BOTOC - Looking for recc on a first open comb

[mercadr]

Hi..

I've been DE shaving for a few months with initially a DE89L. The shave was pretty decent, but after a while I wanted something that would give me a closer shave, and went to a 37c slant. The slant is a great razor, but I wish I'd have purchased the barberpole for the length and weight. Anyway, now I'm wondering how an open comb would be for me. I usually have trouble with my neck area, and have read here on B&B that the open comb is great for that. I was initally looking at the Merkur 12c with the barber pole and had thoughts of being able to switch the barberpole handle between that and the 37c, but found out it was no longer available. Anyway, looking for recommendations for an open comb comparable to a 12c.

Thanks,

RM

 

[Vivasanti]

My recommendations....

Mild - Merkur 11c , Goodfella, Gillette Old type

Medium - Gillette New - Short/Long Combs

Aggressive - Fatip/R41 etc

My pick would be a Fatip OR a Gillette New - Long comb.

 

[mercadr]

That's for the recs

 

[temjeito]

My pick would be a Fatip OR a Gillette New - Long comb.

+1

two of my favorite razors

 

[DrAwkward]

NEW short comb is a good one to start wih.
Warning: once you go OC, you never go (what rhymes with comb?) ...

 

[Teppanyaki]

I have read that Cadets (and various other manufacturers using the same head with different handles) and the Fatip are both aggressive open combs that are well worth a look. I am toying with trying an Ikon open comb, which apparently looks like a modernized NEW. I currently shave with a Muhle R41 (2013) and really love mine.

In my experience, the 1904 Merkur OC (mild OC) doesn't shave very well and is much more irritating. Having said that, some people love them.

 

[Joezamboni]

The Ikon is a modern new deluxe. Last week I saw a complete red/black case new deluxe go for $37 shipped on the bay, so keep that in mind too.

 

[kingfisher]

My recommendations....

Mild - Merkur 11c , Goodfella, Gillette Old type

Medium - Gillette New - Short/Long Combs

Aggressive - Fatip/R41 etc

My pick would be a Fatip OR a Gillette New - Long comb.

these recs are OK but the Old Type is not mild, IME. I'd put it at more aggressive than the NEW but not as aggressive as the FaTip.

 

[KQY61]

these recs are OK but the Old Type is not mild, IME. I'd put it at more aggressive than the NEW but not as aggressive as the FaTip.

Hi,

I agree. I have two Old Types and both are a lot less mild than the one New LC I have. The Old Types are reserved for when I skip at least one day. The New LC I use for first pass every day.

Stan

 

[Mason_07]

I started off with an DE89 (and it's still my favorite). Out of a bunch of Gillette's that I have tried, my favorite is the New (LC). I can take off all weekend from shaving and come back on Monday, pop my old blade from last week into the Gillette New and still get a fantastic close 2-pass whave. Trying to shave with that same blade in my DE89 after it had been used all week would not get nearly as close of a shave. I love my DE89, but once the blade starts to dull...the closeness of my shave drops off significantly. The increased aggressivness of the Gillette New allows me to get an extra shave or two out of an older blade and ALSO gives me a great shave when I have a couple of days of growth (which might have given a different razor more trouble).

 

[KCee]

I would say Gillette NEW; I like both the SC and LC. Both seem quite efficient, but very forgiving to me. The Ikon OC is a beautiful razor, but a bit mild. The R41 is incredibly efficient, but dangerous even in the toned down 2013 model. The Fatip is, I think, a bit less dangerous. The only other OC's I've tried have been a Goodfella (just way too mild) and a Razorock (looks like a Fatip, but doesn't work like one at least for me).

 

[chongo gordo]

The ball-end old type is my primary shaver, but it took awhile before I go the hang of it. As a newbie I made the jump from a Weishi to the ball-end and blood was spilled.

I would recommend the Single Ring old type. It is a milder razor, but still provides a nice bite. It may take awhile to find one in good condition, but boy, that silver plating looks sweet when all polished up.

 

[mercadr]

Thanks for all the advice... for the price, I think I'm going try one of the Cadet open combs...

RM

 

[Vivasanti]

The old type IS mild its just the same as the Merkur 1904/11c its about as mild as you can get.

 

[gus1942]

Gillette New LC, one of the all-time great razors.

 

[Woodekb]

Some of the older early century gillette open combs are dirt cheap on eBay. I bought a few of them and even if the handle was split, I bought a few weber handles (a long and a bulldog) to use them with, and put the messed up handles away. You can find some real nice heads with messed up handle that nobody wants and put a new handle on it and boom! Nice razor! Cool to check out the different heads as well.

 

[Mick]

12c is VERY mild.

Fatip for a new OC razor.

Shaved with mine yesterday on a Sabi T-1 handle and got a fantastic shave out of that combo (more weight + more length = better shave for me)