Open Comb

[Bay Rum]

I have gone back to the DE razor the past few months. I enjoy the testing of new brushes, razors, and blades. In my experimentation I seem to get better shaves with the open comb razor versus the closed bar. Does anyone have a theory why this might be?

 

[VolpeVerde]

I seem to enjoy my open comb Gillette more and more and I too get better shaves with it than my other razors. I feel it could be a multitude of reasons, from the angle and exposure of the blade to the type of skin and beard you have, also the pre-shave preparation and the brand of soap or cream used. For me, it's just amazing to use a razor that was created and first used when Calvin Coolidge or Herbert Hoover was President, the cinema was moving from silent films to talking pictures and my grandfather was in his late teens.

 

[tsmba]

I think the idea was to affect the interaction of the lather and the blade. We build lather, apply it, then use razors that scrape it away prior to the blade hitting the skin. I would have never guessed that an open-comb razor would be something I like, but I love the ones I own.

 

[Bertilak]

I have gone back to the DE razor the past few months. I enjoy the testing of new brushes, razors, and blades. In my experimentation I seem to get better shaves with the open comb razor versus the closed bar. Does anyone have a theory why this might be?

A theory: Gillette didn't switch from open comb (their original design) to safety bar for the purpose of improving the shave but in order to reduce manufacturing costs and to make the head stronger when they moved to thinner materials. The resulting "shavability" was considered adequate but wasn't really intended nor expected to be a functional improvement.

(putting on rock deflecting armor and hiding behind a tree)

 

[Oldguy]

A theory: Gillette didn't switch from open comb (their original design) to safety bar for the purpose of improving the shave but in order to reduce manufacturing costs and to make the head stronger when they moved to thinner materials. The resulting "shavability" was considered adequate but wasn't really intended nor expected to be a functional improvement.

(putting on rock deflecting armor and hiding behind a tree)

+1 You're right on, Bob. When I want a really good shave I reach for an open comb Gillette. I used the Old Type Bulldog last night. Now that was a great shave.

Len

 

[VolpeVerde]

Gillette didn't switch from open comb (their original design) to safety bar for the purpose of improving the shave but in order to reduce manufacturing costs and to make the head stronger when they moved to thinner materials. The resulting "shavability" was considered adequate but wasn't really intended nor expected to be a functional improvement.

)

Ah! Something new has been learned. I love it!

 

[KenR]

When I won my Gillette open comb here two months ago it opened me up to whole new world. Bought a few more vintage ones on ebay since then. They give me my absolute best shaves.

 

[johnmrson]

Out of the Gillette's, the two best shaves I get are both from open combs, the 1930's Aristocrat and the early 1920's New Standard.

 

[Peto]

I really don't know why. But they seem to work for me too. Old Type, Tuckaway, they work really great. Tried Rocket HD yesterday and shave was smooth but nothing speciall, not even a DFS. It will go to BST soon .