Thread: What is the best DE razor?

My razor footprint is fairly large and encompasses SE, DE and straight razors. More times than not, the safety razors are used on my dome and my face shaves are about 85-90% straight razor. Before taking to the straight razor, most of my shaves were from SE Gems/Ever Readys. The DE razors came out every once in a while but they never really had the spot in my heart that SE razors did. Not to suggest that DE razors weren't fine and functional shave gear but the SE razors seemed to be just a bunch more aggressive. In fact, now that I shave with a straight, SE razors are really the best simulation of a straight razor shave out there. I've never shaved with a "new school" DE but based on what I have in my rotation here are my picks in order of preference:

SE
Gem Lather Catcher
1912 Gem Jr.
Micromatic Open Comb (My first safety razor ever. It takes some bad press because it is REALLY aggressive and pretty quirky with regard to blade angle and pressure but once you figure all this out, it's consistently a damn fine shave)

DE
1960 Gillette Fatboy (Cranked up to the higher settings this razor is plenty aggressive and has a nice heft to it.)
1908 Gillette Single Ring (Open Comb 3 piece, probably the most aggressive DE I own)
Gillette Tech (Ball End or Fat Handle) Techs in general are pretty mild mannered (some say anemic) but the heavier models tend to shave consistently pretty decent

This! (kidding....of course!) Hay Shoki! Where ya been?

I suggest you to buy Cheap Feather butterfly priced 15-20$ for regular shave and expensive one put in display for your friends, who will think you are sophisticated guy

Originally Posted by Shoki

Sorry about the unanswerable question. I should know better than to ask such an open ended question.

This is my actual question.
Of the current production DE razors which do you recommend.

More specifically of the higher price range and even more specifically adjustable and butterfly loaded models.

In my mind it would be between the Feather "not adjustable or butterfly" and the Merkur Vision/Futur? But I wanted to get additional recommendations.

Thank you,
--Shoki

My favorite is the merkur futur. It's more expensive yes, but it's got great heft and you can really tune it to your liking.

I have a Merkur 33C (I think), and I am very happy with it whenever I don't have time for my straight razor. I also think Merkur blades are the best, as they are neither too fiendishly aggressive nor too dull. BTW I "condition" my blade every two shaves or so, by taking it out of the razor and rubbing it between my fingers, using some lather. It really improves the shave.

All the above are great tools,but the best hands down for me is my CCB, bullmastiff with a long open comb new deluxe head,couple that with a feather or Kai blade and even tho I rarely use it,the shave is always fantastic.

My first DE razor was an Edwin Jaeger, it is what i judge all others on, and i think it is the best all round, great build quality, nice weight. But now i have discovered straights, it has lay idle for 3 months. Have picked up a few SE razors, keen to try, just got to get some blades.

I started out with a Merkur 34C and it has worked best for me even though I have tried a couple of the more expensive DE's. I have used an iKon 2PB, a BRW Merkur Progress and a Feather and I have yet to find one that works for me as well as my 34C. My newest acquisition is a Tradere SB. I have one shave with it and I need a few more before if I decide whether to go back to the 34C. I'm basically using my DE for touch up right now while trying to learn the Straight...YMMV

Merkur 37C (3" handle) or Merkur 39C (4" handle) slant razors. Whoever invented that really had it on the ball.

My favorites are my Fat Handled Gillette Tech, Red Tip Super speed, EJ Barley - all these deliver comfortable close shaves, daily for me.
After that I'd say - Gillette ball Tech OC, Goodfella OC, Weber, Muhle R41 (least to most aggressive to me) all leave my skin a little irritated.
I don't care for adjustables - options are not a good thing for me takes a simple thing and overly complicates it. I want to change the setting's all the time, not a good thing to me. I mean once you dial it in, you should be good , but I want to move it anyway, just because...
A good razor to me is one that is comfortable to shave with and leaves no irritation of course the right blade helps.