What, exactly, is the point of the open comb?

[kingfisher]

I recently came upon a beautiful gold NEW. I cleaned it up with dish soap but have not yet tried it. My usual shaver is a Slim, and I have never tried an open comb razor before.

I'm not sure I understand why these razors were made with the open comb design, and I'm not sure I get how the shave will be different from that of a razor with a regular safety bar.

Can somebody please explain it to me? Thanks.

 

[ScYcS]

Open comb leaves more shaving cream/soap in contact with the blade.

A safety bar pushes the product out of the way before the blade reaches the hair. The open comb leaves product behind and the blade removes the product when cutting the hair.

 

[nole1]

So is there any real advantage to one over the other or is it merely personal preference?

 

[amishmotorboat]

IMO, if you take two razors with identical blade angles, gaps, heft, etc. - and the only difference is that one is open comb and one has a safety bar, the open comb will maintain it's aggressiveness through each stroke, while the safety bar may clog up and stop cutting.

 

[cooncatbob]

The opened comb is the older design, so your question might be
"What's the advantage of the safety bar razor"
I believe the safety bar is cheaper to produce, hence the Tech was the successor to the NEW and was produced for over 40 years.

 

[MikekiM]

It would seem to me that by virtue of the OC's nature to leave product on the skin, which would be there to cushion the blade as it passes, that the OC would be a less aggressive shave. If there is more product on the skin, isn't there more floating action as the blade passes by?

 

[Brownbear]

Closer, smoother shave. The blade is in more intimate contact with the skin IMHO and the lather that makes it through the comb helps keep the strokes lubricated. Once I tried an open comb I put all my bar razors in the drawer.

Also for me, the fact that there is no bar to wipe the lather away helps with my final finishing technique, which is a skin pull with an across the grain swipe. To get a couple problem areas around my mouth I have to stretch the skin to raise the grain. I can't get a grip on my skin with a full layer of lather there, but doing it without any lather leaves me a bit raw. There is just enough residual soap with an open comb that my stretching hand can get enough friction on my cheek to stretch the skin taught, but there is enough lubrication to make a nice clean pass without too much friction.

Plus I like the sound the blade makes on an open comb, which reminds me of the sound my barber made with the straight he used to shave around my ears and the back of my neck after a haircut. Kind of a resonant snicking sound I associate with a close, clean shave.

 

[kingfisher]

Good question, Mike.

It also seems like some of the safety bar razors have a larger blade gap.

so I guess I don't really understand why the open comb razor would be more aggressive.

And I wonder if there's any difference in the technique required when shaving with an OC compared with a razor with a safety bar?

 

[Luc]

Good question, Mike.

It also seems like some of the safety bar razors have a larger blade gap.

so I guess I don't really understand why the open comb razor would be more aggressive.

And I wonder if there's any difference in the technique required when shaving with an OC compared with a razor with a safety bar?

eh... No.

Open Comb is a different model of DE razor, the comb doesn't make it aggressive or not.

There are mild open comb and aggressive open comb (some in the middle too).

Different technique to use it? No, you need the same angle than a close bar and shave away! If your angle is off, you will see teeth marks in the lather.

 

[BBrad]

I have often wondered since most men did not shave daily prior to WWI if the early safety razors had open combs to accommodate the heavier facial growth?

I haven't missed a day shaving in years . . . but would imagine that a two or three day growth would quickly clog a bar razor, while the open comb would handle it better.

Yes? No?

 

[Luc]

I have often wondered since most men did not shave daily prior to WWI if the early safety razors had open combs to accommodate the heavier facial growth?

I haven't missed a day shaving in years . . . but would imagine that a two or three day growth would quickly clog a bar razor, while the open comb would handle it better.

Yes? No?

I wouldn't think the open comb would clog much as you don't really have any restrictions between the safety guard and the blade like a closed comb.

 

[Danuhoh]

open comb doesn't do anything other than maybe allow longer hairs to be caught or by it's design allow more lubrication. Nothing to do with aggressiveness; which is generally determined by blade gap.

 

[Go West Young Man]

I honestly think the open comb was a variation in design, not function. It's pretty well understood that open combs were phased out due to their tendency to break or bend, as well as being more expensive to manufacture than a single closed bar.

I can't feel any difference between open and closed comb shaves - the blade gap and head geometry make a much bigger difference to the experience.

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

eh... No.

Open Comb is a different model of DE razor, the comb doesn't make it aggressive or not.

There are mild open comb and aggressive open comb (some in the middle too).

Different technique to use it? No, you need the same angle than a close bar and shave away! If your angle is off, you will see teeth marks in the lather.

I only know I like them better than bar guards. And I get a better shave out of them. The only serious competition for me is the Feather ASR. That bar guard thing shaves almost as smooth as an open comb . But not as close.

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

I honestly think the open comb was a variation in design, not function.

It was the original design, afaik. Bar guard is a variation.

 

[papi]

The open comb gillette in 1904 was 100 years ahead of its day. This is the way it was designed. Simple, easy, effective and yet still eloquent. Can a Model A automobile keep up with a 2010 Ford, no way. A 1905 open comb can keep up with any new razor made at any price. Mr gillette was a very smart man. The open comb is just a simple and yet effective way to make a razor. You can not improve on it, you could only try. The only other man IMO who did the same as far as simplicity and yet effectiveness, along with ease of manufacturing is Leo Fender, with his electric guitar. You cant improve either one. Companys could keep trying, but its just an attempt. Your question is like saying why is a Fender strato caster shaped the way it is. It simply just is and you cant make it better.

 

[Brownbear]

"The open comb gillette in 1904 was 100 years ahead of its day. This is the way it was designed. Simple, easy, effective and yet still eloquent. Can a Model A automobile keep up with a 2010 Ford, no way. A 1905 open comb can keep up with any new razor made at any price."

Very well put. I tell people who comment on my "old" razor that mankind figured out how to shave properly a hundred years ago and nothing since has improved it one little bit.

 

[wbw0126]

The bar was simply Gillette's new design/ modern technology they constantly updated to sell sell sell.

I find that it just gets in the way and clogs on all razors except for the Fatboy because the Fatboy can click up to 9 for maximum aggression. I have thick stubble, and find that the open comb is the best way to go if you have >1 day of growth.