Merkur Bakelite - How is this razor not getting more love?

[slantman]

Why would you ever pay $20 for a plastic DE razor? If they would sell it for $5 and it shaves very well, then alright!

The Feather Portable is $8 to $10, shaves great and if cared for, will last a lifetime.

Yesterday and today I shaved with a well worn, Gillette, fat handle Tech ( no date code) that I got for a dollar. I put a Personna blade in it and it shaves just as well as my 34C, 23C, EJ DE89L, a EJ Chatsworth and my Feather Portable.

Atlanta Beauty and Barber Supply sells the Merkur 23C for $21.95 plus shipping. The 23C is a great razor.

The next buy is the Edwin Jagger razors at QED for $28.

$20 for a plastic razor? These companies crank out those razors for $3 and think DE shavers will buy anything. I don't think so!

The next thing they will come up with is a piece of plastic with a very thin SS edge in it and charge $3.00 a cartridge.

Wait a minute, I think they did that. Didn't we decide to buy new classy and vintage shaving equipment to get away from the plastic.

What exactly are our priorties? Other then great shaves.

Sorry for the rant, but it just strikes me as the wrong way to go, considering all the effort we put into purchasing quality shaving kit YMMV

The Merkur Bakelite out shaves all of the razors you described.

[pz93c]

I like a DE razor with some heft.

If I want bakelite and light, I have a straight.

[steveclarkus]

I think it is beautiful and I do love it, however, my 80 year olf Gillette "New" would be jealous and most likely cut my throat.

Where can Feather Portables be found. I've searched and haven't found a seller.

[imabel2]

I am always dumfounded when I hear/see people make statements in reference to products made of plastic, or for that matter any substance other then the ones they absolutely favor. I can remember when plastic toys hit the market in 1944 during WWII, and you couldn't find a metal toy anywhere in the world. People said they will never last when the war ends - well they are still here and in abundance. The first plastic pen, calculator, portable radio, fiberglass cars, yes they are all still here and although they are not everyones cup of tea they do work. The fact is no matter what the razor is made of, or what it looks like it performs very well against its metal brothers. It may or may not be your cup of tea but it is certainly worthy to set in your razor holder next to your (metal razor of choice), because it absolutely performs equally as well as any metal DE or SE I have ever used since the 50's and I have owned quite a few and still own several DE and a couple of straights (Modern Plastic & metal) that use injector blades and a couple of straights handed down from my grandfather, now mostly treasured than used. Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. I shave mostly for the esoteric value and enjoyment of the shave, preparation, lather/brush, aftershave splash, face loation, and not necessarily the equipment I use. Use what you like and like what you use, and please allow others the opportunity to do the same. Just a perspective from an old retired Marine. Uh-raw.
Mike

[keeptahoeblue]

I think I'll go for it