Warning, I’m a mariner... stand by for sea story.
I started wet shaving (DE) over 8 years ago. Started with store bought DE, soaps, and blades. Restored a brush, used an old flea market mug, but eventually bought a ‘47 Super Speed from a member here in 2012, later getting a birth year ‘63 Slim, and my brother (whom I drug into this) got a birth year ‘69 Super 109. In between I bought a myriad of new repro DE’s including a Rockwell, new brushes, scuttles, and Tabac has been my return-to/go-to soap and aftershave.
Last year I grew tired of all the prep and rigamarole and (mistakenly) went to cartridge shaving and canned cream.
Recently I’ve returned to my Slim, and discovered that using a slickery gel (like Duke Cannons canned (using a scuttle and brush to warm it up, I HATE putting on cold can gel) and Balzano blades, I could carefully get a one pass great shave using the Dukes. I tried this with my Tabac and a drawer full of other blades including my go to Gillette Silvers, but the Balzano combo with the gel was the ticket of one pass. I use light pressure and shorter strokes than I used to and VERY pleased with the results. Using Duke Cannons aftershave gel finishes it up perfect. I still sometimes use an alum block.
I’m attributing this to two things: the blade and that Duke Cannons Fresh Aloe is so slickery even after a pass or so allows me to even follow up/buff areas like my chin without razor burn. The Balzano blade also feels great in my Slim Adjustable turned down to 3. However, like many have found, you either love or hate the Balzano as it’s inconsistent. One blade same tuck goes 5 shaves, next one 2. But when it’s good it’s better than my G-Silvers. (Note the Sharks etc are too aggressive for me no matter the razor or setting).
So...
I’m on a quest to go Old School as much as I can, to include acquiring vintage mug and brush (maybe restoring a vintage EverReady). Might start experimenting by getting a Fat Boy, or an old Gillette comb. No more new production repro’s.
I see guys who actually seek out and buy vintage NOS Gillette blades, and was wondering which one would compare in smoothness to the inconsistent Balzano’s.
I want to stay Gillette, and wondering which Vintage blade y’all recommend, and which shaving soap that keeps the slickeryness of that canned gel. Obviously NOS soaps would be dried out. Hopefully someone recommends a legacy new production soap (ie TOBS, MWF, Poraso , etc which I never tried, and not a fan of the new age “teenager” scented soaps. I’m a recovered alcoholic so not keen on Bourbon flavored and I’m a retired Chief Petty Officer so I don’t know what in the hell a “whiff of bergamot” is and don’t care... ever ever ever [emoji41]). The Tabac looses its “slickery” after one pass. My drawer full of modern production DE’s I might PIF and keep the vintage Gillette’s, and get more. Don’t get me wrong, DE’s like the Rockwell are awesome, but my vintage ones are prolly better. Might just be in my nostalgic mind...
Summery:
1. Which Gillette NOS vintage blades are super smooth?
2. Which current production Legacy soaps are “slickery”?
3. Which legacy new production aftershave? Or do I stick with Duke Cannons?
- -
Chip Hoynes
CPO, USCG (Ret.)
Make it a Great Day...unless you have other plans...
I started wet shaving (DE) over 8 years ago. Started with store bought DE, soaps, and blades. Restored a brush, used an old flea market mug, but eventually bought a ‘47 Super Speed from a member here in 2012, later getting a birth year ‘63 Slim, and my brother (whom I drug into this) got a birth year ‘69 Super 109. In between I bought a myriad of new repro DE’s including a Rockwell, new brushes, scuttles, and Tabac has been my return-to/go-to soap and aftershave.
Last year I grew tired of all the prep and rigamarole and (mistakenly) went to cartridge shaving and canned cream.
Recently I’ve returned to my Slim, and discovered that using a slickery gel (like Duke Cannons canned (using a scuttle and brush to warm it up, I HATE putting on cold can gel) and Balzano blades, I could carefully get a one pass great shave using the Dukes. I tried this with my Tabac and a drawer full of other blades including my go to Gillette Silvers, but the Balzano combo with the gel was the ticket of one pass. I use light pressure and shorter strokes than I used to and VERY pleased with the results. Using Duke Cannons aftershave gel finishes it up perfect. I still sometimes use an alum block.
I’m attributing this to two things: the blade and that Duke Cannons Fresh Aloe is so slickery even after a pass or so allows me to even follow up/buff areas like my chin without razor burn. The Balzano blade also feels great in my Slim Adjustable turned down to 3. However, like many have found, you either love or hate the Balzano as it’s inconsistent. One blade same tuck goes 5 shaves, next one 2. But when it’s good it’s better than my G-Silvers. (Note the Sharks etc are too aggressive for me no matter the razor or setting).
So...
I’m on a quest to go Old School as much as I can, to include acquiring vintage mug and brush (maybe restoring a vintage EverReady). Might start experimenting by getting a Fat Boy, or an old Gillette comb. No more new production repro’s.
I see guys who actually seek out and buy vintage NOS Gillette blades, and was wondering which one would compare in smoothness to the inconsistent Balzano’s.
I want to stay Gillette, and wondering which Vintage blade y’all recommend, and which shaving soap that keeps the slickeryness of that canned gel. Obviously NOS soaps would be dried out. Hopefully someone recommends a legacy new production soap (ie TOBS, MWF, Poraso , etc which I never tried, and not a fan of the new age “teenager” scented soaps. I’m a recovered alcoholic so not keen on Bourbon flavored and I’m a retired Chief Petty Officer so I don’t know what in the hell a “whiff of bergamot” is and don’t care... ever ever ever [emoji41]). The Tabac looses its “slickery” after one pass. My drawer full of modern production DE’s I might PIF and keep the vintage Gillette’s, and get more. Don’t get me wrong, DE’s like the Rockwell are awesome, but my vintage ones are prolly better. Might just be in my nostalgic mind...
Summery:
1. Which Gillette NOS vintage blades are super smooth?
2. Which current production Legacy soaps are “slickery”?
3. Which legacy new production aftershave? Or do I stick with Duke Cannons?
- -
Chip Hoynes
CPO, USCG (Ret.)
Make it a Great Day...unless you have other plans...