Injector & SE Party !!!

12/12/2015
Razor – Gem Damaskeene
Blade – Gem Stainless PTFE (3)
Brush – Romera Olivewood Synthetic
Lather – Soap Commander Renewal
Post - Witch Hazel and Fine Platinum



Continuing the December Focus on vintage razors with my maiden voyage with the Gem 1912 Damaskeene. Mike @Redfisher and I traded razors with him getting my Golden 500. Based off of his SOTD photos and comments and my shave today, I think it's safe to say with are both pleased with the trade.

Using the Soap Commander Renewal in shave stick form and the Romera Synthetic brush, I effortlessly whipped up a slick protective lather. With the first stroke I could feel the similarities to my 1912 but somehow if felt different. The Damaskeene seemed to provide more audible feedback and feel smoother. A three pass shave proved a near BBS shave. If I were more competent with Gem razors above my lips, I would have caught the baby.

I understand that the Damaskeene was designed to use blades of the same name but that is where my knowledge end. Maybe someone more knowledgeable can fully explain the difference between the normal 1912 and the Damaskeene.

 

I'm glad you like it Clint!

 

Another beautiful picture Clint. Tis' the Season.

 

Today I broke out the type D. This razor is very light and requires a light touch as it is fairly aggressive. No pressure with this one! The end result was a smooth DFS with no irritation. Have a great day everyone!

 

Thanks again. I think with real winners.

Thanks Mark. Not to bad for a Blind Squirrel with a iPhone.

 

In the last 6 weeks I've only used a DE razor two times..... The injectors are really working for me, and the Mongoose gets out a couple times a week. My favorite thing about injectors is that it is easy for me to get under my schnozzle.

 

Glad to chat with an injector fan again, i`ve missed that. I`ve been trying to wear down my abundance of de blades ( you have buy in bulk to make them affordable) and I invariably wind up using my j1 to clean up (to create BBS). Every time I open my misc. drawer, I see all those Ted Pellas, I want to load up and start scraping. What impresses me most about my J1, is how agile it is in my hand.

Well, for now...... happy shaving, Bill

 

Two of last three shaves have been SE, and I think next shave I will use my injector.

 

Looks like one got out this morning....

Agile is right and also "Smoooooooth..." }8^)) I love zipping around my face with reckless abandon....a great injector can inspire daily acts of shaving heroism....lol!

 

My Damaskeene was definitely one of those razors that felt super mild but gave results closer than it felt like it would while I was shaving...deceptively so....So folks use the back of a GEM blade for a shim to duplicate the blade angle of the original Damaskeene blades...All of the older SE blades were thicker than the blades that have come out since the Micro-matic blades changed things in 1930.....I know BillyFergie is an expert at Using the SE blade spines for shims...

But many also love the milder shaves you get with a regular modern GEM and no shim, so its another matter for. YMMV.....

 

There actually was no razor known as the Danaskeene originally... In the early years Damaskeene was reference to the blades...The Damaskeene was the Original 1912 Model... The Damaskeene Razor was a later reference to it after the ASR Amalgamation on 1919 ..That is an early Gem Cutlery Model you have there... That model you have there should have the so called curved head which makes them different from later models...I have one of these early models...Its said that the |Model with the curved/round head is the superior shaver...There were a couple of later 1912 with curved rounded head but the heads were not the same size as the Damaskeene...

The later so called New Improved 1912s are all Mass produced cheaper made Clones of the Original Damaskeene 1912...In other words the Damaskeene is the one & only true 1912...There was a rarer open comb that I believe came into being before the closed comb model...The open comb is the milder of the 2 models & is very rare...I believe the Damaskeene 1912 is a superior shaver by a Long Shot compared to the New Improved 1912s...The later 1912s just don't have the same build quality in my hands anyway...I use a half of a Gem Spine as a shim in the Damaskeene and I reckon it improves it because it replicates the thickness of spine the original blades thus improving the shaving angle of the blade..

Billy..

 

Thank you Billy for the info. I agree I can tell the difference between the two razors. I will have to make a shim at some point.

 

Had another shave with a single edge and the gem blade (need to try some that have been suggested) the end result is a dfs its not the closest shave but it is pretty smooth....especially the first pass wtg...its like the razors not even loaded ha

 

12/13/2015
Razor – Gem Damaskeene
Blade – Gem Stainless PTFE (4)
Brush – Romera Olivewood Synthetic
Lather – TSD Yin Yang
Post - Witch Hazel and Fine L’Orange

 

Every time I see your type D, I have to go check the USPS tracking on minelast seen in sorting/ processing on my side of the border(shipped from Texas Nov 29th)
Im really hoping its here Monday and in the rotation for Tabac Tuesday.

 

A tropical Sunday shave with the G. This razor is a real smooth shaver and I had an effortless 2 pass shave. Good day all!

 

Wilkinson Empire..



Three Shaving Pass Routine..

Hot Water prep & massage with Coconut Oil
Wilkinson Empire SE
NOS Wilkinson Wedge Blade x 4
Semogue Boar Brush
Ingram Shaving Cream (added Argan oil)
Organic Aloe Vera Gel
LOGONA Mann Aftershave Balm (From Germany)

I pulled out my Wilkinson Empire today ...I used an original wedge blade in the Empire...The Empire came with 3 NOS Shave Ready Blades..I haven't had to Hone this blade as yet...I have stropped it before and after shaving with it & its keeping it shave ready...I must be doing something correct..I am no expert here...The Wilkinson wedge blade is a lot smaller than more standard wedge blades...These a are very hard to get a hold of and a bit tricky to strop...There is a bit a learning curve with these wedge blades...I done two WTG Passes with a slide technique that I have learned from using straights....Then a Final ATG Pass...

This where a Slick lather is Paramount...You can sort of get away with going over an area of the face without Re- lathering with a factory blade...I cant do this with a wedge blade...A wedge blade requires a really slick lather at all times....These blades are very forgiving like a traditional straight for me anyway...I keep this razor on the move as it touches my face until I complete the stroke...I use short strokes on the first pass and then long strokes in subsequent passes..These Wedge blades come into their own after the first pass...I ended up with a Mixed DFS & BBS Result....Not a cut or a single weeper..I enjoyed my wedge blade shave today...Its an experience to behold...

Billy...

​

 

That looks positively medieval. Of course, the skull and cross bones look on the blade are hard to beat.

This might just be the most unusual one you've pulled out on this board. A nice treat for a Sunday morning.

Yeah..The Wilkinson is a very complex piece of engineering to say the least...Its got a lot of complicated moving parts and is an adjustable as well...The adjustments are very subtle though..Its got a rolling comb a bit like an Old Lawnmower ..These tend to go quite cheap in the UK but its hard to get a set with functional wedge blades like the ones I got with this set...I got this as a complete stropping set for 20 notes English posted.... Glorious Shaver ...

Billy..

 

I had my final shave with a pass around PAL Adjustable today. Another great shave. On previous shaves I tried dialing the aggressiveness down from mid-way to next to last when I got to the second pass and I liked the results. Today I went for broke and tried it out at the full H level of aggression. I liked it - a lot. It seemed to give more feedback and was just as smooth. Very smooth after just one pass. I tried keeping it at H for the full three passes but adjusted back down to mid-way on the third pass after getting two noticeable weepers. Perfect way to finish the job.

With a little attention and focus along with some experimentation on settings, angle, and pressure this razor provides a super close and smooth shave right up there with the best. Two thumbs up for sure.

T&H Ultimate Comfort PSO
AOS Lavender Cream
T&H Wellington Super Badger
PAL Adjustable - settings on H and mid-way
Schick (4)
T&H Classic After Shave Balm