Thread: "Comb" DE's ?

Sorry if this has been asked to death --

What's the difference in "feel" between a "comb" design (teeth below the blade) and the "straight-across" designs by Gillette that I grew up with?

Most of the antique-store razors I see are combs. Was there a change in style? Is one better than the other? Or is it just another "personal preference"?

[Maybe I'll have to do some more "razor investing" to get experience.]

Thanks --

CHarles

Hello, Charles:

The open comb razors are considered a bit more aggressive and that they do a better job with the heavier beards. Those with the straight bar — the so-called safety bar — are considered less aggressive and are better suited to lighter beards.

So goes the theory: some subscribe to it and some shrug it off.

I shrug it off.

I have a heavy beard and it grows in 37 different directions. I have used both types of razors — and they both do a good job for me.

Yet, I stick to the razors with the safety bar. I prefer them.

Regards,
Obie

The open combs also help with your technique in that you will have lather lines on your face if you are not shaving properly or the blade is not in complete contact.

I personally do find a difference in the "aggressiveness" of the Old Type Gillette open combs compared to the safety bar razors. I also have a New Type open comb but that one seems to cut similar to the safety bar razors. I guess I will have to get out my calipers and see how much overhang the blades have between the 2 open combs.

I have a couple of Gillette "New" combs from the 1930s. They give a great shave and the "cool factor" of shaving with a DE of that age. I still prefer my Merkur Progress with the safety bar over anything else.

Charles,

My favourite DE is an 1930s English Gillette New, 2-piece, long open-comb; my next favoutite is a current production Muhle R109 (closed comb). The shaves from these razors are virtually indentcal.

In shaving with a DE, there are so many variables; the choice has to be made by how the razor shaves for you, not by the type of construction

Good luck !

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

A friend told me that he found the open comb/teeth make it easier to shave/trim next to facial hair like beards and such. He had had trouble doing so with the bar type.
Respectfully
~Richard

Open comb DE's let the skin/hair rise above the openings, thus letting the blade get closer to your skin and giving you a better, closer shave. That was told to me by an old Barber when I asked him the same question. Hope this helps you out. Happy Shaving !

I have a 30's new style gold tone with a short comb that gives a very good shave.

I was given a New type razor recently which shaves very nicely indeed. It has just a touch more bite than I've come to expect with vintage Gillettes, but whether that has anything to do with the comb or not I wouldn't care to speculate.

I have both the short comb and the long comb and find that they are more aggressive than the straight safety bar. I find myself using the straight safety bar razor most of the time. For me, I have to stay more focused when using the comb style razors.

Good luck.