The subject of NEW SC vs LC can be controversial lol. I can only speak of myself and my own experiences.
Before I joined this forum my interest in DE shaving was awakened by my nephew who had just switched to a DE from a Mach 3. As I learned to shave with my fathers British Gillette Flare Tip Rocket in 1980 or 1981, and still had it, all I needed were some blades and when my nephew mentioned to me back in I think April of this year that he had started using a DE, I didnt even know the vast array of DE blades were available. At the same time, I knew I had an old razor, NIB condition, put away that my father picked up somewhere for $2 and I remember seeing my grandfathers old 3 piece razor around somewhere but I never did find it.
So, I bought a blade sample pack, a tub of Proraso soap and a brush and got to it. The Brit Rocket being a rigid design I was spoiled a bit I think because I started shaving with a very rigid design and didnt know anything about razor design and how it can affect the shave so I started reading and learning and I came across posts by rabidus on this forum and he was touting rigidity in relation to razor head design. I read all I could and I joined this forum so that I could see pictures he had posted to help me understand. When I finally got my head around it, I had as I told him, an epiphany.
As my technique and shaves improved my curiosity of other razors became apparent and I dug up the Gillette razor that was in its box still. As it turns out it was a gold plated Gillette NEW LC and I was torn about using it as it really was in like new condition. When I did shave with it, I found that I couldnt BBS two areas on my neck and seeing as I understood the differences in the design of the heads, especially the base plates, I discovered that I needed a more rigid design. Some may argue that, but I know what works for me and that may, or may not, work for others.
You can read about my discovery of this here: Gillette NEW LC Not Cutting It
That was a revelation to me and rabidus was kind enough to send me a NEW SC. The Gillette NEW SC is a completely different design from the LC. Its more like the Gillette OLD type in that it fully supports the entire blade, where the LC does not. See the comparison pictures below.
SC on the left, LC on the right.
Now see how the cap fits over the base plate and how the SC supports the blade right to the edge where the LC does not.
Now, if one doesnt shave ATG or doesnt have coarse and/or dense stubble, that amount of rigidity may not help with their shave. It does however, help me and some others, but as I said it can be a controversial subject.
To aggressiveness. Aggressive isnt really the right term for a NEW SC. Because its such a rigid design, its highly efficient and effective. The SC was also made to very exacting specifications as I understand it and rabidus has measured the blade gap across several samples and found them all to be the same .023" or .026", I cant remember which.
The LC by comparison he has also measured and found the blade gaps can vary by .015" or more. The LC I had was a very mild shaver. Think of it much the same as your AS-D2, but with an OC and without the rigidity of the AS-D2. I really liked that razor and it gave me an excellent BBS shave everywhere except those two areas on my neck, even when I added a shim. If it doesnt work for me, I'm not going to use it so I sent it to my nephew with my fathers Rocket and a British Tech because he was having issues with his EJ/Merkur type clone and couldnt shave ATG at all.
As it turned out, he also had issues ATG with the LC and now he doesnt use it, but he has no issues at all with his grandfathers Brit Rocket and has now also picked up a Single Ring OLD type which he really enjoys along with, I believe, a 1936 Gillette Sheraton.
The NEW SC has been called "an OLD type with blade gap" as the SC has the .023" or .026" gap, and the OLD type has essentially none. Both however, offer the same amount of rigidity by supporting the entire blade with the base plate.
The Feather AS-D2 is one of the very few modern razors that offer this type of rigidity. Timeless and Wolfman being two other examples along with Fatip. I just ordered a gold Fatip Grande last night and I'm anxiously awaiting its arrival.
Timeless on the left, Wolfman WR1 on the right, in comparison to the EJ/Merkur type heads. The blade support is easily seen.
I believe there is much to be learned by many of razor design and rigidity and once the concept was understood, it was easy for me to grasp that a rigid edge, no matter if the blade in question is a table saw blade or a razor blade, will cut more effectively and efficiently than a less rigid edge.
Its a further belief of mine that many people that do have issues shaving ATG, that a more rigid design may help them.
In the end I dont believe that any one razor is "the best". I do however believe that not all razors are created equally and that some are better than others. The only person that can decide that however, is the person using the razor.
