So today I thought I'd do a traditional 3 pass shave going WTG, XTG and ATG using long to medium strokes and applying very little to no pressure just to see how the two compare to each other in this type of shave.
So on the advice of a member I used Polsilver blades in both razors and to be honest it's the first time using them for me. I ordered them since I read a lot of threads were members really like them. Normally I'd use a Kai, Feather or Astra SP in my DE razors so new territory here.
Soap - SV Fern
Brush - RR Monster
Blade - Polsilver
Bowl - Dirtybird
AS - Acqua Di Parma
So gave the OC the task of shaving the right side of my face with the nasty cowlick on my neck assuming the OC is a little more efficient and the SB on the other side.
Lathered up and nice thick yogurt lather and BTW love the Saponificio Varesino Fern soap not only the way it lathers and provides a nice glide but man it smells really fresh. Like the ADP aftershave as well and got it for a great price on Jet.com. So anyway loaded the blades and went at it.
Pass 1 WTG - I started with the #47 on my left side and noticed it was very smooth and felt mild but I was getting a nice audible feedback from it so I thought it sounds like it's taking down my 2 day growth which it did very nicely as I found out at the end of the pass. I think I like these Polsilver blades but I'm thinking I'd have to do a side by side with a Kai or Feather to really judge. Anyway time for the OC #36 and another smoother shaver that sang back at me as I moved across my face and neck. Nice 1st pass and after rinsing I felt my face and it was very close with the OC side leaving a little less hair and especially on my neck where it was noticeably closer by a bit.
Pass 2 XTG - So nose to ear I began this pass with the #36 and it didn't disappoint great feedback and yet so smooth. Same with the 47 on the other side. What great shavers these two are and a lot nicer than a lot of modern razors I have in my den. Gillette nailed it with the Aristocrat IMO and this pass left me with a solid DFS at the end. Again the OC seemed to leave just a little less hair but we are definitely splitting hairs here as it was very close to being the same.
Pass 3 ATG - Ok I have to say I've not been shaving ATG for a while now as I've had some issue going on just on one side of my face with red bumps and I'm going to see a dermatologist in the next week so I can find out what it is. I don't think it's ingrown hair as I have none on the other side. Anyway I decided to go ATG for this comparison to see what happens which one gets me closest. 47 started and finished by smoothly wiping away any stubble that was left. Same with the #36 I was left with a BBS shave and for those of you that know me that wasn't the proof I needed so out came the cotton to test which one got me the closest longer lasting BBS shave or what I've referred to as a Level 1,2 or 3 BBS shave. Well the cotton doesn't lie and after doing the test the 47 got me a BBS level 1 and the OC got me to a BBS level 2. Feeling it by hand you'd probably not know the difference and the only thing you'd notice is one sides growth would start to show up a little sooner than the other side.
None the less outstanding shave out of both razors! Did a warm rinse. Then cold and my new thing after a alum pass I rinse again and then take an ice cube out of the freezer ( only takes a second ) and use it like an alum bar. It feels amazing so try it sometime. I let my face dry naturally and then came back and used my Aftershave and I was like wow what a nice shave form start to finish. No weepers and no irritation and a BBS shave to boot so in my books it doesn't get much better than that.
As i was cleaning up things I thought to myself, I'd love to know who first purchased these 2 razors way back when they were new and how long did that person have it for and what they thought of how it shaves. One thing I love about vintage razors that modern razors lack at this time is history and I'm sure a lot of stories but then again I thought we are making that history now with some of the new modern razors and one day someone will be posting on a thread like this one talking about what a great shaver that razor is just like I just did on this thread.
Conclusion is Aristocrats in my book are awesome razors and I"m so glad Gillette made them. I'm curious to see what the Brit OC vs the US OC would be like in a shave comparison which I will do and maybe update this thread.
Great shaves my friends!
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