I've gone through a line of the "more affordable" vintage Gems, from a Damaskeene to an MMOC. While I like them and appreciate the sheer durability of what was a 50-cent razor 100 years ago that still shaves like a hot damn, with the exception of the MMOC I just don't get a decently close (head) shave out of them.
The MMOC is fine, but the overall ergonomics are a little off for me. I would like to try the Streamline some day, but at current prices I'm not all in for it.
Because of my immense respect for @rabidus, I gave some consideration to his views when he spoke in glowing terms of the SE1. I tend to view the cost of any hobby as an "expense" instead of an "investment," so I had to think it over a while but finally talked myself into it. Once it came down to ordering I decided that rather than get the SE1 and then later possibly step up to an SE2, I would buy the SE1/SE2 plate combo with cap and purchase a separate handle for it.
That way I could try the SE2 on as well, then decide what to do about it. I've earlier remarked that the closest shave I've ever at that point had came from that SE1, even though SB razors don't tend to inspire much confidence in a close shave for me. So I kept using it for a couple of blades; about a month of shaves. That way I learned the razor and how it needed to feel in my hand to be in the right position for the back of my head where I can't see.
Yesterday I swapped in the SE2 plate under a blade with four shaves on it. Anthony speaks jokingly of "face stropping" to knock a wicked sharp edge down by simply using it carefully. I summoned up a warrior level of "razor-do" as I had been warned to do, and set to work.
My, My. I've got one patch on the back of my head that is still smooth over 24 hours later. Scary close! My wife asked how I liked my shave. I said, "As you know from looking at my scars I've been kissed by steel a few times in a long and not always safe life. THAT is as close as I can get to getting kissed by steel and have it still be fun." I'll wait to see if I get a bunch of ingrowns in that spot.
But it's a keeper. I've been thinking about it, and I've decided to go ahead and buy another cap and handle and make it two razors. Then I'm thinking I'll use the SE1 with new blades until they just start to lose their mojo and swap them into the SE2 and get some more shaves out of them. I don't think at this point that the SE2 is going to be a daily shaver all the time, but it'll be a strong second in my rotation. Whenever I get to feeling cocky I can put a new blade in the SE2 and trim myself down a peg.
OK, back outside for me. I'm building a generator shed and evidently the darn thing ain't gonna build itself.
O.H.
The MMOC is fine, but the overall ergonomics are a little off for me. I would like to try the Streamline some day, but at current prices I'm not all in for it.
Because of my immense respect for @rabidus, I gave some consideration to his views when he spoke in glowing terms of the SE1. I tend to view the cost of any hobby as an "expense" instead of an "investment," so I had to think it over a while but finally talked myself into it. Once it came down to ordering I decided that rather than get the SE1 and then later possibly step up to an SE2, I would buy the SE1/SE2 plate combo with cap and purchase a separate handle for it.
That way I could try the SE2 on as well, then decide what to do about it. I've earlier remarked that the closest shave I've ever at that point had came from that SE1, even though SB razors don't tend to inspire much confidence in a close shave for me. So I kept using it for a couple of blades; about a month of shaves. That way I learned the razor and how it needed to feel in my hand to be in the right position for the back of my head where I can't see.
Yesterday I swapped in the SE2 plate under a blade with four shaves on it. Anthony speaks jokingly of "face stropping" to knock a wicked sharp edge down by simply using it carefully. I summoned up a warrior level of "razor-do" as I had been warned to do, and set to work.
My, My. I've got one patch on the back of my head that is still smooth over 24 hours later. Scary close! My wife asked how I liked my shave. I said, "As you know from looking at my scars I've been kissed by steel a few times in a long and not always safe life. THAT is as close as I can get to getting kissed by steel and have it still be fun." I'll wait to see if I get a bunch of ingrowns in that spot.
But it's a keeper. I've been thinking about it, and I've decided to go ahead and buy another cap and handle and make it two razors. Then I'm thinking I'll use the SE1 with new blades until they just start to lose their mojo and swap them into the SE2 and get some more shaves out of them. I don't think at this point that the SE2 is going to be a daily shaver all the time, but it'll be a strong second in my rotation. Whenever I get to feeling cocky I can put a new blade in the SE2 and trim myself down a peg.
OK, back outside for me. I'm building a generator shed and evidently the darn thing ain't gonna build itself.
O.H.
...but I may have to have a closer look at those, since I've got to put in an order anyway. 
