Wonderful picture, Jim!

Thanks, Jim!

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

October 12, 2018

Razor: Gillette New Deluxe
Blade: Astra SP (1)
Brush: Razorock Plissoft 22
Soap: Williams
Post: Alum, Listerine, WH

Back again with another run at the New Deluxe. I swapped the Tuckaway handle for a Common Bar, hoping for more control. I also changed to an Astra SP, another St. Pete blade but usually milder on my face. As I shaved, I repeated the mantras of the 30DC: "Go slow, no pressure" and "Ride the cap".

The result was a very close shave. I'd like to say that there were no issues, but I did reopen two of Wednesday's wounds, one of which required the styptic again.

The New Deluxe is definitely an interesting razor and I will be keeping it as my take from the pass around. So far, I'm finding the angle to be a bit tricky to maintain and the teeth of the OC to be a bit pointy when I lose the angle. The face feel reminds me a lot of when I shave with a Gem. I need to come back to this one later for focus.

It’s October 12th and I finally decided to get in an OCtober shave. It was a very nice two pass shave.

Cella Shave Soap
B-400 Brush by Tom
Gillette Old Style Razor
Gillette Silver Blue Blade
Lucky Tiger
Ogallala Bay Rum After Shave
Happy Friday!


Back to the Dark Side

The brush looks great, Neal. John picked a great looking knot for it.

Love the New Improved, Gary!

Stunning B&W, Perry!

Has the GLSq grown on you at all, Jim? I recall you saying that it wasn't an immediate favourite and you don't post it very often.

Another great combo you've 'amassed', Jim.

Great write up on the New Deluxe, John. Lots of unintentional enablers on here today!

Great picture, Brian!

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Thank you, Jason.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Thank you, Jason!

Thanks guys.

October 12

Gillette NEW LC
Sharp Star (1)
Kent BK4 Silvertip
Tabac shave stick
Unrefined shea butter
Trumper Coral Skin Food

I enjoyed a nice, easy two-pass shave (mostly WTG followed by ATG) this morning. As others have said, the Sharp Star blades are super smooth, and they are plenty sharp for my beard. I don't know if it's true, but I read that Sharp Stars are re-branded Rapira Plantinum Lux blades originally marketed in the UAE. If you know more about them, I'm interested. After finding myself in the eBay rabbit hole yesterday, there was nothing left to do but add 500 of them to the stock pile. At 10 cents each with shipping, I couldn't pass them up. I am now officially ready for the shaveapocalypse.

The Kent brush, although pillowy soft, whips up a great Tabac lather. It doesn't have a ton of backbone, so I take my time to create a nice super goop face lather. I figure the extra lathering time helps soften my beard and get it ready for a close shave. The Tabac soap is a great all around performer for me, and it has earned a spot in my top 5 soaps. I usually keep a Tabac stick on hand to pair with my trusty Kent BK4 in my travel kit.

Friends, I hope you all have a great Friday and are looking forward to a fantastic weekend.

Nice report, Charlie.
500 Sharp Stars! You're set for awhile. When I ordered mine I got 200. The seller sent 300 along with several tucks of assorted Russian steel. Worked out to be a great deal.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

The Sharp Stars were a special run of blades, made for only one year, but were going to the UAE and Middle Eastern region. The packaging says they are made for Safi Ramal, Ltd. (I may have misspelled that). They were made in 2013 and there seems to be nobody who either knows, or will tell, how many are left. I know when they disappear and I decided to buy more I just have to poke a particular seller in the Motherland and more miraculously appear.

Excellent picture, Brian!

I like the GLS quite a bit actually, it just isn't my favorite CL AS. I prefer the Unconditional Surrender to this one. I have this bad habit of keeping my favorite scents in reserve for special occasions, and thus I never use them. So, I tend to keep both this one and US held back. I saw this one last night staring me in the face when packing my Dopp kit.

Sounds like a great shave, Charlie!

Thank you, Gentlemen.

Friday October 12 afternoon shave

Gillette Ball End Old Type / Astra SP ( 5)
APShaveCo U - Brush with 24mm Flat Top knot
Hendrix Classics Barbershop soap
Hendrix Classics Barbershop balm test jar

Today I tried out my last Old Type. It has no serial number to date it, so I assumed it was from between 1921 and 1929. Then my keen eye noted that it said not "Made in USA" but "Made in Canada". (Sherlock Holmes had nothing on me for my observational skills in detecting clues...). I don’t think the Canadian razors were ever given date marks, so I now have no idea what year or even decade this one was made. This one is brass with no trace of plating on it. Unlikely to have been nickel plated; possibly gold wash? Or were some just made with unplated brass? It's in perfect mechanical shape, apart from the end ball being loose due to the inevitable handle crack. The head connector is still tight though. I expect I will keep this razor as is, but will try to stabilize the handle crack and reattach the end ball permanently.

When I tried it, I found this razor was a real pleasure to use. It is probably the mildest and politest of all my Old Types - close to the feel of a NEW. Very Canadian, eh?

Two passes to a BBS with no need to test for errors with the alum. The balm provided the usual great lanolin postshave conditioning.

I hope you are all on track to enjoy a great weekend!

I'm worried about that "Fireball" feeling I got from that Tobacco&Leather A.S.(from Maggard). If I get the same sensation the next time, I think I'll have a decision to make. I've already come to ONE conclusion-I'll take leather over tobacco any day.

Great Friday shave and photo Perry.

Wow. Gorgeous scenery Randy. I am in need of some "Salt Therapy"

Wonderful shave and photo Jason.

I've enjoyed reading your posts on the New Deluxe. If you get a chance can you post a pic?

Now that is a classic shave. Happy Friday Brian. Hope you have a great weekend.

Another excellent post John. I hope you have a great weekend as well.

I hope you are enjoying the beach and feeling well Charlie.

I apologize for the Shavette Fu post but it has been a very long but productive day.

October 12, 2018
Delta Echo New SC
Feather
Zenith B27 Boar 28mm x 55mm
C&S Oxford and Cambridge
Fine Lavender Aftershave

​

Very early morning shave with evening post. At least I was able to start the day with another automatic near perfect two pass shave. The Zenith brush continues to break in nicely and is quickly turning into a fantastic brush. I hope everyone has a wonderful evening.