Do any DU'ers here shave with an old-fashioned single-edge safety razor?

[NickB79]

My fiance is trying to find a replacement razor to give to her grandfather. His finally died after several decades of use.

He'd prefer a single-edge razor with a metal handle, but everything we've come across use either double-edge blades or a plastic handle. Does anyone know of an online dealer that sells something similar to what we're looking for?

Secondly, how does a safety razor compare to, say, a Mach 3 razor? I've actually been thinking of purchasing one for myself.

Thanks!!!

[Orrex]

1. If you're an ourang-outan planning to commit murder in the Rue Morgue, they're the best

Otherwise, yikes!

I applaud anyone with the stones to use one, but I wouldn't want one that close to my jugular.

[kentauros]

22. I agree; only if it's in the hands of a professional, like my barber

:)

In the beginning, I would cut myself with even a disposable. I've used electric razors all my life. They last about 15 years each and they do a good enough job for me

[Inchworm]

2. Dunno what a saftey razor is

This is what I use. It's old.. but cheap and effective.



Well, effective if you actually drag it across your face every other morning.

:D

EDITR: forgot linky

[NickB79]

4. Yeah, his looked like that

I think he's out of luck finding a replacement :-(

[Inchworm]

5. Yup

I lost my first one and asked around for months. An old man had an extra one in the barn. I'm not lying! I think about it some mornings as I use it.

If you got the dough you can buy new shaving kits that have them. Usually it is a gold plated razor with the hair thing they used to use to apply the shaving cream though. 150-200$ best I remember.

I may be wrong.

:hi:

[Lars39]

3. Husband says...

this is the best razor ever:
http://bestgroomingtools.com/long-handle-double-edge-razor-straight-bar-merkur-p-57.html

[NickB79]

6. That's what I thought at first too

But it uses double-edged razor blades. My fiance's grandpa is a penny-pincher and only bought the cheap single-edge blades like you find at hardware stores for $1/10 blades. He has actually complained about the double edged blades being too expensive at $2/10 blades.

I might be picking one of those up for myself though.

[Lars39]

7. I think husband's cost $1.68/10 last time he bought them.

Still lots cheaper than the more modern blades. :D

[pokerfan]

8. Yep

Blades are about a nickel apiece. Multi edge blades are a scam.

[struggle4progress]

9. Why don't people use straight razors anymore? They aren't that difficult to handle.

Years ago, my father had one he never used, so I asked him about it, and he said just be careful and try not to cut your throat. I used it for a while: it worked great, but whenever I used it I had this disconcerting image of cutting my throat. I never cut myself with it at all. After a while, I somehow fell out of the habit of using it. Isn't it strange that hardly anybody uses them anymore?

[Art_from_Ark]

12. I hate straight razors

One slip and it's "Gotcha!" And those blades get pretty jagged in a hurry.

I prefer Bic disposable razors to anything else on the American market.

[sarge43]

13. My husband uses a straight razor

It does give the best shave. He says the down side is it's time consuming. The shaving itself can't be rushed, obviously, and the blade has to be carefully maintained with honing and stropping.

I think in the 20 plus years he's used one he's nicked himself once.

[Silver Swan]

20. My former spouse

used a straight razor for many years. I work up every morning to the sound of the razor on the leather strop!

[old mark]

10. I have a few from the 1930's, even more simple, made of brass.

If you do a good beard prep, they work every bit as well as the multiblade super shaver BS. I got them from flea markets for about a dollar each.

I had a straight razor once and tried it, but ended up cutting slivers off of my face.


mark

[old mark]

21. It's your fault! Went out and bought a pack of

Gilette double edged blades for my old Gilette safety razor. They come in a plastic container of 10, were not priced, bought them anyway.
$10 for 10 blades!

They must be the only thing in the drugstore still made in the US.

Will try them tomorrow.

mark

[XemaSab]

11. My ex-bf used to shave with the NON-safety razor

and NO, it wasn't his face I'm talking about. :o

[Callalily]

14. My dad used to use

one of these. I can still picture him sharpening it with a stone. Wonder where it went?

[SoxFan]

15. This guy borrowed it

[peruban]

16. I don't know any place that still sells those.

Now a straight-edge razor (barber style), you can still find those, albeit with some difficulty.
The new multi-blade razors work great, I prefer the slim disposable kind, though.

[kick-ass-bob]

17. I found safety razors to be more time consuming and I

knicked myself more often than with the Mach 3 type of razors. Also, I don't replace the cartridge razors very often at all, whereas the safety ones were like 2x a week. (of course, they are waaaaay cheaper...)

[One_Life_To_Give]

18. Try Amazing Shaving

Looks like they have a slection of them.
amazingshaving.com/page/amsh/PROD/sar/cc163

[bikebloke]

19. I shave with a hammer.

I pound the whiskers back in, then bite them off from the inside.

:P