Schick Injector

It appears that the model shown here is an E, so I'll comment on that premise. The Type E IMHO is an aggressive injector compared to a G, I or J.
However, once you get the angle down pat, it's one of the closest shaves with little to no irritation. Let's start for the top:

Price - one can still be had in very nice condition for around $10 - 15 shipped CONUS

Quality - For its time they were well made although some might disagree because the Bakelite handles are inherently fragile but to me that speaks more to the material available at the time then to its quality.

User Friendly - In my opinion injectors are easier to use because their heads are already at an angle that for most everyone makes the blade lie flat on your skin. One word of caution, if you're a longtime DE user, muscle memory will make it necessary for you to make adjustments in the angle until you get the hang of it. Again, just my opinion.

Grip - This to me depends on many things, hand size for one. The model shown here has a smooth Bakelite handle, whatever the size of your hands, if you try to grip it and hold on to it with wet soapy hands, you'll have some trouble otherwise I find the size and shape of the handle perfect for me.

Ease of Blade Replacement - What can I say that hasn't already been said. The injector concept makes changing the blade a snap provided you are using a cartridge with a metal key. Current injectors with the plastic key take a little practice until you get it right but ifyou get a hold of some Schick NOS blades from the 1970's without having to mortgage the house or current production Schick injector blades, you're "in like Flint". Anyone who tries cutting a DE blade in half and making it fit into an injector IMHO is asking for serious injury.

Aggressiveness - As I said at the beginning, the Type E is aggressive but not in a bad way. Practice makes for better shaves.

Adjustability - n/a

Balance - Perfect but don't expect it to feel like a Gillette New Deluxe or British Aristocrat, that would be an apple to orange comparison. This is a totally different animal.

Final comments: Previously mentioned was that they are hard to clean; yes, unless it is an early model where the curved spring under the head was actually meent to swing left so the head opens or the later Hydro-Magic that has a lever that you flip up and it exposes the inside of the head.

There you have it, my opinion.

Mike

I have two Schick Injectors, a J-1 and the Golden 500. Both shave extremely well. I learned on a Schick M Injector many years ago so using either one of these is like coming home. While the J series is considered the "mildest" of the Schick injectors, it is still pretty aggressive. I get consistently better shaves with either of the injectors than I do with my Superspeed or my Tech. Perhaps it is because I am more familiar with the Injectors. The only downside for me is that there is no local supply of injector blades.

After using DEs for a long time I eventually went to straights. I love the DE razors for collecting, they are beautifully crafted works of art but I could never get a decent shave under my chin with one. The only DE razor I still use on a regular basis is the Gillette NEW improved, which I love and will keep in a rotation.

After using straights for quite some time I decided to be lazy one day and tried my injector, It's an E type from the 1940s with the Bakelite handle and gold head.

It was one of the best shaves of my life and it lasted all day into the night. It was just like my straights in terms of closeness and it took half the time to shave. Now I will share some tips on how to use this razor:

1) If you slip you'll get badly cut, a lot more than a DE would cut you.
2) Be careful if you have a sharp jawline, this razor can bite you there if you're not careful.

3) I tend to stretch the skin like I am using a straight razor even when I shave with safeties and the results are awesome every time. Give it a shot, but use less pressure than you usually would.

Listen to the razor as it cuts your whiskers, it tells you all you need to know if you need more passes or not.

I love them and I think they're the only safety razor out there besides a 1910 Lather Catcher GEM that gives a straight razor type of shave.