Gillette New (mastiff) or 39C slant

[jgriffith]

I'm still new to DE shaving, and have really been enjoying the shaves and the B&B forum. I've been using an EJ89 for a couple months, and have found some blade combination's that seem to work very well for me (Super Iridium, Feather and Derby). Three to four passes and touch up and I get BBS shaves.

I've also tried a Red Tip Gillette, which is very different. I like it, but seem to prefer the EJ. My next step is to try and find something to give me that close to BBS in 2 passes. I'm considering purchase of one of two razors:
1. A Gillette New with the mastiff handle from Bobs
2. A Merkur Sledgehammer slant

I'm looking for something that takes off a bit more hair on each pass but still delivers smoothness and comfort on the face and especially the neck. The jaw line and neck are my trouble spots, and regardless of technique it seems the only way to get these spots is increased number of passes. This is ok of course, but I'm just interested to see if these other two razors deliver some of the wonderful results I've read about on the forum.

Anybody out there have experience with either or both of these razors? Even better anybody use all three that I've mentioned?

 

[AJMiami]

I have the EJ89 and EJ Chatsworth (same head as 89), in addition to the slant and the Gillette New Improved...I seem to get better results with the EJ89/Chatsworth, with the New Improved being a close second.

The Slant and New are both excellent choices, but don't expect them to be superior to the EJ.

 

[jgriffith]

Thanks AJ, very good to hear from somebody who's tried them all. To be clear, I love my EJ89, I just fall victim to always wondering if there's something "better" for me out there

 

[AJMiami]

keep in mind that razors are very YMMV....nothing wrong with wanting to try more combinations, but the EJ will be very hard to beat.

This is what I have tried

Vintage:
Gillette SS 70s
Gillette SS 40s
Gillette Red Tip (2)
Gillette Slim Adjustable
New Improved
Merkur Slant
GEM 1912
GEM Micromatic
GEM G-BAR

Current Prod:
Muhle R89
Feather Portable
EJ R89, + Chatsworth
Merkur Bakelite

After the EJ Chatsworth, my top 3 are:
Gillette Slim
EJ R89
Gillette New Improved

 

[fluffman86]

I've used Gillette SSs, EJ DE89L, and a 39C long slant. I'm just waiting until I've been here 45 days to sell my DE89L. It does not agree with my face at all.

For more than 36 hours growth for me, I really love the slant, although I think I should have gotten the shorter handle. The long is really a little too long for some detail work around my sideburns and under my nose. I'll usually end up touching up with a Flair Tip for that.

For anything less than 36 hours of growth, I LOVE LOVE LOVE my 40s SuperSpeed. Man, that thing is so smooth it's amazing! And whereas my chinese Ming Shui only likes Wilkinsons, and my DE89L only likes really sharp blades, my SuperSpeeds will take much cheaper blades or Feathers (but not Gillette 7 O'clocks or sharks? hmmm...) and perform really well.

 

[jgriffith]

Quite a list you have there AJ...
So I'm curious, isn't the Chatsworth the same head, just a different handle than the 89? Does the handle make a difference in the shave (result of weight and balance maybe)?

 

[AJMiami]

Quite a list you have there AJ...
So I'm curious, isn't the Chatsworth the same head, just a different handle than the 89? Does the handle make a difference in the shave (result of weight and balance maybe)?

IMHO..it does make a difference, with the added weight (112g) I tend to use less pressure and let the razor do all the work..With that being said, I get similar results with the EJ89 (just slightly better)