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SOTD TUESDAY MORNING, Day 3 of Gillette Focus, JANUARY 12, 2021
I must admit that I’m enjoying this Gillette safety razor focus here at TSD, and so is my dome! The Gillette selected for today’s shave is my Gillette Big Fellow which dates from the second year of production (1920). The shave on this gassed up Old Type influenced design was, as a British member of the crew is wont to say, “divine”. Particularly when fitted with a Kai blade. Lots of blade feel which I’ve come to enjoy since becoming a regular straight shaver. The combination of size, weight, and heft-in-hand worked perfectly to deliver the kind of two pass velveteen dome smoothness I’ve come to crave in my noggin shaves.
Manhattan Cutlery was a John Newton & Co. brand, circa 1861-1916, manufactured in Sheffield England. This particular straight razor blade was sold in America through the New York cutlery importer H. Boker and fitted with horn scales upon arrival based on a blade matching image." (From the H. Böker & Co. history: "1868) and is easily one of my favorite straight razors. It just feels right in hand, continues to hold a buttery smooth edge. And this morning delivered a luxurious three pass delight. As an older man I’ve really come to look forward to my morning shaves; they truly set the tone for the rest of the day. And today I feel velveteen smooth, clean and refreshed!
RAZOR: Manhattan Cutlery Sheffield 13/16 (Mug), Gillette Big Fellow (Dome)
BLADE: Kai DE
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a scrub with Argan Oil
BRUSH: Rooney Ebony Pure Badger
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by Humphreys Lilac WH. Finished with Aqua Velva (Spanish Version).
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