Modern SS DEs.

[Boru62]

I like my vintage razors and think the pinnacle in safety razors may have been reached many decades ago.
The modern mass produced DEs I've tried have offered nothing better than my vintage razors.
In fact, my five favourite DEs are all vintage.
I haven't tried a modern stainless DE. Do they merit the high price tag?

 

[ajc347]

In my opinion some of them do. I've used a significant number of vintage razors over the years and have found that I've gotten the smoothest shaves from a Blackbird SB, ATT S1, Rockwell 6S and Timeless 0.95 SB.

There are a few modern stainless razors that I didn't like and I don't believe that they justify the prices they sell for. These include Weber's, Tradere's and the early Ikon's (Modern, S3S and Classic razors).

I still have a large collection of vintage DE's (mainly British Tech's, NEW's, Aristocrat's and Rockets) and a fair few modern stainless, brass an aluminium razors. The key to me is having a variety of new and old razors to use. I don't particularly like modern Chrome plated Zamak razors and, on the whole, don't think they perform as well as some of the stainless or aluminium alternatives (although there are a couple of exceptions such as a 37c slant, for example).

 

[celestino]

You'll never truly know until you try them yourself, unfortunately. No matter how many opinions you get, here, they will all be subjective and some razors may or may not work for you. Nonetheless, if your 5 best DE razors are vintage, I don't see why you should bother buying an expensive DE razor, unless you are just curious to try one or more.
Best of luck.

 

[Redrock]

I have been settled with my vintage Gillette razors (and one Krona) for many years and just don't have the desire to try anything else. The old razors give me wonderfully comfortable shaves. They were engineered to last and my 1947 Slim is great. I am confident there are many excellent "modern" razors for folks that want them.

 

[bakerbarber]

Aside from price and materials, most modern ones are heavier than vintage ones.

Any razor and blade will work. Use it long enough and you'll learn to get the most out of it. Anything beyond the pure utility of getting the job done for me is the hobby.

 

[R181]

You'll never truly know until you try them yourself, unfortunately. No matter how many opinions you get, here, they will all be subjective and some razors may or may not work for you. Nonetheless, if your 5 best DE razors are vintage, I don't see why you should bother buying an expensive DE razor, unless you are just curious to try one or more.
Best of luck.

Yes, I do not think a modern all stainless steel DE will shave any better than a vintage one that works for you and almost certainly not better by the price differential. OTH with something like the Wolfman you are getting tremendous build quality and pride of ownership. The decision is yours.

Bob

 

[Boru62]

OTH with something like the Wolfman you are getting tremendous build quality

In which way is the build quality superior?

 

[R181]

In which way is the build quality superior?

The fit and finish is better than any vintage Gillette I have used. There was never any stainless steel Gillette ever made to my knowledge so there is no comparison there either. You are paying for a hand finished product with very high quality control that is not mass produced. Does it shave any better than certain Gillettes I have? Again probably not by much if any. Can't say about any other modern stainless steel DE razors as I haven't tried them and have no urge to.

Bob

 

[Wayne]

I agree the pinnacle of wet shaving probably happened years ago. I believe that came with the introduction of the disposable DE blade. SS razors, nice as they are in some peoples eyes, mine included are mainly for the joy of owning something beautiful rather than any performance benefits they offer the shaver. Personally I don't appreciate the aesthetics of vintage razors but that is just personal preference.

 

[carbold]

I agree the pinnacle of wet shaving probably happened years ago. I believe that came with the introduction of the disposable DE blade. SS razors, nice as they are in some peoples eyes, mine included are mainly for the joy of owning something beautiful rather than any performance benefits they offer the shaver. Personally I don't appreciate the aesthetics of vintage razors but that is just personal preference.

Totally agree with this. Very interesting topic here....

 

[Boru62]

I agree the pinnacle of wet shaving probably happened years ago. I believe that came with the introduction of the disposable DE blade. SS razors, nice as they are in some peoples eyes, mine included are mainly for the joy of owning something beautiful rather than any performance benefits they offer the shaver. Personally I don't appreciate the aesthetics of vintage razors but that is just personal preference.

I find injectors to be the most efficient safety razor, if somewhat robotic and less fun to use.
Brass, although more expensive than steel, is more economic when mass produced, as it is more easily machined and therefore makes less waste.
Nowadays, as traditional shaving is a niche market, entering it as an unestablished mass producer is not economically viable.
I guess my real question is, do the higher tolerance levels bring anything to the party or is it just marketing?

 

[Holyzeus]

In which way is the build quality superior?

You’ve obviously never tried one.
Head and shoulders above the rest

 

[Wayne]

I find injectors to be the most efficient safety razor, if somewhat robotic and less fun to use.
Brass, although more expensive than steel, is more economic when mass produced, as it is more easily machined and therefore makes less waste.
Nowadays, as traditional shaving is a niche market, entering it as an unestablished mass producer is not economically viable.
I guess my real question is, do the higher tolerance levels bring anything to the party or is it just marketing?

I'm not sure it is just marketing, more a case of wanting to make the best product they can with the best materials that are marketable. They are quality products that is for sure.

 

[R181]

I find injectors to be the most efficient safety razor, if somewhat robotic and less fun to use.
Brass, although more expensive than steel, is more economic when mass produced, as it is more easily machined and therefore makes less waste.
Nowadays, as traditional shaving is a niche market, entering it as an unestablished mass producer is not economically viable.
I guess my real question is, do the higher tolerance levels bring anything to the party or is it just marketing?

A lot of people have had DEs that you had to make sure the blade exposure was equal on both side before using. In a case like that either the production tolerances were too wide or it was just bad quality control. Then you have mass produced DEs that may have tighter manufacturing tolerances and rarely if ever show any problems. Then you have DEs made to very tight tolerances under very strict quality control on a limited production basis.

In the first case if you pay attention and fiddle a bit they will work. In the second case there are mainly no worries and they will work. In the last case you are above and beyond what is necessary to make a DE shave well. In the last case they bring to the party a striving to produce as near a flawless DE as is possible for the enjoyment of the user. If that is important you pay the freight and buy one.

Past a certain point you really cannot buy yourself a better shave. After that point there is a rapidly diminishing return on investment as far as the shave quality goes.

Bob

 

[Nishy]

In which way is the build quality superior?

Tolerances are also tighter.
I have more SS DE razors that I prefer over non SS. However, I also throw the PILS into the vintage category and it is SS. This is a phenomenal shaver. The other positive is durability. I dropped my PILS yesterday and it has a tiny dent as a result. I did the same with my EJ89 and the pin snapped off the top plate.