DB... I have a black tip SS and, like you, find it super mild. Unlike you, however, I think it might be too mild! I find it doesn't quite get the trouble spots all the way down to BBS, so I go over them several times. It feels perfectly mild, but that's where it later burns like the dickens! I MUCH prefer my Krona. Same kind of super mild, but it clears the trouble spots with normal touchup effort. @Herm2502 ... I think in the natural progression of shaving technique, most folks progress a little and then raise their standard. Yesterday's BBS becomes today's DFS. Last month's "Holy cow, that's smooth!" turns into "Yeah, I can feel a little bit right there. Lemme get that." I'm thinking I changed my technique as I raised my standards and also moved to more aggressive razors. I'm still not too keen to try my black tip, but may use the Krona and a Star DE this weekend. They are both notably mild razors. I'm going to pay special attention to how many times I touch the trouble spots! I think that's where I get my burn and propose the same may be true for you. Interesting thread. Thanks!
I'm not really a huge fan of the one piece TTO design, it just seems like a marketing gimmick more than an improvement geared toward performance; but I enjoy combing through secondhand shops and yard sales and over the years I stumbled across a couple that caught my eye. I've always gotten a good shave with them and, I have to admit, there is an undeniable charm to the simple mechanism - it was a very clean design. The first one I found had a brass head on a nickel handle, and I liked it the moment I saw it. Still do, and thanks to The Shave Den I now know it's a 1941 Ranger Tech. Some years later I came across another TTO with a similar handle design, only thicker and heavier, which turned out to be a '40's vintage English Rocket 500 (or HD, or#59, or double ring - there doesn't seem to be much consensus about the name). It's an absolutely lovely little razor with a great feel to it. Fast forward 20 years and after joining the online community and reading quite a bit about the Red Tip I picked one up a couple of months ago ('56 B-4). It's another fine shaver and, like the Rocket 500, it's also got a real nice feel to the handle. Interestingly enough in light of the amount of type online about it being an aggressive razor, when I compared the blade gaps and exposures of my wee TTO quiver I found that, in those terms, it's actually the least aggressive of the 3. The blade exposure is the same on the Red Tip and Rocket 500 but the Rocket's blade gap is slightly greater. The Ranger has a bit more blade exposure than the other 2 and about the same blade gap as the Rocket 500, but it's nowhere near as hefty as the Rocket. The difference in the terms of the actual shave though is very slight between the 3. If pressed I'd say the Rocket probably gives me the closest shave with the fewest passes, all other things being equal, but only just. All the Super Speeds are quite mild razors and the variations on the Super Speed theme like the Ranger and Rocket are basically in that same family; comparatively more aggressive than some, but like all Gillettes, basically on the mild side. Ranger Tech, Rocket 500, Red Tip Super Speed .
Been DE shaving for about a month or so now and alternate between a 48 SS, a 61 Fatboy and a GEM SE Bullet Tip. I find myself using the SS the most and now always get a DFS shave with it. I too tend to get slightly irritated with an occasional weeper as I believe I press harder due to the less aggressive design. I get a much closer BBS shave from my Fatboy and actually find the GEM to be less aggressive than the SS. The SS is just "easier" to use most days on those tired mornings and improvements in my technique have provided better results.
I've LOVED my red tip SuperSpeed. The flare tip that was the 60s, not so much as that was definitely too mild for my personal liking. In reality, I probably should have kept it around and revisited it though because it was a well built razor capable of great things, back then my technique was not as good as it is now.
I like my super speed.I have two b flare tips.I get great shaves from them. actually they helped me adjust the way I hold my razors.I guess it was the flare on the bottom. the s to n pass is really nice.I only have the end of the razor with three fingers. and lightly perform buffing, it gets those tough areas nicely. so I'll give the love to the ss's
I'm actually looking for a red tip. I'm not concerned with the vintage. Just that it is in good working order, correct blade reveal, and no pitting and/or rusting.
I thoroughly enjoy using my 40's style SS and my '57 Red tip. Throw a Feather in them paired with good technique and it's BBS all day. They're great for lazy days when I don't feel like using my straight or I'm pressed for time.
I do enjoy my '51 SS. Always a great easy shave with it. But I find myself using injectors more and more lately. Wonder why that is?
@Herm2502 ... I think in the natural progression of shaving technique, most folks progress a little and then raise their standard. Yesterday's BBS becomes today's DFS. Last month's "Holy cow, that's smooth!" turns into "Yeah, I can feel a little bit right there. Lemme get that." That may be the case. I'm getting much better at this. I may not give up on my '57 Regular SS just yet, but a red tip might be a good thing to try.
Very sharp blade in the SS seems to be the ticket. Put in an Astra yesterday and two great shaves so far. Next will try a feather once they arrive...
"Used my black tip this morning and had a grrreeaattt shave" DarkBulb I know the handle is different, but are the older SS different shavers than the later ones like my '57?
I love my '47 SS, but I don't use my '59 flare tip anymore; too mild. I don't have any in between, so I can't speak for those.
I'm wondering this too. I have a mid 50's super speed as well as a birth year 74 super speed and love them both. I've heard that earlier supers are more aggressive but don't know from first had experience. I suppose I'll break down and just add to the collection someday but is there anything to be mindful of?
I like the looks of the flare tip, but it just does not do it for me. My '47 is my birth year razor, and I was delighted in its shave. They are pretty hard to find, and when you do the demand a high price. You can get '48 to '50 and reasonable price. They added the notch to the center bar in '48, but other than that the razors shave about the same, I am led to believe. These razors have no date code. Date code started in 51. Get yourself one. I don't think you will be disappointed.
