Thread: Shavettes for fun

I usually use a straight razor but three months or more ago I decided to try a shavette for fun. I wanted something easy to travel with and to use on those days when I didn't have time to clean, strop, and oil a straight razor. Another thing, I wanted it to be inexpensive, and I mean CHEAP in price, but not in quality. I have a whole box full of DE razor blades doing nothing and I thought I might put them to use.

I looked at the local online store and found a razor called a Torpedo. It is a Chinese made Feather knockoff, but it only uses a half of a DE blade. It was only $12.50 AUS. I liked it so well I bought a kamisori of the same razor and liked it even better. I got literal BBS shaves without trying. Then, I was looking at Dovo Shavettes, but they needed a plastic insert and I didn't know how durable those inserts were. I found a Parker PTW that is made of all stainless steel, even the sliding blade holder. Since Parker usually as good quality control, and this thing was a lot cheaper than a Dovo, I got it. It is shaped like a hollow ground straight razor and has a nice, familiar feel. It is now my most used Shavette on those few days when I give my straights a rest, or when I want to do it just for fun.



There is an advantage to these. There are some soaps that just don't do well with a straight razor on my face. These shavettes, especially the Parker, allow me to use up those soaps instead of wasting them.

What sorts of shavettes do you all use? Anyone have experience with the newer style Boker Barberette? What about the Tedalus Essence or Mühle?

My Parker even has a decorated spine. Can you beat that?

Of the ones I have tried I like the Universal brand for DE blades. They are inexpensive, well made and most important - full size!!
I have the large Universal shavette that takes a full DE blade in a clamshell format.
It weighs nearly what my Barbas Duras does.
My pet peave with most of them is they are small so don't feel like a real razor, at least to me.
Parker's are too small for me and the cheaper slide in style don't have the heft or hold the blade near as well.

I have two of 5he Feathers and enjoy them. Ive read a lot of bad things about the low cost knock-offs that use half a DE blade so I never bought any.

And Im not knocking half a DE blade as tonight I used the Leaf Razor that held 3 half DE blades. Just for fun. Got a great shave.

I have a cheap shavette that my old boss gave to me that he used once and decided it wasn't for him. You can buy the same from ebay for about 6 bucks but as this one has a fancy name and good marketing it sells for a lot more.
I use it once in a while but I can say it shaves better than any DE safety razor I have.
I've got my eye on a tedalus as it looks the part but haven't pulled the trigger as I could get a NOS Solingen Henckels or the like for the same amount of bucks.