THE WORLD SHAVE OFF SHOWDOWN
Hello to all the members
Well here we go again! Another Shave Off Showdown only this one is a whole lot bigger than the Aristocrat Showdown I did a few months back. We call this one “ The World Shave Off Showdown “ and just like it’s title we’ve got a group of razors from around the world going for various titles and of course the ultimate world championship win.
This is an idea I had back when I was just about finished with the last Aristocrat Showdown Shave Off and all the positive feedback I was getting from members. I was a little hesitant to take on such a challenge knowing that this would be so much bigger than the last one and take much longer to complete. After much thought and consulting with some of the members on here that I call my friends I decided to do it. So we had to set some perimeters for this event, as there are literally thousands of razors out there and many of them could be in this Showdown based on their shaving capability’s but that would be a task that would probably take me a year to complete and we wanted to focus on just a certain group of razors both modern and vintage.
So far 2 members and myself have contributed all the razors for this Shave Off from our own personal collections. There are a couple of razors that we’d like to have included that none of us currently have in our dens. For example I sold my Timeless SS .68 OC as it wasn’t being used but we’d really like to have one for the shave off and all I’d need would be the baseplate as I have a SS .95 and could just change the baseplate.
Also before I go any further the 3 of us that includes @Shavemd aka Mark and
@loot aka James and myself Frank. Would like to say that we
want to express right from the start that if any member would like to add some input and ideas to this thread that might make this Shave Off even better we very much would welcome your comments as long as they are constructive. We’d like to keep the drama to a minimum and please no offensive or condescending remarks just because another member may have a different opinion than yours. Hey we all like a good debate but let’s try to keep this thread civil and drama free please!
We all had such a good time in the last shave off and I can’t begin to tell you how many members messaged me saying how much they enjoyed the thread as well as all those that expressed in the thread. So let’s go into this one with the same lighthearted friendly attitude and just have fun with it. We also encourage any member who knows and is willing to share the history of a razor we are using in the Shave Off with all the members that would be great and much appreciated. We’d also like to hear about your personal shave experiences with any of the razors that are being used but try to save them for the day that the one you want to comment on is actually in one of the legs of the Shave Off. This way we don’t get ahead of ourselves.
So this is what we’ve decided to do and of course we know that we aren’t going to please everyone as a lot of very good shaving razors have been left out of this World Shave Off Showdown.
There will be two categories involved in this Shave Off and they are as follows:
1. Only high-end modern razors, rare or hard to find vintage DE safety razors will be competing against each other in this category. This category will also be divided into 4 sub categories to make things fair.
a. Mildly efficient
b. Moderately efficient
c. Efficient
d. Very efficient
2. The Next category is much simpler as it includes both modern and rare or hard to find vintage adjustable and TTO razors. They will be all grouped together. We thought about separating the TTO’s from the adjustable razors but we could only think of two TTO razors that would be competing in this and both are very capable of holding their own against the Adjustable razors. Again if any of you can think of other razors that meet our criteria then please mention them or send the razor in before we get to deep in the Shave Off.
Also if you do decide to send a razor please create a slip with your screen and real name on it along with the model razor your sending in. If it’s in a case then just put the slip in the case if it’s not cased please wrap it and mark it. I will have a system to keep razors separated so when it’s time for one to go back to it’s owner it will be easy on all parties. Also if you are Shipping a razor to me for the Shave Off and they are rare or very expensive razors please put the right amount of insurance on it if anything should happen to it in it’s journey to me or on it’s way back to you and please we ask you pay for two way shipping with a return label included if you want your razor represented in the Shave Off. Also rest assured I have a case of OCD when it comes to taking care of my razors so I’ll do the same with anybody's razor that are sent in to me! I will take good care of it. If you have special instructions on how you want your razor cleaned up after a round of the Shave Off then please include it on your sheet you send in.
Again we had to set perimeters on what razors were going to be in the Shave Off and especially the modern ones. So we decided to only use modern High end razors or hard to find or rare vintage razors in this Shave Off. I think a lot of members including myself always wonder what does that razor shave like or wow that razor is stunning and I’d like to add one to my den but can’t find them etc etc. I know for many of us it may have taken us years to acquire your own personal “ Holy Grail “ razor I know it has for me. So this Shave off can at least give you some insight into what it’s like to shave with one of these modern high end or rare or hard to find vintage razors. I know I'm excited to shave with some of them. Each will have it's own story and I’m a sure members who know their history about the model of interest will educate us all.
To qualify: A modern razor has to sell for $150 and up. I know that some of your beloved razors like Rockwell’s, Karve , Mamba, Slims, Tech’s etc. etc. do not meet this price point or are not rare or hard to fins and did not make the list to be in the Shave Off but like I said we had to draw a line somewhere and there are so many threads about some of the razors I mentioned that hopefully you have lots of other resources to help you find out info on the particular razor that is not in this Shave OFF.
To qualify: A Vintage razor has to be either rare or very hard to find so price point is not as important in this category. So we welcome any additional Vintage razors that qualify that we don’t have on the list.
So here is the list of modern and vintage DE Razors that will be in the World Shave Off Showdown and the sub category that they will be placed in. NOTE: The razors we are missing or would like to have in the Shave Off are marked in blue. So please feel free to contact me if you’d like to send yours in and help us fill in the list. For reference again all the vintage razors listed are either rare or hard to find and if you think we are missing any very important razors please feel free to make suggestions.
1. Timeless Bronze OC – Efficient
2. Timeless Bronze SB – Mildly Efficient
3. Timeless SS .95 gap DC - Very Efficient
4. Timeless SS . 68 gap SB or OC – Mildly or Moderately efficient depending on OC or SB – Don’t have one!
5. Charcoal Goods Level 1 SS – Mildly efficient
6. Charcoal Goods Level 2 Brass – Efficient
7. Charcoal Goods Level 3 Brass OC – Very Efficient
8. Blackland Blackbird SS SB – Very Efficient.
9. Blackland Blackbird SS OC – Very Efficient.
10. Wolfman WR1 SS .68 DC – Mildly Efficient.
11. Wolfman WR1 SS .74 Ti - Moderately Efficient.
12. Wolfman WR1 SS .80 DC - Efficient
14. Wolfman WR1 SS .86 OC – Very Efficient
15. Wolfman WR1 SS .94 SB – Very Efficient - It may show up !
16. Paradigm 17 4 SB - Efficient
17. Paradigm Ti 1 – Very Efficient
18. Paradigm Ti 11 – Efficient – Don’t have one.
17. Gillette New Deluxe Big Boy Chromium – Efficient
18. Gillette RFB Chromium – Efficient –Don’t have one.
19. Muhle R41 2011 – Very Efficient.
20. ATT Copper H plate – Efficient
21. ATT SS R plate – Moderately Efficient – Don’t have one.
22. Darwin – SS any model DE - Don’t have one
23. Gibbs # 14 – Efficient
Below is the list of adjustable and TTO razors we have so far. There are others we’d like to add to the list but these are the razors we currently have and a short wish list of some we’d like to see in the Shave Off. If you have any suggestions on razors you’d like to see added or if you have one to lend to us for the Shave Off then please make a suggestion or pm me about why you think it should be in the Shave Off. Please remember we had to eliminate some good shaving razors off this list. For example commonly found favorites like Superspeeds and Slims were eliminated from the list so please understand we have to draw the line somewhere. So it’s either modern high end, vintage rare or hard to find razors that are eligible for this Shave Off and we apologize if your favorite razor is not included. I know I keep repeating this message but I just want everyone to understand and be clear on this.
1. Gillette Red dot Fatboy
2. Gillette Chrome Toggle
3. Gillette F4 Toggle
4. Gillette 1st Gen British Aristocrat OC #15
5. Gillette 2nd Gen British Aristocrat SB
6. Gillette Fatboy
7. Gillette President
8. Rex Ambassador
8. Gibbs #17 Adjustable
9. Apollo Ben Hur Adjustable
10. Apollo Mikron Adjustable - don’t have one
11. Vintage NOS Merkur Progress Solingen Adjustable
12. Rocnel Sailor Adjustable – don’t have
13 Eclipse Red Ring
I’ll be using various blades in different razors, as you all know some blades just don’t work in certain razors even though they work in others. I’ll also be using various soaps and creams so I can mix it up a bit and also give my opinion on the soap or cream I’m using that day. Brushes will also vary but I mostly use Badger and Boar.
Last but not least I’ve decided based on a lot of requests from members to use and include a “ How to do sheet “ and coordinating drawings I did showing the “ Skin Stretch Short Stroke Technique “ I use which was inspired by a technique I learned from an old Italian barber that was a master with a straight razor. I then modified the technique to use with safety razors and added a few things. I’ve found that using this technique I’ve been able to not only cut down the number of passes to lets say get a BBS, DFS or CCS but I’ve been able to tame some very efficient razors that many would call or use the term “ Very Aggressive” I welcome any comments on the technique and hope you enjoy my labor of love. I’m glad to help anyone who needs help if you have an interest in learning what I will refer to moving on as my SSSST. I'm here to answer a simple question or if any of you would like me to send you a copy of the Tech sheet and drawings sent to them I'm glad to oblige . Just please be patient as I still work almost every day so mu response time is not always immediate so it may take me a day or two to get it to you.
Also I have categorized BBS shaves which I will be using do describe the shave I get from each razor and each Shave Off and for some members I know they don’t agree on the number system I use which is a BBS level 1, BBS Level 2 and the elusive BBS level 3. For some I know you’d rather it be about how long the BBS shave lasts. For example a 8hr, 10hr or 12hr etc. which I get an also agree on but for me I’ve like many have had all those multiple hour long BBS shaves but if I do a cotton test after a shave I can be more accurate in my description of the results of the Shave OFF immediately after the Shave Off that day rather than have to wait however many hours later. For example hand feel alone does not always reveal what level BBS shave is achieved where as the cotton test doesn’t lie. I have done the test so many times that I can now usually tell by hand feel only what level I've achieved because I’ve become super sensitive to each level but to be clear it took a few years and a lot of shaves to get there.
Also Mark, James and myself would like to thank you all for reading this World Shave Off thread and again we welcome all your comments and suggestions. I’d like to get all the razors that will be used in the Shave Off at least on this list by the end of the week as I’ll begin the actual Shave Off on either Sunday or on Monday and I’m going to try and do a new one every 2 to 3 days max as I’d like to have a decent amount of beard growth for each Shave Off.
So to conclude we will wait for your comments and suggestions!
Great shaves!
Frank
Mark
James
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