A more aggressive open-comb Gillette?

[kingfisher]

Gentlemen, for the past two days I have been shaving with a Gillette New, one of the "red and blacks" that I found at an antique mall.

I am enjoying the idea of the open comb, but I find this razor way too mild for me. After two passes there is still a ton of stubble left (I don't have anywhere near as much when I use my Slim set to 6 for the first pass and 3 for the second).

So I am wondering if there are other vintage open-comb Gillettes that are like this razor but more aggressive.

thanks in advance.

 

[cooncatbob]

What blade are you using?
NEW can be blade sensitive, try a Feather.
With all the various opinions on the NEWs, too aggressive, too mild.
I wonder if seemingly identical models can shave differently.
For me I find that long and short comb versions shave the same aggressiveness wise.
I don't use Feathers in my NEWs because it makes them too aggressive for me.

 

[drewmac]

A single ring is a bit more aggressive. I would caution to pay more attention to blade angle with open combs. They use a different angle. That may be why you had stubble left.

 

[kingfisher]

The first shave was a 3rd-shave Feather.

This morning's shave was a 1st-day Astra SP.


So I think the blades have been plenty sharp.


As far as angle is concerned, to me it seems like it has a very narrow angle window; in other words, there's not much distance between the place where the razor leaves tracks in the lather and the place where it is not effectively cutting hairs. Still it's hard to imagine anyway to think of this razor as overly aggressive. To me it's as mild as a Tech, maybe milder.

 

[Troggie]

I have an Old and a New Type open comb and found with the same blades in them the Old type was a bit more aggressive than the New.

 

[GatorShaver]

I find my Tuckaways to be more aggressive than standard News. Even though they're travel razor sized, they give me fantastic shaves and are pretty reasonably priced compared to the other Gillette models with that head (particularly if you aren't looking for one that has the case and blade holder in good shape too to make a nice complete set).

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

The first shave was a 3rd-shave Feather.

This morning's shave was a 1st-day Astra SP.


So I think the blades have been plenty sharp.


As far as angle is concerned, to me it seems like it has a very narrow angle window; in other words, there's not much distance between the place where the razor leaves tracks in the lather and the place where it is not effectively cutting hairs. Still it's hard to imagine anyway to think of this razor as overly aggressive. To me it's as mild as a Tech, maybe milder.

I agree on the angle, but I would not say it is a mild as a Tech, as I can shave with a NEW, but not with a Tech, or a Feather ASR. For me a NEW is much more aggressive than a Tech. They are only a bit below the notorious Fatip / Joris / Muhle R89 old model. I have the Fatip, so I can compare them. The 7 o'Clock NEW I have is about as aggressive as the Fatip (aka "the beast"). Perhaps there is something wrong with your NEW?

 

[Sledgehammer39]

You could try a NEW Improved or an Old Type.

 

[ctkelly]

And how do any of these compare to the British aristocrat #15?

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

You could try a NEW Improved or an Old Type.

For me there is not much difference between a NEW and an OLD. A NEW is smoother and perhaps because of that seems milder. It does cut tho. The 7'o Clock is a bit more aggressive. It is SO smooth, but shaves about as close as the Fatip. I do not know/have an Improved.

 

[Chester]

Old-type single-ring.
... or, if you have the shekels, a bulldog!
-- Chet

 

[kingfisher]

I find the "New" to be a great shave, not as mild as a Tech, but milder than "Old", "New Improved" or "New DeLuxe". Like everything else here, YMMV. I like an aggressive razor myself, and just recently had Bob's Razor Works aka Cooncatbob make me up a bullmastiff and replate a New Improved head for me.
Looks just like this one...

This has been a RAD killer for me.
Mike

Sweet razor.

 

[americanarmsdealer]

I have an Old and a New Type open comb and found with the same blades in them the Old type was a bit more aggressive than the New.

+1. These are the only 2 OC razors I've used, so I've reached the end of my usefulness for this thread!

 

[kingfisher]

Well, I tried the NEW again this morning.

completely comfortable, but this thing is a little kitten, and I need a tiger to cut my stubble. I had to step in with another razor to get the shave finished again; two passes and I guess I was SAS, but I really like a closer shave.

After the shave was over I took the blade out and put it into my Slim for tomorrow's shave. I dried the pieces of the NEW and put it back into its box. It's not going to work for me. It's just TOO MILD!

It's a gorgeous razor, too, so it's a shame. Maybe I'll put it up on the B/S/T so somebody who likes a mild razor can enjoy it.

 

[cooncatbob]

Well, I tried the NEW again this morning.

completely comfortable, but this thing is a little kitten, and I need a tiger to cut my stubble. I had to step in with another razor to get the shave finished again; two passes and I guess I was SAS, but I really like a closer shave.

After the shave was over I took the blade out and put it into my Slim for tomorrow's shave. I dried the pieces of the NEW and put it back into its box. It's not going to work for me. It's just TOO MILD!

It's a gorgeous razor, too, so it's a shame. Maybe I'll put it up on the B/S/T so somebody who likes a mild razor can enjoy it.

Most people don't consider the NEW a mild razor.
I'm wondering if you got one that the specs are off on it?
I recently had a client who complained that the replated NEW I'd sold him was too mild, I sent him a different cap and that fixed his problem.

 

[bakerbarber]

I have a Sheraton that bites if I'm not careful.

It's twist to open, but still open comb. I love it!

 

[steveclarkus]

I have two short comb New's and both shave the same and are rather aggressive. I've never had to go more than two passes and touch-up. The New is my favorite razor and it's getting new plating.

 

[dalecooper51]

The Old Type works much better for me then most other OC razors.

 

[Luc]

I find the "New" to be a great shave, not as mild as a Tech, but milder than "Old", "New Improved" or "New DeLuxe". Like everything else here, YMMV. I like an aggressive razor myself, and just recently had Bob's Razor Works aka Cooncatbob make me up a bullmastiff and replate a New Improved head for me.
Looks just like this one...

This has been a RAD killer for me.
Mike

+1

That was the best money I could spend on a DE.

With the regular handle, the razor was ok. With the bull mastiff handle, it's a whole different beast. Much much much heavier. The 'no pressure' meaning takes a whole new angle...

 

[mdevine]

I've been rotating between my New and New Standard this week. While they are both excellent, I find the New Improved head gives an even closer shave. I have compared the New Standard head-to-head with a Tuckaway in the past. They were hard to tell apart which is unsurprising given that they both use the New Improved head. The trade off for the slightly closer shaves with the New Improved razors is the extra care required when shaving with them. I think I'll put the New Standard up against my Senator next.