A few years back after returning to wet shaving, the second or third razor I bought was a SA/BB, don't recall the date code, but want to say it was a '78 something. I found it rough compared to my Parker 86R, it cleared the whiskers, but my face wasn't happy during or after the shave. I only had some Astra SP blades, then tried a gifted Voskhod, Rapira, and actually bought some Feathers, same result. Although I probably over-paid for it, I ultimately sold it, luckily for around what it cost me.
Well, I can be stubborn, and when I noticed another SA/BB on eBay maybe 6-8 months ago for with only a single bid, I sniped it at around $15.00 or so. This one seemed better, but that might have been my ability to apply very little pressure, but still didn't find it 'smooth'. I tried several different blades, but nothing seemed to smooth out this one either, so in the drawer it went. This past week I've been revisiting the unused razors, and stumbled across a sleeve of KAI blades, and that baby did wonders in the Old Type, which I just didn't find particularly efficient. Then recalling that 'Big John' (Mad-Scientist of Wet Shaving) mentioning his experience with a SA/BB, and how the KAI was night and day different, moved that blade into the SA for the morning shave.
I've never noticed that big a difference in any other razor, but the KAI seriously transformed the SA/BB from a 'maybe next time' razor, to a damn that was a great shave experience. Now I find the KAI sharp, not quite Feather, but darn close. It's also smoother than the Feather, but not Voskhod or Nacet smooth. It's also a big larger (wider cutting edge to cutting edge) than most other blades, which should make the razor feel more aggressive, but not in the SA/BB, it smoothes it very nicely. I did try following Big John's setting of 3/4, but 3 was so mild I wasn't sure if was removing anything, do dialed up to 5, perfect, blade feel but smooth, and as close a first pass as any open comb I've used. - About on par with my Rockwell, which is my go-to razor, on maybe plate 5-6.
For anyone having trouble with the SA/BB, and I now there have been others, I would urge them to try a KAI blade to see if it solves the nature of this little beast. The experience has probably taken it from a maybe clear it out, to making it a keeper for me.
Well, I can be stubborn, and when I noticed another SA/BB on eBay maybe 6-8 months ago for with only a single bid, I sniped it at around $15.00 or so. This one seemed better, but that might have been my ability to apply very little pressure, but still didn't find it 'smooth'. I tried several different blades, but nothing seemed to smooth out this one either, so in the drawer it went. This past week I've been revisiting the unused razors, and stumbled across a sleeve of KAI blades, and that baby did wonders in the Old Type, which I just didn't find particularly efficient. Then recalling that 'Big John' (Mad-Scientist of Wet Shaving) mentioning his experience with a SA/BB, and how the KAI was night and day different, moved that blade into the SA for the morning shave.
I've never noticed that big a difference in any other razor, but the KAI seriously transformed the SA/BB from a 'maybe next time' razor, to a damn that was a great shave experience. Now I find the KAI sharp, not quite Feather, but darn close. It's also smoother than the Feather, but not Voskhod or Nacet smooth. It's also a big larger (wider cutting edge to cutting edge) than most other blades, which should make the razor feel more aggressive, but not in the SA/BB, it smoothes it very nicely. I did try following Big John's setting of 3/4, but 3 was so mild I wasn't sure if was removing anything, do dialed up to 5, perfect, blade feel but smooth, and as close a first pass as any open comb I've used. - About on par with my Rockwell, which is my go-to razor, on maybe plate 5-6.
For anyone having trouble with the SA/BB, and I now there have been others, I would urge them to try a KAI blade to see if it solves the nature of this little beast. The experience has probably taken it from a maybe clear it out, to making it a keeper for me.
Last edited:
