Anything that can go wrong will happen while I'm shaving...

On the other hand, the money is going out the door anyway. Just snagged 300 Astra SPs for $24 on Amazon. $8/100 is a good price, I believe. If the cheap blades work well in this razor, might as well use them!

Nice move. I snagged the 500 pack for $40 a couple days ago

A few of us over on the Lather Talk Discord channel were talking about the future of Russian blades being sold in the US…

Whoa, I never even thought about that. So many of them do come from Russia, too.

Time to go buy another 300, I think. Lol.

Among my own blade preferences, I've had great success with Astra SPs.  That said, I do sometimes wonder how real most blade differences are.  Feathers, for better or worse, strike me as likely to be in their own class, and maybe KAIs really are a smidge thicker or wider from one edge to the other.  But beyond that, I wonder to what extent our perceived differences would stand up under a well designed blind test.  

In any case, blades are made in many countries, so I'd expect any blade worth making can be as well made outside of Russia.  That viewpoint puts blades from Russia way down on my list of Russia concerns (behind important stuff like caviar, vodka, and Fabergé eggs).

Nice move. I snagged the 500 pack for $40 a couple days ago

A few of us over on the Lather Talk Discord channel were talking about the future of Russian blades being sold in the US…

Whoa, I never even thought about that. So many of them do come from Russia, too.

Time to go buy another 300, I think. Lol.

In any case, blades are made in many countries, so I'd expect any blade worth making can be as well made outside of Russia.  That viewpoint puts blades from Russia way down on my list of Russia concerns (behind important stuff like caviar, vodka, and Fabergé eggs).

I hear ya Mike, and I agree. Gillette has factories making some great blades in the several other parts of the world.

However, I don't think Gillette is going to care about the US interests unless it's their eighteen blade cartridge being solely made in Russia. They certainly aren't going to move the Astra production for us. In fact, my guess is Gillette would be happy if we completely forgot about traditional shaving altogether.

Luckily, there are plenty of good blades beyond Astras. Even if it really hits the fan, we would still have plenty of choices.

Not to mention: I don't do fish eggs...

Plenty of great vodka made elsewhere...

and I can't afford Fabergé eggs, anyway.

Whoa, I never even thought about that. So many of them do come from Russia, too.

Time to go buy another 300, I think. Lol.

In any case, blades are made in many countries, so I'd expect any blade worth making can be as well made outside of Russia.  That viewpoint puts blades from Russia way down on my list of Russia concerns (behind important stuff like caviar, vodka, and Fabergé eggs).

I hear ya Mike, and I agree. Gillette has factories making some great blades in the several other parts of the world.

However, I don't think Gillette is going to care about the US interests unless it's their eighteen blade cartridge being solely made in Russia. They certainly aren't going to move the Astra production for us. In fact, my guess is Gillette would be happy if we completely forgot about traditional shaving altogether.

Luckily, there are plenty of good blades beyond Astras. Even if it really hits the fan, we would still have plenty of choices.

Not to mention: I don't do fish eggs...

Plenty of great vodka made elsewhere...

and I can't afford Fabergé eggs, anyway.

You could be right Paul.  I wasn't really being serious anyway, as you seem to have noticed.  But speaking seriously, Gillette isn't the only major player, besides which the same Russian made blades may still get here, possibly rebranded and passed through one or more friendly nation corporations along the way.  

In any case, blades are made in many countries, so I'd expect any blade worth making can be as well made outside of Russia.  That viewpoint puts blades from Russia way down on my list of Russia concerns (behind important stuff like caviar, vodka, and Fabergé eggs).

I hear ya Mike, and I agree. Gillette has factories making some great blades in the several other parts of the world.

However, I don't think Gillette is going to care about the US interests unless it's their eighteen blade cartridge being solely made in Russia. They certainly aren't going to move the Astra production for us. In fact, my guess is Gillette would be happy if we completely forgot about traditional shaving altogether.

Luckily, there are plenty of good blades beyond Astras. Even if it really hits the fan, we would still have plenty of choices.

Not to mention: I don't do fish eggs...

Plenty of great vodka made elsewhere...

and I can't afford Fabergé eggs, anyway.

You could be right Paul.  I wasn't really being serious anyway, as you seem to have noticed.  But speaking seriously, Gillette isn't the only major player, besides which the same Russian made blades may still get here, possibly rebranded and passed through one or more friendly nation corporations along the way.  

Ooh yeah, absolutely.

Look at the Gillette guard. India isn't the culprit, persey. But Gillette absolutely does not want them sold in the US. So, everyday citizens buy them and resell them via the Bay.

There is almost always a way.

I'm posting my shave of the day here, so I can get all long winded without offending the masses in the SOTD thread...

Today, on quite a whim, I chose to use Proraso 'White'. I guess the scent is green tea, citrus, oats, and menthol? I get citrus and some green leaves (which makes sense for the green tea). Oats? Not that I can tell, but it's probably well blended to begin with? Also menthol... Mine very well may not have that. The reason I hypothesize: though it is in a tub, and a soap, this tub started as a tube. I dried it out in the open air for days. From my previous experience with Stirling pre-shave soap, menthol will disappear into the ether if left to the air.

Nonetheless, it was a great soap. The scent isn't a favorite, but it's also not bad. Probably better suited for days warmer than 20F. Lol. I know it is one of Proraso's better performers, but definitely not to the level of elite artisans. Upon picking it, I decided this was a great choice, as I wanted to see the other side of the Astra / Overlander... With a "store shelf" soap. It did just fine (and then some)! The Astra continued to behave like it rarely did for me and The Overlander proved once again it was the 'Overlord' of razors bringing home an easy, smooth, quality shave. Such a good shave!

For the post shave, I went with my Stirling Glacial Post Shave Balm. This is my go-to and I have a LOT of it. That said, I think I need to find something sans witch hazel, at least as a test. I am looking into post shave splashes, for the warm weather, without WH or menthol. Why not do some quasi-scientific testing in the Den? Lol.

I have thought for some time I have a sensitivity to WH. Itchy, dry, irritation. Not strong, but definitely there. The moisturizers and menthol of the Stirling Balm seems to mostly counteract it. Nonetheless, I'm going to find something(s) to test my theory. Why not?

Happy Friday folks! Enjoy the coming weekend (if you can).

love the pic!

Thanks Paul!

So I've been organizing and reorganizing my soaps in my new door handing shoe rack. One of the soaps that had to go is CBL Sir Irish. I actually like the scents a LOT that Chris used (I also have a 2 oz sample of Sir Fougere). Unfortunately, I think it's his Hemp Base (or the scent strength). I get mild (not horrible) irritation. Regardless, it's no fun. I'm fairly certain it's the base, as I have no problem with his Apothecary, tonsorial, or MB lines.

Nonetheless, the point is: I wanted something Irish in my den, so I bought a keg of Guinness instead. KIDDING!!! I ordered Irish Flats, from Central Texas soaps based on gwsmallwood recommendation that it's a good GIT soap AND quite lightly scented. It should fit well for me.

Also have Eleven Soap Unscented After shave splash en route. This should be a good splash for me in the alcohol line regardless of the results... but will also help to determine if it is the WH in my others that is causing (minor) issues. We'll have to see!

One more soap I'm waiting for from AA Shaving AASHAVING ... "The Hunt". That should get released in the next week or two and will hopefully satiate my shopping spree for a bit (other than my 'necessary' backup Overlander! Lol.).

Be well folks!

I love the humor and the behind the curtain information! But what is GIT?

I love the humor and the behind the curtain information! But what is GIT?

Green Irish Tweed  (Creed)

Ah, I was wondering if he typoed "get"