Brotherhood of the Open Comb

**celestino** · 05-02-2012, 09:55 PM

Forgot to mention that i am starting to see how intelligent the individuals at Gillette were when designing their razors. i just received a Weber handle and i tried putting it on a Gillette Old Type with a Gillette Yellow for a shave and had one of the most uncomfortable shaves with an OC. The Old Type has given me some of my best shaves to date! However, this combo did not work out well at all and i am realizing, as is Ken, that the light weight of most OC razors coupled with their original heads are the some of the best shavers, if not the best OC shavers! Consequently, no more tampering with OC unless it is the less aggressive one such as the News (for me anyway)! i will report back on how the New short-comb paired with the Weber shave, very soon.
Long live the OCs!
Arley, have we lost you indefinitely! If so, when does the sale begin!

**onefallinghope** · 05-02-2012, 09:55 PM

Can I be a member? I really like my Merkur 11c... Does that count? :)

**brother cavefish** · 05-02-2012, 09:58 PM

Originally Posted by bluesbishop

Had to redo post as I didn't pay close attention...the modern Merkur travel razor uses the same head as the 41c(1904 OC) 11c, 12c, which is the same head used on the previous 2010 Muhle R41

It is a very mild razor...as mild the Edwin Jagger DE89 in my opinion....the light weight and smaller handle makes the travel razor easy to use.

One of my heavy rotation razors right now is a vintage Gillette travel razor with a old type head...love it.

I own the 41c and would highly recommend the Merkur for anyone that wants a mild , effortless shave....a great way to get into Open combs......don't rule out the 41c...it's less money, more weight and the same head!

41C IT JUST MIGHT BE THEN, thanks

**bluesbishop** · 05-02-2012, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by celestino

Forgot to mention that i am starting to see how intelligent the individuals at Gillette were when designing their razors. i just received a Weber handle and i tried putting it on a Gillette Old Type with a Gillette Yellow for a shave and had one of the most uncomfortable shaves with an OC. The Old Type has given me some of my best shaves to date! However, this combo did not work out well at all and i am realizing, as is Ken, that the light weight of most OC razors coupled with their original heads are the some of the best shavers, if not the best OC shavers! Consequently, no more tampering with OC unless it is the less aggressive one such as the News (for me anyway)! i will report back on how the New short-comb paired with the Weber shave, very soon.
Long live the OCs!
Arley, have we lost you indefinitely! If so, when does the sale begin!

Again for me..I don't know if heavier handle translates to better shave. I typical love the Gillette yellow....for me as sharp as a feather, with more shaves per blade....even though I prefer the Black....BUT in some razors I find the Yellow to be too harsh...including the Old Type and the R41. Before you give up on the handle, I would try a different blade combo..

Blades I've found that work well for me in the Old type:

Supermax Super Platinum
Iridium super
Gillette Black
Red Personna

and being Arley's twin brother...I get first dibs!! But he already sold of the Rhodium news I was eye balling,,,,,ugh!! lol

**bluesbishop** · 05-02-2012, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by brother cavefish

41C IT JUST MIGHT BE THEN, thanks

No problem brother...just remember...this is a MILD razor...if you like mild...you will love it....if you are a current R41 fan, probably not! Even though I love my R41...and I still like this razor

Same advice I always give....MILD RAZOR...SHARP BLADE...a Gillette Black or a Feather would work perfect in that razor

**Oscroft** · 05-03-2012, 03:35 AM

Originally Posted by basko

So I think I'm officially an OC junkie. I ordered the Fattip piccolo discussed last week. It came in today so I had to get a shave in tonight.

First impression. The razor looks mean! Big wide teeth, wider than my NEW and Merkur 11C. Lots of blade showing. I knew this was going to be my most aggressive razor and the shave proved it!

I slicked up some Proraso PSO, whipped up a warm bowl of Razorock boston tea party and got to business.

This razor is heavy. The heaviest I own I believe. It's also more aggressive than anything else I have. The weight / aggressive combination turned out to be perfect!!! I literally felt the weight of the razor cutting my whiskers (using an Astra SP). I definitely respected this blade though. I can get kinda sloppy with my EJ89 or 11C and not feel any burn. I also have to work a bit harder with those to get a BBS.

The piccolo didn't nick me or cause any weeps. I made 3 passes - WTG, XTG, ATG and I had one of my closest shaves since I started this little addiction!! I was really impressed with the results. THANKS AGAIN BOTOC!!!!

Next stop - R41

**Snargle** · 05-03-2012, 04:59 AM

My morning combo: Replated Gillette Long Tooth Open Comb NEW head, BRW Improved handle, and an Astra SP blade. Just sitting here at my desk faceturbating. Baby's butts are coarse grit sandpaper compared to my face!

EDIT:
Here's a picture of the NEW/BRW combo.

**turtle** · 05-03-2012, 05:09 AM

Have put all razors away except for the ones I have recently acquired so that I am forced to use them. Have had a Megress sitting here for almost 3 weeks that has not been used yet. It is going to get the nod for the better part of the week to come to see if I like it or not.

Too many razors not enough whiskers to go around....

**OldGreyGuy** · 05-03-2012, 05:11 AM

Originally Posted by turtle

The search is officially over after today's shave.

I think I will be selling all the rest of my DE razors after today's shave...

Very nice turtle, I am jealous.

**Oscroft** · 05-03-2012, 05:59 AM

Same advice I always give....MILD RAZOR...SHARP BLADE.

My general rule of thumb is... Mild razor - sharp blade, Agressive razor - sharp blade

**mongo1958** · 05-03-2012, 06:15 AM

Where did you get the Fattip piccolo?

Originally Posted by basko

So I think I'm officially an OC junkie. I ordered the Fattip piccolo discussed last week. It came in today so I had to get a shave in tonight.

First impression. The razor looks mean! Big wide teeth, wider than my NEW and Merkur 11C. Lots of blade showing. I knew this was going to be my most aggressive razor and the shave proved it!

I slicked up some Proraso PSO, whipped up a warm bowl of Razorock boston tea party and got to business.

This razor is heavy. The heaviest I own I believe. It's also more aggressive than anything else I have. The weight / aggressive combination turned out to be perfect!!! I literally felt the weight of the razor cutting my whiskers (using an Astra SP). I definitely respected this blade though. I can get kinda sloppy with my EJ89 or 11C and not feel any burn. I also have to work a bit harder with those to get a BBS.

The piccolo didn't nick me or cause any weeps. I made 3 passes - WTG, XTG, ATG and I had one of my closest shaves since I started this little addiction!! I was really impressed with the results. THANKS AGAIN BOTOC!!!!

**kingfisher** · 05-03-2012, 06:47 AM

Originally Posted by mongo1958

Where did you get the Fattip piccolo?

Mongo, he probably got it from an e-bay seller. There was a recent thread that had a link to a guy selling 4 different models of FaTip razors. Not sure if there are any left. If you can find the link (it's earlier in this thread) you could find out.

Speaking of FaTip razors and Arley, and all..............Now that Arley prefers SEs (for whatever insane reason), I would very much like to purchase his piccolo FaTip. Y'all can argue over the other razors, but that one is mine! (I mean, if and when the sale begins, obviously.)

**pipskicks** · 05-03-2012, 07:26 AM

So after shaving with my Merkur but the head still being closed, I decided to take everyone's advice and try an open comb.

I got the New bar handle (it's in the BST) and if anyone has any tips etc. please let me know. I'm going to try some more aggressive closed-combs before I jump into this one though, I am a little bit of a scaredy cat :)

BTW - Bishop I was not given a BOTOC discount :P

**chuck81** · 05-03-2012, 07:42 AM

Tried my OLD short comb today for the 1st time. Pretty nice shave. Slightly more aggressive than the NEW. I like the new better, but I'll hang onto the old and put it to good use.

**elderberry99** · 05-03-2012, 07:47 AM

I've got two more razors coming in today in mail. I had forgotten all about buying them couple weeks ago. Thought I got rid of all my excess razors. Tough getting old!

At least I will have a couple more to play with and try out.

**kingfisher** · 05-03-2012, 07:56 AM

Originally Posted by pipskicks

So after shaving with my Merkur but the head still being closed, I decided to take everyone's advice and try an open comb.

I got the New bar handle (it's in the BST) and if anyone has any tips etc. please let me know. I'm going to try some more aggressive closed-combs before I jump into this one though, I am a little bit of a scaredy cat :)

BTW - Bishop I was not given a BOTOC discount :P

My only advice would be to not be afraid. The angle at which you should shave will become obvious right away. You'll be surprised at how effortlessly it removes stubble; no pressure is needed. Just keep the razor in contact with the skin very lightly.

As for not getting the BOTOC discount......that's CRIMINAL!!

**kingfisher** · 05-03-2012, 07:56 AM

Originally Posted by chuck81

Tried my OLD short comb today for the 1st time. Pretty nice shave. Slightly more aggressive than the NEW. I like the new better, but I'll hang onto the old and put it to good use.

My plan is to try my OLD for the first time tomorrow morning.

I'll let everybody know how it turns out.

**pipskicks** · 05-03-2012, 08:03 AM

Originally Posted by elderberry99

I've got two more razors coming in today in mail. I had forgotten all about buying them couple weeks ago. Thought I got rid of all my excess razors. Tough getting old!

At least I will have a couple more to play with and try out.

You need a youngin like me to get rid of those razors for you? :P

And they let you still drive a tractor

**pipskicks** · 05-03-2012, 08:07 AM

Originally Posted by kingfisher

My only advice would be to not be afraid. The angle at which you should shave will become obvious right away. You'll be surprised at how effortlessly it removes stubble; no pressure is needed. Just keep the razor in contact with the skin very lightly.

As for not getting the BOTOC discount......that's CRIMINAL!!

Thanks for the advice!

Is it really not that big of a deal? I've only used the Merkur 34C and 180 Long Handle. Then I tried the blue-tip SS, but it was milder than the Merkur! Didn't like it much.

I was thinking of trying out this 1941 Milord I found and flare-tip from Elderberry I believe, neither are collector pieces, I just thought maybe I should "move up" in aggressiveness, instead of jumping in. Do you think the OC's really do have an exaggeratedly aggressive view? If you think switching wouldn't be so hard I'll go for it, I just thought being pretty new and not having experience with any aggressive razors at all maybe I should try a flare-tip or something before jumping in to an OC, but I'm curious to hear what you think about that, I've definitely heard conflicting opinions.

**Oscroft** · 05-03-2012, 08:11 AM

Originally Posted by kingfisher

Mongo, he probably got it from an e-bay seller. There was a recent thread that had a link to a guy selling 4 different models of FaTip razors. Not sure if there are any left. If you can find the link (it's earlier in this thread) you could find out.

Maguire's Barbershop on eBay UK still seems to have plenty of all 4 - Fatip Piccolo in nickel, and Grande in three different finishes. There's a thread here about them, with links.