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?