SE Razors - No Blade Selection?

[BROWNS]

I have never shaved with an SE razor, but have been kicking around the idea of picking up an inexpensive Gem to give it a whirl. Maybe it's because SE razors are not readily available new (or even produced anymore?), but I've noticed that there's essentially no replacement blades that I can find, other than Gems. Is there another reason that SE razor blades aren't nearly as readily available as DE blades? Or maybe I'm just not looking in the right places?

Also, are there any real differences between the hardware single edge razors and those intended for shaving? I do get "single edge razor blades" results in searches, nearly all of which forward to hardware or craft websites.

Apologies if this subject has been discussed here ten-fold, I did a search and didn't come up with much.

 

[82R100]

Gem format razors never achieved quite the following that Gillette's double edge format did, and the razors (which were overwhelmingly produced by American Safety Razor) went out of production around 40 years ago.

The available blade sources are as follows:

- Personna Gem Super Stainless (available at Walgreens, primarily)

- Treet carbon steel (Rite Aid?)

- Blue Star carbon steel

- Personna PTFE coated stainless industrial blades which are avaiable through Ted Pella, EMS or Amazon.

The two Personna options seem to be the best bets. The carbon steel blades seem to work for some people but, honestly, aren't much cheaper than the coated stainless blades. The Amazon Personna's offer the greatest range of choices for blade quantities.

- Chris

 

[DunEdinRanger]

The Blue Stars rust easily, at least in my experience.

 

[PaulX608]

My nearby Bloom grocery store carries PAL carbon steel blades which gave me decent results. I'm currently buying SE blades at Wegeman's. They have some no name stainless blades that state that they're made in Korea. I really like them.

 

[John C]

I just use the GEM/Personnas from the local Walgreens and the world is a lovely place.
That's one of the nice thing about SEs. You don't have to spend a ton of time trying to figure out which blade works the best for you. There are only two or three choices and you're ready for one of the nicest shave you can get.

When looking to get a GEM to start with try to find one of the 1912 varieties, followed by either a featherweight, bullet, or clogpruf. The micomatic open comb is a *wonderful* shave, but it's the most agressive of the lot as far as GEMs go, and not what i would suggest as a first SE razor. Second maybe......

 

[BROWNS]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I will say after the ordeal of sifting through countless DE blades, I'm almost looking forward to only having two or three options

 

[amishmotorboat]

and the razors (which were overwhelmingly produced by American Safety Razor) went out of production around 40 years ago.

I am almost certain that I spotted some brand spankin' new single edge razors on eBay recently.

 

[spinyeel]

and the razors (which were overwhelmingly produced by American Safety Razor) went out of production around 40 years ago.

I am almost certain that I spotted some brand spankin' new single edge razors on eBay recently.

I purchased one of those new "S/E" Razors.They use a D/E blade and are very poorly manufactured somewhere in Asia.It's the only razor I refuse to shave with.