Black handle Super Speed: Tell me about it

ive got a '65 reg SS (gap .58mm) and noticed that the black handled SS's have a blade gap of .64mm and was wondering if i wanted to go up a notch in the aggressive department would the black handled SS be a good choice?


PS
i know just get an adjustable...and i plain to

 

You check the blade gap? I just drop in a blade, shave, and then decide if it's the razor for me.

Okay, I'm the wrong person to respond here, because I believe everything boils down to technique and that you should be able to get a quality shave from any razor. Remember, that's just MY way of thinking.

 

The gaps are nice for a reference but they really don't tell you how a particular razor or family or razors will perform. Having said that I don't think I've ever tried a black handle Super Speed.

 

You know what? Neither have I. I owned one once, but I never used it and then sold it to a member here. I kind of wish I would have kept it because it was an "A" date code (1980), which is kind of uncommon.

 

I found an f 4 at an antique store awhile ago. What's the year on that one?
I'd try it out, it but this is Rocket week

 

Really? That would be a 1985 model -- nice pick up!

 

Cool, thanks for the date code deciphering.
It's one of my first antique finds.

 

1985 is hardly an antique! Careful there are old people around that may take offense.

 

Ummm, I meant antique STORE finds.

 

Hey! Who you calling old, fish boy?

 

See I told ya. :happy102

 

I see ya'll's got some histories. :signs108

 

Oh... I have NOS A3...

 

Really? Did those come in a blister pack?

 

Yup... Took me a day and a half to identify the datecode Don't know where I have put my camera, but as soon as I find it I'll post a pic...

 

Ah, so it remains unopened?

 

Yeah, I never got around to open it Seems like the black handled SS's are still a mystery performancewise

 

I have a 73 (T2) model that I shaved with once - but that was over a month ago and I was testing a cream that I hadn't used before. Too many variables at once so I can' say how much of the shave was the razor and how much was the cream. As I recall, it shaved better than the flair tip SS. However, my technique has probably improved since I last used SS and maybe that is why the shave was better. But anyway.. from memory, I would put its shave on par with the original 40's style SS. I still prefer my open-comb 3 piece razors. But for an SS it wasn't bad.

 

I have a '56 SS and a '74 black handle. They are both very similar but the black handle is definitely more aggressive, but not by much. To me its a better 'more aggressive' (if that makes sense) than dialing up a slim up to '7' or '9'. Kind of hard to explain but just nicely shaves a bit extra off. The '74 can give me a closer shave, but better chance for nicks. The '56 feels more solid in my hand (more metal) so that one is my current go to razor.