S. Doll Simple Razor

So I was waiting in line at Mekong Rainier in Seattle and saw a box of these right before the 1st checkstand, next to the ear spoons and the like.

Jesus! The shoddiness of this thing defies belief - a piece of pressed tin and a large carbon half DE blade. I refuse to believe this thing is made in Japan in spite of what it says. If anyone can help me out with the Kanji on the back, I would be interested. This "Simple Razor" is simply terrifying - qualitywise it makes the Ali Biyikli look like a gold-washed Solingen. Safetywise, it makes the Ali seem like a Gillette Tech - check the edge-on pic and feel your sack contract...

So I stropped the hell out of it in my jeans and did a WTG with the Doll, nice and easy, and to my surprise it worked pretty well, and no nicks, weepers or burn. Not bad for $1.50, performancewise.

If any of you are man enough to attempt a complete shave with one of these, I want to hear about it!

Derby

Many HATE them, but I happen to really like Derby blades, a great all-around bargain performer. They do well on my face with every DE razor I have tried them in:
Gillette Old Type
Gibbs OC Old Type knockoff
Flare Tip Super Speed
Slim Adjustable
Lord L6 Premium
Yuma

They also do VERY well in some of the pre-micromatic SE razors, using the half DE blade mod.
I do have one gripe with the full sized ones, though - the packaging - 20 stupid little plastic boxes per 100 blades. At least for the "profesyonel" half blades, the packaging is minimal, recyclable, and/or compostable. Why don't they do 100s of the full sized blades? My guess is that the plastic is locally produced recycled refuse, and probably cheaper than dirt, but if they dropped it they would have to use a hell of a lot less cardboard...

Maybe if enough enthusiasts contact them at derby@azmusebat.com we could get them to change their pollutin' ways.

SOTD - WIN!

If you know me, you'll know that I like to mix it up a bit, and today was no exception. I wanted to take the E-R 1924 for a spin, but I didn't feel like stropping one of the vintage blades - "Tony"s half DE blade gizmo was calling, already loaded with a half Zorrik (1). Somehow, the dimensions of this particular blade holder fit perfectly in the 1924 (I have made a number of them and sadly no two are exactly alike. The shave was great, I love the 1924 head - it really gets to work! The Zorrik worked better than any available SE blade I have tried in the razor, with the added benefit of making a LOUD razor even LOUDER. That's what always bummed me out about the Gillette TTOs - the lack of adequate audible feedback. The one drawback to this particular 1924 is that it is from a travel kit so the handle is a bit short and crampy for my taste. SHAVE#3, half Zorrik - 1924 shovelhead with 1912 ornate/rope handle (it screwed right on). Thanks to the superior GEM handle, the Zorrik/shovelhead combo was superb. Incredibly close, loud, blood and trouble free! It has a reputation as a 'mild'/shitty blade, but I've liked them in everything I've put them in.

I'm going to repeat it in case anybody missed it all the other times - but the DE blade holder gimmick is so much more than a 'make-do'. It permits you to combine the superior engineering of some of the old ASR SE razors and the superior SHARPNESS, CHEAPNESS, and CONVENIENCE of readily available DE blades. I've had great shaves with modern carbon SE blades, but it took work to get them really sharp. I like using the old vintage SE blades, but those are even more of a hassle. 6 Badass shaves from one Zorrik is nothing I would try in a DE razor, but as I said, the pre-Micromatic ASR razors are simply more efficient than any Gillette DE product and you can really see it for yourself when you get a sharp blade in one! I've tried half a Feather and am now working on a Shark SS - incredible!

SOTD x 3

So I ordered some shit from Amazon, but was $5 below the threshold for 'free shipping'. I thought long and hard and settled on the 'big' tube of PRORASO. That's some 'cool' shit right there. A little more money than I'd like to spend, but very high performance - very happy to have it in the rotation.

For the last 3 shaves, I have used the 1912 with one of the 'presnapped' Derby Profesyonel half DE blades. It's pretty crazy but I find I can get 4 great shaves from a whole Derby in a DE razor - and 4 per half Derby in the 1912. Do the math on that! It's a testament to the engineering of the 1912 and the ingenuity of "Tony" who created the blade holder. Haters take note that just about any half DE blade is going to perform better in the 1912 than any of the commercially available SE blades, for the simple reason that a DE blade is actually SHARP. Just try it!

What will 'they' think of next?

"CARZOR"
Another for the "WTF?" file:
Gotta love the picture of the asshole shaving with this thing in the men's room at the office, minutes before the 'big meeting' - cream? soap? This stud is not even using WATER. Notice also the pressure being applied, visible flexing of the cartridge itself. Wow. For $12 there is shall we say a WORLD of superior choices. If you're this desperate, just keep one of those little AA electrics in the car and buzz away at red lights on the way in to work.

Permasharps Rock!

My last order from bestshave.net contained a couple of freebies, a pack of 5 Zorriks and a single Permasharp (Russian). I really do need to talk to him about some better kickbacks, what with the traffic/buyers I've sent his way, but DAMN! The Permasharp is still going strong with 5 shaves on it, its last 2 in the Slim at 7. I first put it in the Yuma and yes, the blade deserves its name. I got cut a couple of times and I thought "whoah - how'd that happen?" I'm loving it in the Slim, the blade is still delivering sharp/smooth/effortless/brainless shaves in a most pleasantly surprising way. I typically pitch blades after 4, but I bet I get a couple more yet out of the Permasharp...

Well it's done 7 now - performing like a fresh Derby which is insane - not really showing much sign of slowing down!

Blades, Schmades REDUX

Well I appealed to the B&B community for one Feather blade, just to see if it's as badass as they say. Let's just say that a kind enabler sent the following blades, on his own righteous dime:

When you unwrap it, it's true, the Feather LOOKS better than any other blade. Just looking at it, you can see the quality. But that means little when a blade that 'looks' like total shit, such as the "Bleue Extra" totally delivers on all the points that count - sharpness/smoothness/longevity/price. Throwing caution to the wind, I put a new Feather in a Yuma and tried it this morning.

It was no more scary than with the same razor and a (Russian) Permasharp. Is it sharp? Hell yes, but if you know how to drive it doesn't matter. I'm curious about how long they last - they don't have a good reputation for longevity and the Permasharp of which I speak has so far has 5 badass shaves to its name.

Traded out the PS (5) in the Slim with the Feather (1), set at 7 which I've been liking, and as expected #2 on the Feather was quite nice, sharp and smooth. Shave 3 on the Feather was in the 40s Super Speed - very nice. #4 will be back in the Slim, opened up a notch just for fun.