HolyRollah, I see you have two R41's, one Grande and one regular handle. Do you feel one handle making a difference over the other? Thanks, Frank.
Frank, I personally prefer 'big' razor handles—so consider me biased. I have used both the 2011 head and the 2013 head on different handles (the stock Mühle, the Grande Mühle, Ikon Bulldog II, custom AKASL) and to be honest, I don't detect a difference in razor feel nor efficiency of shaving depending on which handle is in use. The most obvious difference to me is simply comfort in the hand and handling of the razor itself. The Ikon handle is VERY grippy and heavy—ensuring a very confident shaving stroke The AKASL handle is less grippy, but wonderfully balanced with a great counterweight at the handle's base. It is my current favorite. I like the Mühle Grande handle—its not as grippy as the previous two listed, but I favor the length. I wish it was a bit heavier. The stock handle is comparably knurled or textured, but I simply prefer a longer handle.
Thank you Kevin. The Grande handle looked strange to me being so "grande" but did feel easy to use. I did like it. Next shave with it I might swap handles with my de89l to see how a smaller handle feels.
True, especially when compared to other vintage Gillettes, the Red-Tips are far more aggressive. I really enjoyed the Red-Tip when I had it, and it does have many shaving fans out there. I never felt I got as close a shave with the Red-tip as I got with my slants. Two-pass shaves became commonplace for me with the slant-bars, and the redtip still required 3 passes to get comparable results. In my own experience, the R41 is in a whole 'nuther league when it comes to close, aggressive razors compared to both the slants and the vintage Gillettes.
I havent tried the red tip but I do have a 69 SA I use on 9 and multiple SE's and straights. I have heard the R41 makes aggressive razors run and hide. I have very tough skin and a crazy thick, tuff beard so irritation has never been an issue. I've been wanting to try an R41 forever, I have a feeling it's gonna be just what the doctor ordered. If not, my next move is a slant.
That's good information for me to know... since my beard is only medium tough, it lets me know to steer clear of the R41
I guess 'equal to what' is a question here. If you are doing 4-5 passes and not getting a VERY close shave then it is not, sorry to say, anything to do with equipment - it's your technique. If I were you I'd spend more time looking at my technique rather than hoping that a new piece of gear will solve your issue.
I have never used a cart. I learned 30 years ago on a str8, been bouncing back and forth between str8 and de ever sinceTo this day my father in his 70's and my brother still use str8's. I didnt find se's and the wide selection of de's until I found this forum. For many years I used dial soap and either a Str8 or de. My big problem is 2 wierd patches of hair on either side of a nasty scar that runs across my windpipe. an east to west pass is almost impossible on my throat , atg and wtg are easy but with the length of my str8 , an e to w pass puts the handle against my chest or chin. Also my beard is like curly razor wire and grows almost to my eyes. I can get complete coverage in 1 day.All the men in my family are the same, my brother tried a cart and said it clogged and got dull su fast, he had to change blades in the middle of a shave. BBS is easily obtainable on 90% of my face, 3 to 4 passes in different directions gets it done. It's the wierd scar tissue patches that are so difficult. Technique is no issue, I have "geography issues" Due to my tuff skin, I can shave wit dial, water, whatever I have. Again, I didnt find the shave soaps till I got here. I havent had a cut in forever, once every couple months or so.
I consider my beard 'wimpy' tough (I blame it on my Native American heritage! ) and I love the R41. It supposedly works wonders on those thick, coarse, blue-face beards, so my not-so-dense growth poses little challenge = über-smooth results.
If I want to stay clean, I have to shave every day. I only get 1 nice tug free shave out of any blade. I push it and will use a blade 2 sometimes 3 times. For years I spent most of my life offshore and didnt shave for months. Again I didnt find the nice shave pucks and all the tools to make it enjoyable until recently. My wife used to shave my face with haircut shears when I got home , then I could put a razor to it. The old Schick I got from my father when I was 15 is so mild I would have to str8 before I used it or lt would clog. Many of my se's and newly obtained de's are much better.
I find the 37c Slant and the R41 (2013) both perform best- and even are tamer -when ultra sharp (and pricier) blades (Polsilver grade) are used with them. The old adage "mild blade/aggressive razor" may apply everywhere else, but not with slants or R41's.
I agree with your thinking. A Derby blade, fresh out of the little box rips and pulls. I used to get blads from Kmart that were better. In most of my razors the Gillette Silver Blue does a nice job. The only razor I have that does a better job with different blades is my 69 SA and it prefers the USA made Personna's. In my SE's I like the carbon steel blades. I have tried most of the blades out there, not all but most. Feather is one of the few I havent tried yet. When the R41 arrives I'm gonna start out with GSB's first followed by an Astra, if those dont work I'll throw in Polsilver, Wilkies and whatever I have under the sink. I have SEVERAL blade samplers I pulled the GSB out of and put away. Trust me, I WISH it was a technique issue, that I could fix.
