reccomend the R41 or the Slim (set above #5) for rookies.

Yes, the shave from my Gillette Fat Boy @9 with a feather blade is pretty close to what I get from the Muhle R41 with a feather blade. Close enough that it is hard to really tell if there is any difference. I can see the Gillette slim adjustable being the same as the Fat Boy. Couldn't agree more that Gillette adjustables set too high or an R41 are really not for beginners.

Bob

Forgot to ad that the Gillette Open Comb DEs seem the most clog proof that I have tried.

Originally Posted by BobH

I don't know if the Muhle R41 is the most aggressive DE but it is more so than my Merkur 37c slant.

Bob

I do not know either, just what I have seen described by reviews.

Originally Posted by mainaman

I do not know either, just what I have seen described by reviews.

If you have a Gillette adjustable handy set her to 9 with a feather blade and you can get a pretty close idea of what the Muhle R41 is like. Personally I think the R41 might be a tad more aggressive than that.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

If you have a Gillette adjustable handy set her to 9 with a feather blade and you can get a pretty close idea of what the Muhle R41 is like. Personally I think the R41 might be a tad more aggressive than that.

Bob

Don't have feather but I'll try with Super Iridium and see how it is.

The 2013 R41 is an excellent razor, though I certainly didn't like the 2011 version, which was much harsher. Even a Gillette adjustable on 9 would not match the R41 for aggressiveness. The only razors I've tried that match its aggressiveness are the Merkur Vision and perhaps the Futur.

To answer the OP's question: I also have some vintage razors and some new ones. The best of the vintage ones are the SE's and the Gladweg pushbutton. The new ones I have are the 2013 R41, the Standard, Futur, Vision, and some cheaper ones. They're all pretty good, but I'd give them all up before I parted with my SE's and the Gladweg.