Great post. Hadn't considered it before this but with a little bit of reflection it has to be my Grandpa's 1912. It's what sent me down this rabbit hole in the first place and what a rewarding rabbit's hole it's been. Plus, he was quite a guy so connecting with that legacy even a little bit is something to treasure. And, anyone named Valentine deserves a little tribute. We used to play penny poker all night long whenever we visited. He was a city of Buffalo cop for many, many years - he rode Indians and Harleys early on while on patrol and was shot at least once. I still remember the mug on his sink and his strop hanging on the closet door. My mom used tell stories of him taking the strop to her brothers when they were out of line. I'll be thinking of him on New Year's morn. I also have two straights of his and one day they'll get honed and I'll try them out, too. Here's to you, Val.
Personna Executive injector.. The USA made Personna Stainless injector is Super Mild...Its a different animal to the PAL Adjustable...It would appear that they introduced it with the Gillette Trac 11 injector in mind which is Crazy mild as well...The British made Stainless Personna Executive injector is far more aggressive than the USA made one & a bit milder than the PAL Adjustable...They are as Rare as hens teeth though... Billy..
I was going to send You a stick....I saw the La Toja and thought....ahhh noo, my man must be out of the big A...I have to get his address....ha,ha....Now you can save me the postage...you can break open that stick you are saving for me and knock yourself out with the Turkish Lather bomb! My compliments.... I have in-laws in from Turkey for the holidays, so my arko stash has been recently replenished....But Thanks for looking out for me....But my Schick type H stash is a little low....
French L"Essor.. Another shot.. Four Shaving Pass Routine.. Hot Water prep & massage with Coconut Oil French L"Essor NOS Heljestrand Hollow Ground Blade x 6 Semogue Boar Brush Biotique Palmyra Shaving Cream 444 Aftershave Gel LOGONA Mann Aftershave Splash I had my second outing with the French L"Essor & Heljestrand Hollow Ground Blade this morning...I have managed to figure the French L"Essor ...The French L"Essor is a Milld Razor...A lot of folks are familiar with the Gem Micromatic Family..I would put the French L"Essor in the Gem Bullet Tip Category in terms of aggression..I am just using this as a Analogy of course because the French L"Essor sure aint no Gem Bullet Tip but in terms of the Wedge blade SEs that I have been using recently that's where it would sit... In other words it is by far the Mildest of the bunch...You can almost throw the French L"Essor about with Reckless Abandon...I done a Four pass shaving routine this morning & just about achieved a BBS Result...The French L"Essor would make a great daily ATG shaver & I reckon that's what the designers had in mind...Bearing in mind that during the Epoch of the French L"Essor a lot of owners would have a Butler to Hone & Sharpen their blades for them..The French L"Essor would have made a great razor to go ATG on the first pass on a Daily basis...It does take a bit of work to knock down a few days whiskers with it though...That just about Sums Up the French L"Essor...A very mild and forgiving shaver it is... Just some thoughts on blade sharpness...I have heard it said that some folks test the shave readiness of a stropped blade by cutting a single hair with it...Whilst this may show that the blade is sharp it doesn't necessarily mean that it will shave smoothly...The blade has to be both Sharp & Smooth... I can always tell how sharp my blade is with the first touch on my top lip area...If the blade is cutting comfortable on the Moustache area I find that's a good test..I now know, however, just by looking at the edge of the blade after stropping it just how sharp & how smooth it will perform...Once you experience a correctly sharpened blade you will never forget the sight of a correctly stropped edge...Its just an experiential knowing... Billy..
That 1912 looks like it might be the famous 1924 varient...Judging by the handle and it has the curved top similar to the damaskeene...Some folks over at the SE forum were calling the 1924 version the "Goldilocks 1912" meaning it was a just right balance of aggression and mild... Heres the 1924, it also comes just like this with a full height back of the head...
My current object of facination or infatuation... The million dollar Schick....I got this on a swap with Jayurah and he included the bill with the razor.....I love it....and thats the right razor for that bill too...a perfect match!
12/27/2015 Razor – Gem 1912 Damaskeene Blade – Gem Stainless PTFE (8) Brush – DK7 with Druida Manchurian Lather – TSD Yin Yang Post - Witch Hazel and Folsom & Co Capri
Sunday, December 27, 2015 King Cobra with Triad Aristocrat Ti Feather Pro Super #5 BSB Vie Long 2 Band Route 66 Soap Barbershop Hop Alum, Witch Hazel +Menthol, Whipped Shea Butter Ghost Town Barber Aftershave Barbershop BB 1818
Thanks Billy! That executive sure is a sweet looking razor I might have to keep my eyes open for some "hens teeth" on eBay
That is a great idea. I have all of my dads gear. Old spice mug, a puck of Williams (not his but what he used)Surrey boar brush and his gillette BB. Being the BB is not a SE. I was wondering if i can use it for my first pass then i will finish off with my ER1912 last 2 passes Bunny K.
The type B was out today, I wound up with a good shave but I had to work at it . I think the blade is knackers. The blades seem to wear more quickly in these razors, at least for me. Hopefully this is a good day for y'all!
Funny i noticed i get 2-1/2 good shaves from mine. My shave last night with the B2 was actually better than i first thought. I woke this morning and was still pretty smooth.
