First DE shave in decades--pretty good
Although I'm a noob and I love straight razor shaving, the impending prospect of a trip and the idea of having to use a disposable or cartridge when I know I'd be pressed for time everyday was depressing. I wasn't going to carry a straight in my luggage to get lost or confiscated or show up missing and I wouldn't have the time to use it for a week anyway--yeah, it's a work trip with very long days.
When I first started shaving in the 60's I learned on a DE Gillette. So I decided to go back to my youth and after reading the fourms, went on the bay and got a really good condition 1953 Gillette super speed for about $20 with a pack of blades and shipping incld. Maybe it was a little too much, but fairly in the the price range of what a good one goes for.
The razor worked great. I had a really smooth shave, using Lord Platinum blades and some MWF lather. I had forgotten how close a DE can shave.
Plus it's easy enough to travel with and quick enough to use everyday.
In fact, I liked it a lot; even at home I don't always have time to use a straight and I can use this now. I still like my straights better (although I'm not quite as good as I want to be with them yet), but , this DE beats all the new disposable and cartridge stuff hands down.
I'm next going to try some Feather blades soon, since everyone around here seems to like them too.