Which Blade Do I Use For My First Shave With My Newly Restored Empire Razor?

Voting ends at 7am PST tomorrow morning!

The beard lines have been drawn! The soap will be sudsy! Choose wisely!

 

Sorry about not having any Gillette Yellow SharpEdge as I used the last one last week in my 1907 Gold Old Type and just didn't have time to obtain another pack so quickly.

 

7 0c black

 

I use that one in my 60's vintage Superspeed Red Tip Razor that is in the P&G Old Spice kit. Interesting blade pick.

 

I really enjoy the 7 o'clock blacks. It's a nice balance of sharp and smooth. My second choice would be the GSB. I have never used the Gillette Platinums.

Beautiful razor btw.

 

Let's see, Gillette old style, ones I've used in your list.
Lab Blue - works fine, can seem aggressive.
Voskhod - sharp, efficient and smoother than Lab Blue.
Rapira - good choice overall.
Astra SP - I'd start with this. If you need more aggressive, move up this list.
All just my opinion from what I use.

 

Yeah, this one is destined to be my favorite razor. I knew I wanted a restored and re-plated Antique Gillette ABC Razor from the moment I laid eyes on pictures of them from classic shaving sets a year ago. It took a long time to source two sets that had enough restorable parts to make a viable perfect-restoration. I can't say the entire razor and case comes from a single set and is a Franken-Rrazor from two different Empire sets (but still same model).

It's getting almost impossible now to find a fully in-tact and restoreable Gillette ABC Antique set that is all from the same original purchased set. I had to settle for this option. The parts are all from an Empire Razor model, but from two different sets merged.

Perhaps it's for the best that I didn't obtain a single in-tact set in perfect condition because that should be sitting in a protective case, untouched to preserve it. I'm actually 'using' the razor, so this frankenset is, IMO, the proper type to restore, re-plate and use because it's not a fully in-tact set in danger on a sink. I feel less selfish knowing I have a set that was salvaged from two irrepairable sets and will live on to be treasured and used by a someone who appreciates it instead of rusting in a trash heap or in a closet until it is someday thrown out.

I still feel like this is a beautiful piece of history and it's gorgeous eye candy sink decor.

 

that razor is a treasure, congrats! jealous here...

 

I am right there with you regarding the restoration. I always like the ABC razors, but the old type that I always wanted was the bell tubed Aristocrat in the French Ivory case. I never ran into one that I wanted spend the asking prices and now use a nickel plated one with a Bob's Razor Works Improved handle.

 

That's a good looking razor. I voted for Personna. An American made razor needs an American made blade. Personna are also the best combination of smooth and sharp in my opinion.

 

I voted Personna, too. Be sure to ride the cap with that bad boy. What a beauty!

You know, what really works best in those Old Types is a curved Wade & Butcher blade. It is thick and curved and tames the aggressiveness of the OTs.

The Wade & Butcher blades look like original Gillette three hole blades except that they are curved.








Fit all safety razors in which the blade has to be curved. The blades you have been waiting for -- for your razor. Highest grade steel -- three times as thick -- assuring durability, temper, hardness and keenness. Curved -- They won't crack when clamped.

 

Even the packaging looks old school. Those blades look like they could be stropped to keep them sharp and be reused. I wouldn't try to do that since they are curved though, but they look robust.

 

They are great shavers. I put one in my Old Type and it made a very smooth shaver.

 

Thanks! I actually feel grateful to even be able to have this razor after a year of wanting one. I didn't think I would be able to make it happen because they are so difficult to find intact and restorable. And I somehow convinced Razor Emporium to restore the purple interior felt when they initially seemed to resist agreeing to it. They had to order the felt. Again, if not for being such a persistent 'pest', I don't think this would have ever happened.

 

Hey, I did a search and can't find where to buy the Wade & Butcher blades. Are these no longer sold?

 

Voskhod, the pride of the Rodina!
Urrrah!

 

I would say you couldn't go wrong with any of them, except perhaps for the Feather or the Derby Extra - the extreme ends of the sharpness spectrum. My personal pick would be either Voskhod or PolSilver, mainly because I'm familiar with them and have never used half the others.

 

You guys are really stretching this poll out with some variety. I figured the Gillette blades would get a lot more love by now. But it's early in this race. Many more can speak on the east coast in the morning before the deadline which gives me time for a larger sampling. I'm thankful this time around for having Pacific Time.

 

Very nice