Blackland GEM

Glad to see this, ordered one and it shipped today, should have it by Thursday, stoked to try it as I'm a Blackland fanboy.

Congrats and enjoy amigo. Looking forward to your first impressions on it....

Thread revival.....

Truly an amazing shaver. And yes, the first SE offered by Blackland that still delivers an amazing shave. Very well balanced plus 2 optional base plates to fine tune your shave feel and its efficiency. Simple, retro cool and just a well thought out razor design made from a high quality alloy that will provide decades of fine shaving for one including generations to follow. A superb tool.......

I'm with you, Gus! I'm planning to use my L2 tomorrow morning. I'm six shaves in with the current blade, so I'm just getting started...

Hey my friend! Yes, it’s a banger for sure. Stay safe, stay healthy amigo....

Grabbed another Blackland from the den. Yep, the other Blackland SE and first. Still as good as when I first used it. The shaves have become so good and effortless with the Sabre & GEM blade combo that I have actually lost count on the number of shaves I’ve put in with this particular GEM SS ptfe blade. I know it’s well over 25 shaves and every single one with the Sabre. Amazing the longevity one can get out of these GEM’s but, also a testament to the design of the razor that takes full advantage of this superb blade. The shaves just keep getting better and better with no signs yet of slowing down. Yesterday the Vector, today the Sabre. Perhaps arguably, the best one-two punch in the SE razor game...

I recently bought a machine-driven Saber. I was so disappointed with the product's finish.

I recently bought a machine-driven Saber. I was so disappointed with the product's finish.

I much prefer the machined finish to the polished finish. I like the looks better, and they're much less likely to show the scratches the way polished surfaces do. There's just something about the industrial look that appeals to me. Don't get me wrong - the polished razors are gorgeous. If Shane didn't offer the choice, I'd gladly go with his polished offerings. 

Having said that - if you bought the razor less than a month ago, you can return it to Blackland. Shane offers a generous 30 day trial period.

First shave with a GEM PTFE blade this morning - in any of my razors. I'm a believer....

Anyone found a good titanium handle that goes with the looks of Sabre?

Another winner from the Blackland stable. There is no other modern GEM style razor to compare it to. Well, there are a couple such as the one from ATT the G1 (which is no longer made) and the PAA Starling SE but, that’s made from a different alloy and honestly, it’s not in the Sabres league. Smooth, consistent and efficient feeling shaves. Plus, the GEM PTFE SS blade really shines in this razor with 25+ shaves on the blade installed in my Sabre with no signs of slowing down yet. That’s a money saver for the long haul. Yeah, there are a few vintage razors that shave just as good as the Sabre and even provide a more efficient feeling shave. I have a couple that match it in terms of shave performance. But, the look, feel and quality of craftsmanship though is 2nd to none. Either with an L1 which is smooth and on the milder side or the L2 which ramps it up a notch in cutting ability without sacrificing much at all in smoothness, it offers a nice combination for ones shave preference. Its younger stablemate, the Vector might be the de facto RAD killer in the modern SE world but, the Sabre is no slouch by any stretch of the imagination. It’s retro cool and performs to the 9’s. Now, if only an open comb version of the L2 was offered...... One can dream, right?

I purchased a Sabre back in May. Loved the look and the retro vibes from a GEM razor. But technique wise I couldn’t make it work for me so I sold it. Fast forward to last month I decided to pick up another one. Night and day difference. I guess the additional wet shaving experience in the interim allowed to everything click in place. Now I am glad that it jives with me and I have a GEM razor to complement my small den. Wonderful shaves!

The GEM MMOC is one of my favorite razors and while the Sabre L2 isn't quite as efficient as the MMOC it is still an amazing razor.

This week has been my Sabre. And I am very pleased! Very smooth, close, and so very well designed and made. Tomorrow I am stepping up to the level 2 plate and I anticipate being a smooth operator!