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SOTD TUESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 4, 2022
This morning’s shave featured the Gipson Katsumi, which at 14/13, just slightly over 8/8, is the widest blade in my collection. The Katsumi was made by Andrey Shpakovskiy, the proprietor and razorsmith behind Gipson Razor of Kiev, Ukraine as an homage to the Saito SK series of smiling blade razors. It’s half hollow grind is a heavier blade than my SK3, but I certainly can’t argue with the quality of shave it delivers. Two and a half passes left my mug velveteen smooth.
The Gem Model 12 is a proven more than a century old design that owes its origins to the Star razor introduced by the Kampfe Bros. of Brooklyn, New York in 1875. It was one of their employees, Jerry Reichard, who worked for them for 23 years, who then opened his own concern, “The Gem Safety Safety Razor Company”. In 1900 due to increased competitive pressure the company changed its name to “The American Safety Razor Company”.
In 1903 Jerry Reichard left to form the “Yankee Company”. And just three years later in 1906, “American Safety Razor”, “The Yankee Company” and “Kampfe Bros.” merged to form “The Personna Safety Razor Company”, which today is known again as “The American Safety Razor Company”. In any case the Gem Model 12 with its lovely Art Deco handle is a wonderfully efficient, well-balanced shaver which left my dome glassine smooth after the usual two ATG passes.
RAZOR: Gipson Katsumi 14/13 (Mug), Gem Model 12 (Dome)
BLADE: Pella PTFE Gem
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a heavy scrub with Argan Oil
BRUSH: Rearden Razor 316L SS Tuxedo Synth
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by a rinse with Humphreys WH. Finished with Williams AQUA Velva AS Splash (Spanish Version)
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