I have come full circle and returned to my beginnings in DE shaving.
My journey began in 2014 when I began with a Merkur 34C short handle razor. I loved the razor but of course got a case of RAD and started experimenting with other razors. I'd buy a razor, try it, kept some for quite a while, but turned others over quickly. I'd re-sell them for others to enjoy or appreciate more than I did. One of my earliest ventures was into adjustables with my acquisition of a Merkur Progress short handle. I loved that razor as well. However, my RAD caused me to sell it too as I tried all sorts of new and vintage razors.
My adjustables went from the short to a long handle Progress, then the Parker Variant, and finally the Vikings Blade Emperor. I also enjoyed the Gillette Super Adjustable (Black Beauty) both in its short (84) and Long (109) handled versions.
I switched my Merkur fixed razors trying the Barber Pole, Slant, and Sledgehammer. I went through birth year Gillettes trying the Tech Ball Tip, Tech Bakelite, Tech Travel, Super Speed (Black Tip), Milord, and Aristocrat razors. I also tried Merkur and Parker Travel razors.
Now Seven plus years down the road, my DE collection is back pretty close to where it started. I have my original Merkur 34C and recently re-purchased a Merkur Progress short handle adjustable which I love and use almost exclusively at home. I've modified it in the Black Beauty tradition. You can see how I do that in this old post:
Merkur Progress BB Imitation
I also have the two Merkur travel razors but that's it. All the others are gone.
Most of the Gillettes worked well for me. I found all Parkers a bit aggressive for my taste. I loathed the balance of the Emperor. So in the end the size and balance of the Merkurs work well for me. Best of all, my RAD is totally cured because what I have works wonderfully. Of course, YMMV...
My journey began in 2014 when I began with a Merkur 34C short handle razor. I loved the razor but of course got a case of RAD and started experimenting with other razors. I'd buy a razor, try it, kept some for quite a while, but turned others over quickly. I'd re-sell them for others to enjoy or appreciate more than I did. One of my earliest ventures was into adjustables with my acquisition of a Merkur Progress short handle. I loved that razor as well. However, my RAD caused me to sell it too as I tried all sorts of new and vintage razors.
My adjustables went from the short to a long handle Progress, then the Parker Variant, and finally the Vikings Blade Emperor. I also enjoyed the Gillette Super Adjustable (Black Beauty) both in its short (84) and Long (109) handled versions.
I switched my Merkur fixed razors trying the Barber Pole, Slant, and Sledgehammer. I went through birth year Gillettes trying the Tech Ball Tip, Tech Bakelite, Tech Travel, Super Speed (Black Tip), Milord, and Aristocrat razors. I also tried Merkur and Parker Travel razors.
Now Seven plus years down the road, my DE collection is back pretty close to where it started. I have my original Merkur 34C and recently re-purchased a Merkur Progress short handle adjustable which I love and use almost exclusively at home. I've modified it in the Black Beauty tradition. You can see how I do that in this old post:
Merkur Progress BB Imitation
I also have the two Merkur travel razors but that's it. All the others are gone.
Most of the Gillettes worked well for me. I found all Parkers a bit aggressive for my taste. I loathed the balance of the Emperor. So in the end the size and balance of the Merkurs work well for me. Best of all, my RAD is totally cured because what I have works wonderfully. Of course, YMMV...