Vintage Razors - Specific Years?

[TripleB]

I'm just starting my double edge safety razor journey, but have a question about vintage razors.

As I searched for double edge safety razors, some results popped up showing razors from the 40s, 50s, 60s, etc.

How do you know that a specific razor is from a specific year?

For instance, in the future, if I wanted to purchase a razor from the year I was born (1967), what markings on the razor would tell me that it's definitely from that year?

Again, I'm just now getting into wet shaving (after 40 years of electric) and haven't even purchased my first DESR (still deciding between Edward Jagger DE89, Muhle R89, and Merkur 34c), but in the future I thought I might like to collect some vintage razors from specific years.

Thank you for any and all help!

TripleB

 

[BigJ]

There are numerous helpful threads and websites. I especially appreciate Mr.Razor.

And if you are stumped, B&B members can usually answer most any questions!!

 

[KW Driver]

The wiki here will give a comprehensive year listing of quarterly manufacturing codes for Gillette razors. I’m not sure any other manufacturers are as trackable.

I primarily shave with straights, but started with DEs. I got aggressive DEs, Gem SE, then into straights. I kept my uncle’s Gillette New Long comb and picked up a Q3 ‘61 Gillette Tech, and those two I’ve kept and will still use. I can’t say I care about a birth year razor, but I will say I prefer a 3 piece razor over Superspeed/slim/fatboy head design that opens doors to load a blade because the head design is much thinner and maneuverable. And less complex parts that can fail. That’s simply a preference, and the others are also a time proven, popular design.

Your starter choices are solid and commendable. You’ll be hard pressed to go wrong with them. My preference is also for a solid metal, plated razor vs a pot metal plated razor for durability. If you don’t mind buying used, I think now that every DE shaver should have a Tech. They’re simple, clean and give a mild BBS shave, when paired with a sharp blade, I think any beard could be mowed efficiently.

As others have stated, pick one razor, stick with it, figure out which blades you like in that razor and get competent with it. Technique is 95% of a shave. Everything matters to get the best shave you can. Face prep, lather, razor/blade, and how you make them perform in your hand dictates the quality of a shave. It’s a new skillset you have to build, but it’s absolutely achievable.

I shower and wash my face with Castile soap, I build a lather from soap, mostly still tallow soaps, I apply good technique from years of practice with a razor. That’s what works for me. You’ll have to figure out yours. Try to limit variables as you learn. Change one thing at a time. Iterations build muscle memory.

And you don’t have to end up a collector. Many fall back onto a few things of each category once they learn their preferences. Lots of things changing up can lead to a longer learning period. Stick with one setup for a week then change something worked for me.

Enjoy the ride

 

[Wombat ESQ]

For instance, in the future, if I wanted to purchase a razor from the year I was born (1967), what markings on the razor would tell me that it's definitely from that year?

Gillette, M1 M2 M3 M4 are the markings that are a 1967 razor, the numbers are the Quarters eg:- 1 is jan feb march ... and so on.
Other brands can be dated by reference material to an approx date range, sometimes?

 

[Fordfather]

I'm just starting my double edge safety razor journey, but have a question about vintage razors.

As I searched for double edge safety razors, some results popped up showing razors from the 40s, 50s, 60s, etc.

How do you know that a specific razor is from a specific year?

For instance, in the future, if I wanted to purchase a razor from the year I was born (1967), what markings on the razor would tell me that it's definitely from that year?

Again, I'm just now getting into wet shaving (after 40 years of electric) and haven't even purchased my first DESR (still deciding between Edward Jagger DE89, Muhle R89, and Merkur 34c), but in the future I thought I might like to collect some vintage razors from specific years.

Thank you for any and all help!

TripleB

The Wiki is bomb-diggity

US Gillette Dating Information

This page documents what we know about Gillette safety razor serial numbers and date codes. Razors made in USA often left the factory with serial numbers or date codes, which can be used to establish their manufacturing dates. During certain periods so

www.badgerandblade.com