Your favorite open comb razor

[Cal]

I'm in the mood to buy a new razor.

✔

I like how OC razors look.

✔

Are OC razors as good or better than straight bar razors?

Some are. Some aren't.

What OC razors I should consider?

IMO the best designed OC razor is the Fatip Originale. Fatip's QC isn't the best in the world but they do make good, inexpensive, all brass razors.

Here's my excellent Fatip GT (with the rest of the team on a SOTD display):

It's called the GT as that's the handle's name. It's a custom lightweight handle that my friend, B&B member Doug (@Rosseforp), made for me. All Fatips have M4.5 x 0.75mm threads. "Normal" currently produced DE razors have M5 x 0.8mm threads.

Fatips are different but they have many fanboys, and I'm one of them.

 

[Neilzebub]

Beautiful pic and razor. The wabbit is still my favourite though

 

[Merle]

I'm in the mood to buy a new razor. I like how OC razors look. Are OC razors as good or better than straight bar razors? What OC razors I should consider?

in my beginning, it was a Muhle R41. a bit later an iCON seemed just perfect. but, then the Artist club with a DX handle came along and I really found out what 'open comb' was about... Since then? I like my Timeless better than the bronze ATT I own, but I can't say if the stainless is better than titanium: cause I've forgotten to try the Ti. Thanks! let you know!

 

[Rosseforp]

I'm in the mood to buy a new razor. I like how OC razors look. Are OC razors as good or better than straight bar razors? What OC razors I should consider?

My favorite OC razor would have to be my Fatip Mk1 with the first GT Handle

 

[Neilzebub]

My favorite OC razor would have to be my Fatip Mk1 with the first GT Handle

I can't remember, how many times have I said that's gorgeous work now

 

[shave/brush]

My favorite is a Gillette NEW. It shaves very smoothly.

 

[Kyle89]

Lately I’ve been grabbing my Wade and Butcher open comb as my DE of choice. It’s an old type dupe that takes proprietary blades, but using an original old type top cap allows you to use any blade. Later on if I remember I’ll dig up some photos I took. Excellent shaves, and decent heft to boot.

 

[dreadpirate]

My favorite open comb is this Franken razor that's gold-plated. New razor head and Tech handle I think - actually have forgotten.

 

[wibbleandstrop23]

Fatip open comb slant for me. An inexpensive all rounder.

 

[Badger in the Sun]

Gillette RFB. It's the only thing I've used in recent years except for a few brief dalliances with other razors that serve to remind me of the greatness of this classic British razor.

 

[Benzadmiral]

I only have 2, and like them both: the Fatip Open Comb Slant, and a Gillette NEW from the Thirties replated in rhodium.

 

[timetofly]

My favorite is a Gillette NEW. It shaves very smoothly.

View attachment 1313048View attachment 1313049

^^^^This one!!^^^

 

[jasonco]

Fatip Grande OC
Fatip Grande Mk1 OC
Fatip Slant OC

 

[BubblesUK]

IMO the best designed OC razor is the Fatip Originale. Fatip's QC isn't the best in the world but they do make good, inexpensive, all brass razors.

Ahhh I'm tempted to disagree slightly...

The Fatip does shave great and it's very good value for all brass, but blade alignment is a bit of a design flaw, especially when Gillette showed how easily it could be done a good 90 years ago with the New types.

Still, best value Open comb? Almost certainly.
I'd rather pay more (or buy used) to not have to fiddle with blade alignment, but Fatip's definitely hard to beat for the money.

 

[cyberdog]

Wow, that's a tough one.

If I'm going for the easiest to use, while giving a close shave, it would be my Gillette New SC. Not the prettiest with really no gold left on it, and one day, I'm going to try plating it in Nickel.

Looks wise, but potentially more likely to leave weepers if you forget and apply pressure, is the Timeless 95 OC in polished SS.

For a challenge, I pull out the $5.00 R41 Clone, which shaves closer than ANY other razor, but with loads of blade feel.

On the SE side, my MMOC, which is as close as the R41 Clone or Timeless 95 OC, but easy to shave with.

 

[Cal]

IMO the best designed OC razor is the Fatip Originale. Fatip's QC isn't the best in the world but they do make good, inexpensive, all brass razors.

Ahhh I'm tempted to disagree slightly...

The Fatip does shave great and it's very good value for all brass, but blade alignment is a bit of a design flaw, especially when Gillette showed how easily it could be done a good 90 years ago with the New types.

Still, best value Open comb? Almost certainly.
I'd rather pay more (or buy used) to not have to fiddle with blade alignment, but Fatip's definitely hard to beat for the money.

You picked me up wrong Bubbles (my fault for not being explicit).

I was referring to the overall head design (in particular the teeth, the shape of them, and the waste drainage), not the blade clamping system.

 

[BubblesUK]

You picked me up wrong Bubbles (my fault for not being explicit).

I was referring to the overall head design (in particular the teeth, the shape of them, and the waste drainage), not the blade clamping system.

Sure, I'd just consider blade alignment a part of a "perfect head design" - I prefer to loosen off after shaving anyway to let it drain, so that's an every day/shave irritation for me.

Don't get me wrong, the Fatip shaves as well as pretty much everything, but if a New SC shaves at least it's equal (and IMHO it does) and that aligns perfectly every time then I'm going to pick up the SC much more often than the Fatip (and I do).


I actually quite like a certain Frankenrazor setup that uses the Fatip topcap... I call it the "Fat Old Coq" - Fatip topcap, Old type baseplate and a Le Coq handle, shaves superbly and the Fatip cap pins only just fit the Old type baseplate so alignment is a doddle.

 

[Cafebarian]

Ahhh I'm tempted to disagree slightly...

The Fatip does shave great and it's very good value for all brass, but blade alignment is a bit of a design flaw, especially when Gillette showed how easily it could be done a good 90 years ago with the New types.

Still, best value Open comb? Almost certainly.
I'd rather pay more (or buy used) to not have to fiddle with blade alignment, but Fatip's definitely hard to beat for the money.

The design flaw makes the Fatip have a certain vintage charm. like buying a vintage razor only you know the teeth are straight and the threading is okay.

 

[BubblesUK]

The design flaw makes the Fatip have a certain vintage charm. like buying a vintage razor only you know the teeth are straight and the threading is okay.

Depends how vintage...

The New types can potentially be 90 years old at this point, and they don't have that flaw.

I get that it has a certain charm for some people and I've got absolutely no problem with anyone deciding the shave is good enough to accept that compromise... It's still a design flaw in my book, though.

 

[Cafebarian]

Depends how vintage...

The New types can potentially be 90 years old at this point, and they don't have that flaw.

I get that it has a certain charm for some people and I've got absolutely no problem with anyone deciding the shave is good enough to accept that compromise... It's still a design flaw in my book, though.

I will agree with your views but you have too admit, seeing those gorgeous posts coming out of the baseplate looks fantastic!