I think I'm almost done with my collecting of different razors and am now trying to figure out which I like best. Again. 
One thing I wanted to figure out was how my DE razors shave compared to my SE ones.
DE corner - Aristocrat 1934 TTO in rhodium (my British News are still getting replated) with Polsilver Super Iridium goodness
SE corner - my 3 1912's (regular, Junior, and Damaskeene) with the (in)famous GEM carbon steel SE blades
I will be trying out various comparisons, but I thought I'd start with a touch-up shave I just finished after a 3 min hot towel prep. Aristocrat on one side of my face, Damaskeene on the other.
I thought they both shaved darn well. The Damaskeene was a tiny bit rougher/more scrapey, but that may have been my shaving more quickly (being unfamiliar with the Aristocrat, I was more cautious). They both shaved through my 5 O'clock stubble, although the Aristocrat struggled with my chin hair on pass #1. Pass #2 was nice and smooth.
So far, I like them both. My gut inclination is towards the Aristocrat - no nicks/scrapes and it does look nice in rhodium! But I think I have a ways to go to really compare the two.
For anyone who hasn't tried the 1912 SE razors, or the Gillette New open combs, I'd highly recommend trying them. I'd recommend the OC Aristocrat as well, but rarity and cost make this a non-beginner's razor in my humble opinion.
I'll probably try the Aristocrat vs the Junior tomorrow.
One thing I wanted to figure out was how my DE razors shave compared to my SE ones.
DE corner - Aristocrat 1934 TTO in rhodium (my British News are still getting replated) with Polsilver Super Iridium goodness
SE corner - my 3 1912's (regular, Junior, and Damaskeene) with the (in)famous GEM carbon steel SE blades
I will be trying out various comparisons, but I thought I'd start with a touch-up shave I just finished after a 3 min hot towel prep. Aristocrat on one side of my face, Damaskeene on the other.
I thought they both shaved darn well. The Damaskeene was a tiny bit rougher/more scrapey, but that may have been my shaving more quickly (being unfamiliar with the Aristocrat, I was more cautious). They both shaved through my 5 O'clock stubble, although the Aristocrat struggled with my chin hair on pass #1. Pass #2 was nice and smooth.
So far, I like them both. My gut inclination is towards the Aristocrat - no nicks/scrapes and it does look nice in rhodium! But I think I have a ways to go to really compare the two.
For anyone who hasn't tried the 1912 SE razors, or the Gillette New open combs, I'd highly recommend trying them. I'd recommend the OC Aristocrat as well, but rarity and cost make this a non-beginner's razor in my humble opinion.
I'll probably try the Aristocrat vs the Junior tomorrow.
