Shark SS is very smooth for me from shave number 2 all up to 30
I hate to beat the same drum, but smooth is sharp. The grind of the blade is far less important than the quality of the coating/sputtering. They are not independent of each other. What one feels is the same sentient reaction.
Sharpness results with clean efficient cutting of the stubble, which manifests as smoothness. However, some blades tend to flex more than others and feel harsh, particularly in razors that don't have good blade support. These are the mayors of weeper city. I believe this is why people report SE blades being thicker, stiffer and sharper result in smoother shaving experience.
All the testing proves is that some men cannot tell the difference in sharpness.
"After discovering in his test lab that shavers could not tell the difference in blade sharpness, he was responsible for break-thru research that determined that blade sharpness was not a critical factor in receiving a good shave; rather a reduction in drag by hair clinging to the blade causing pulling was needed. This Drag Theory lead to the development of coated razor blades and specifically the Organosiloxane Gel coated Super Blue Blade (1959)."
I believe this is why people report SE blades being thicker, stiffer and sharper result in smoother shaving experience.
I get closer shaves with my R41 than I used to with my ATT SE1 with Prolines. May be razor dependent, but I wasn't blown away by Prolines.
I know you're thinking of going SE, but my experience isn't that the blades are sharper. I get closer shaves with my R41 than I used to with my ATT SE1 with Prolines. May be razor dependent, but I wasn't blown away by Prolines. GEM PTFE blades are certainly sharp and much more rigid, but again I don't find them better than a R41 with a Nacet. My SE experiment brought me back to DEs in the end. I know rigidity is highly prized by some, but I don't find my R41 tugs with the right blade and I don't experience problems with rigidity. Yintal top cap, though.
I could be wrong. I've read that AC blades are sharper than DE, but haven't compared them directly. But as previously mentioned coating is key to efficiency, not just the edge.
The only way to find out is to try. 1912 razors are very cheap, and I can give you one with some blades if you PM me. AC razors are going to be more of an investment.
Hogwash! I know you have swallowed this pig slop. I have read the patent application used to justify a patent on blade coatings, but I do not believe it...