Thread: Mach 3 death knell

I bought an Edwin Jagger 89 DE from SRD the other day and wow! I've been shaving with a straight for about 7 years now and this DE is like that with an auto tranny on it. Fun part is I have 5 different blades to try and more available in town. I wonder if the transition would have been as easy without the time on a straight razor? So the left over mach 3's will be rehomed to somebody who likes that breed.lol

Anyway thanks to Lynn and Don another home run!

I think you have appoint there. I started shaving when there were no cart razors using a DE. I have to say that since learning to shave with a straight razor my DE/SE shave have improved immensely. Nothing like a straight razor to teach you the importance of finding the right angle and not yo use any pressure.

Bob

Personally, I can't think of anything that'll teach you more about the nuances of shaving than a Straight. Everything comes into play - nothing can be ignored or taken for granted.

After years of using my straight, I gave a Muhle R41 a ride and thought it was love! I wasn't sure if I'd ever use a straight again. But that was premature. It's fun to switch between the two. I can't stop using my straights, but that 41 sure is a fun ride.

IMO, Lyn and Don didnt have much to do with it. You can buy that razor from hundreds of places. And then there are a few hundred places on-line. I agree that it is a nice DE as it was the first one i bought when going from carts to DE. Loved it!
It is nice to ba able to pick up the DE when in a rush for a shave or traveling. Glad you found the EJ DE. It is a little tame for me but a nice DE. And the trainning you get from the straight can make shaving with anything better as the straight will smack you down if you dont learn correctly. After that....

Now, the 41! Thats an agressive DE. Much closer to the straight.

Originally Posted by Gasman

IMO, Lyn and Don didnt have much to do with it. You can buy that razor from hundreds of places. And then there are a few hundred places on-line. I agree that it is a nice DE as it was the first one i bought when going from carts to DE. Loved it!
It is nice to ba able to pick up the DE when in a rush for a shave or traveling. Glad you found the EJ DE. It is a little tame for me but a nice DE. And the trainning you get from the straight can make shaving with anything better as the straight will smack you down if you dont learn correctly. After that....

Now, the 41! Thats an agressive DE. Much closer to the straight.

Yup, I got both and its night & day. I was going to ditch the EJ, but noted that sometimes a less "aggressive" razor with an aggressive blade (EJ/Feather combo) is as desirable as an aggressive razor with a less aggressive blade (R41/Personna blade). Messing with the blade, razor combos can be a lot of fun. And I recommend you retry after a couple of years when your technique is set.

I have a feeling that experienced straight razor users do not find "aggressive" DEs that difficult to use having learned to pay attention to detail by straight razor use. You certainly know they are more aggressive than other DEs but you have the technique to tame that. An "aggressive" DE can give a straight razor a run for it's money in providing a very close and long lasting shave.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

I have a feeling that experienced straight razor users do not find "aggressive" DEs that difficult to use having learned to pay attention to detail by straight razor use. You certainly know they are more aggressive than other DEs but you have the technique to tame that. An "aggressive" DE can give a straight razor a run for it's money in providing a very close and long lasting shave.

Bob

In the aggregate, I probably get "better" shaves with my DE. There is just that one spot on my neck that sees me contorting if I'm going to get it done with a straight. But when I do contort and get a good straight shave, I can go two days without a shave! That's never really the case with any DE. It's the darnedest thing!! Even if after the shave it feels BBS. I can't explain it!!

Originally Posted by Gasman

IMO, Lyn and Don didnt have much to do with it. You can buy that razor from hundreds of places. And then there are a few hundred places on-line. I agree that it is a nice DE as it was the first one i bought when going from carts to DE. Loved it!
It is nice to ba able to pick up the DE when in a rush for a shave or traveling. Glad you found the EJ DE. It is a little tame for me but a nice DE. And the trainning you get from the straight can make shaving with anything better as the straight will smack you down if you dont learn correctly. After that....

Now, the 41! Thats an agressive DE. Much closer to the straight.

What I meant for Lynn and Don is that in all these years they have always delivered flawless hardware in 72 hours or less from east to west coast. Never had to return one piece ever.

I have what would be a lite to medium thickness of hair shaft and density per square inch. So it does not take much to shave it, more effort is spent not burning or nicking myself. This is just so cool 10 cent blades vs. $4 mach 3's my son has said he'll burn up the left overs on field maneuvers. He has 2 of my straights for use on base.

Originally Posted by Zemke

I wonder if the transition would have been as easy without the time on a straight razor?

Probably not.
You touch an interesting point here.

A straight razor requires some beard prep to produce acceptable results.
A safety razor less so, but the shave will certainly benefit from it.

I suspect most users of cartridge razor waste little time on beard prep, splash water on their face, put on some foam or gel out of a can, and go to work. The results are predictable.
I would even go as far as saying that with proper beard prep evene a shave with a cartridge razor could be better, but have never been tempted to try.

The concept of a cartridge razor reminds me of the concept of instant coffee: quick, little preparation required, never anything to look forward to, and never coming close to “the real thing”.

Safety and straight razor users are more like the espresso and filter coffee drinkers in this picture: They take more time, but are able to savour the moments.

Which reminds me, time to make my first coffee of the day...


B.

(I hope I have not offended any instant coffee enthusiasts - should they exist.)

Originally Posted by beluga

Probably not.
You touch an interesting point here.

A straight razor requires some beard prep to produce acceptable results.
I safety razor less so, but the shave will certainly benefit from it.

I suspect most users of cartridge razor waste little time on beard prep, splash their face with water, put on some foam or gel out of a can and go to work. The results are predictable.
I would even go as far as saying that with proper beard prep a shave with a cartridge razor would be better, but the concept of a cartridge razor always reminds me of the idea of instant coffee. Quick, little preparation required, never anything to look forward to and never coming close to “the real thing”.

Safety and straight razor users are more like the espresso and filter coffee drinkers in this picture: They take more time, but are able to savour the moments.

Which reminds me, time to make my first coffee of the day...


B.

(I hope I have not offended any instant coffee enthusiasts - should they exist.)

My freaking mother in-law! And me when I’m camping.