Hi again,
Just to say thanks to this community for the help with the Ever Ready 1912 boot sale find I posted the other day.
The blades arrived yesterday and I had a very nice shave with it this morning. A very close shave in fact, closer than my prior daily driver the Edwin Jagger DE89.
I also like the big feedback this razor has and how it reverberates down the handle. Feels serious!
Anyways, thanks to everyone who helped me find the right blades! Shave on!
Excellent, Just wait, the next shaves will likely be even better–I find the first shave on these blades is often a bit harsh by comparison. Luckily they last longer than DE blades so I don’t have to endure it very often. Palm-stropping new ones (carefully!) also helps a fair bit.
Keep an eye out for a Micromatic Clog-pruf. They’re my favourite Gem razor and still give good feedback but not quite so loud. Plus the twist-to-open mechanism is cool https://wegianwetshaving.com/2020/03/the-patent-for-the-gem-micromatic
Do you ever strop dull gem blades? Is that a thing?
Stropping the new blade would only serve to knock down some of the coating that’s added to the edge… PTFE and whatever else. Once it’s dull, stropping won’t really make it sharper. Stainless steel is harder than carbon steel, which is what all old blades were made of (and a lot of new straight razors). When you see strops for gem blades, wedge blades, and whatever else used to be sold, it’s because of the carbon steel.
Hope that makes sense.
I don’t always shave with a GEM style razor, but when I do, it’s always a good time.
Yeah, true!
Apart from the bit where you have to take the cardboard off the blade.
Haha yeah, that’s a little sketchy until you get used to it.
That’s awesome, glad to hear you’re enjoying it. Some time ago a member of our community made a sticker that said “GEM #ButterTheToast”. The audio feedback is a great element to that razor!
Glad to hear you enjoyed the shave! GEM razors are great.
