Have DE razors improved in the past 50 years?

[DamnFineBob]

I do not own a single modern DE razor. I've got an early '60s Schick Krona as my main razor, with a Gillette ball end Tech, a fat handle Tech, Slim Adjustable, Gem Micromatic, and Stahley Live Blade playing back-up.

My youngest razor is already 50 years old!

Have Parker, Merkur or Muhle/Edwin Jagger made any major improvements since the good ol' days? Am I missing out by not having a modern razor?

 

[Den]

You are missing out...but mostly just the experience of using a modern DE. I can't say they're built or shave any better. Gillette for example built their DEs like tanks which is obviously why there so many still in use. Give a modern DE like a Merkur or EJ a try, I'm sure you won't regret it.

 

[mdevine]

By 50 years ago, Gillette had already been making DE razors for almost 60 years. They were producing and selling them at volumes many times higher than today's makers. They produced many more models than have been designed since then. I have tried both new and vintage razors. The new razors are well made and shave well but I don't find them "better" than vintage Gillettes.

 

[michiganlover]

Have Parker, Merkur or Muhle/Edwin Jagger made any major improvements since the good ol' days? Am I missing out by not having a modern razor?

All of the major makers of modern DE razors are pretty much using the tried, and true designs of yesteryear**. Therefore the razors while new, are going to be very similar in performance to the vintage razors.

I don't consider Parker to be on the same level as Merkur, or Muhle/Edwin Jagger. They have had a long standing reputation for turning out a lot of crap. Their Twist To Opens tend to get the most flack.

Some of the modern razors (such as the excellent Muhle/Edwin Jaggers) do cover up the blade tabs (the ends of the blade that stick out past the endcaps of the razor) which I consider to be a major improvement in terms of safety (having grazed my nose with the end tabs on numerous occasions).

**The only exceptions to this I can think of are the Merkur Vision (considered by many to be a total joke of a razor), Merkur Futur, and the Merkur Progress.

 

[Nils]

Some of the modern razors (such as the excellent Muhle/Edwin Jaggers) do cover up the blade tabs (the ends of the blade that stick out past the endcaps of the razor) which I consider to be a major improvement in terms of safety (having grazed my nose with the end tabs on numerous occasions).

**The only exceptions to this I can think of are the Merkur Vision (considered by many to be a total joke of a razor), Merkur Futur, and the Merkur Progress.

+1 on the Futur or Progress. Especially the Futur is worth a try. But if you are truly into vintage razors, it's modern design might put you off.

 

[kingfisher]

I think it's pretty tough to beat a Slim.

But that's just my opinion.

 

[sfactor23]

IMHO, when it comes to modern razors, the Pils is the one to beat: it's the best combination of beauty, heft, form and function. However, will it give you a better shave than a trusty old Fatboy (for example?) - maybe, maybe not - while picking the right razor for you is of course important, a good shave (as I'm sure you know) is the result of a combination of good razor, good blade, the right product(s), and your form.

I guess what I'm saying is this: if you like your old razors, and you're satisfied with the quality of your shaves, then keep doing what you're doing. Otherwise, I'd mix up the razors your are using and/or the products - if, after that you still want more, get the Pils.

 

[galopede]

For me, my ivory style Edwin Jagger blows the socks off my Fat Boy, Slim, Merkur HD, Slant and the other older Gillettes I have lying around.

The only two that come near it are the Futur and an old Superspeed.

Not talking about looks, quality of build or anything else, just the shave.

Gareth

 

[Dave Deluxe]

The best razor made, was made in 1912. In my mind it's never been surpassed.

DD

 

[Munxcub]

I started with a Merkur HD, went on to many Gillettes, and just tried the Merkur again. Shaves nice. Nicer than my old Gillettes? Hard to say... they're all nice. Can't say better or worse, just different. Give a new one a go and see for yourself. See if you can just borrow one for a bit.

 

[DE Shaver]

Although the Futur may not be for everyone, it is an excellent razor for shaving. It has its quirks and a bit of a bulky head but once you know how to handle it, it shaves well with just about any blade. With that said, the form may have changed but the function remains similar to it's earlier predecessors. Certainly, when compared to cartridge systems, the Futur has much more in common with vintage razors, so the major departure point is the cartrige razor systems. I think if you compare the shaves with razors with modern DE designs, vintage razor do as well (or better to some people). So, if you are comparing the quality of shave, I don't think you are missing out.

 

[Saltchuck]

Out of my top 5 favorite razors, only one (Merkur 23C) is less than 50 years old. But even the Merkur was based on an old design.

 

[takeshi]

Am I missing out by not having a modern razor?

Only you can answer that.

I prefer my EJ DE89L over my Fat Boy and Super Speed. I can't speak for anyone else's preferences.

 

[Thebigspendur]

I agree the EJs are some pretty good razors. They beat the old vintage models. I think the new feather is about the best of the crop overall.

 

[Wildcat1]

I just love a razor with a sense of history. Especially if it belonged to your uncle or grandpa ... makes it really special. That being said, I don't have one of my relative's razors so I just buy old razors if I can find them. At least someone's grandpa used it!

 

[Legion]

Nah. IMO they have gone backwards, for the most part. With the exception of razors like the Feather and Pils that use modern manufacturing techniques and materials such as stainless steel, most of the modern razors are made from inferior metal with inferior and thinner plating.

Think about a razor like the Gillette President. Can you imagine a current manufacturer mass producing a one piece, brass razor with rhodium plating? Can you imagine how much it would cost?

The finish does not make it shave any better, of course. But since all modern DE's are essentially copies of a basic design that is over a hundred years old, how much improvement can be made?

 

[Texas Don]

I have tried a Parker and am neither favorably or unfavorably impressed with it. On a side note, I read an article somewhere in the last 48 hours that stated the US patent office had issued 207 new patents with the word razor, or blade in the title since 1997. Are these all related to multi blade junk? If the motorcycle industry followed the shaving industry, we would only have 5 wheeled cycles to choose from today. Insanity!!

 

[Stubblefield]

The Joris beats every vintage razor I have ever shaved with.

 

[Go West Young Man]

If you're a shaver, then, no, you don't need to try anything other than the razor you already use.

If you're a hobbyist, then, yes, you need to try modern razors just to see what they're all about.

 

[DFrancis]

It you want to try a modern razor then go for it, but don't feel like you are missing out on anything. For myself I have used the Merkur 33C and the Feather Stainless and while I do feel the Feather was a nice smooth shave, it was not better than the shave I get from my Flair-tip Superspeed.