Devette, Sevette, Ivette

Starting with a newspaper clipping from P.W. Calhoun in 1934 who suggested grinding off the teeth of a Gillette (but crucially leaving the corner teeth intact to protect the blade corners and allow the razor to be rested flat) came the devette, and then its SE equivalent the sevette:[Image: 20150913_194514.jpg]
So the next logical progression is the ivette, the guardless injector: [Image: 20150913_194533.jpg]

These are all really shavettes with handles and the shave is phenomenal. Infinitely aggressive ans with practically no irritation.
Of course you need good technique and a bit of skin stretching but the reward is a shave that has gone into the ultraviolet.

The different blade types of the devette, sevette and ivette make for different experiences but the are all incredible shaves beyond the R41, OCMM and E.

Go on, try it!

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ivette..I like that. LOL!

sure seems like the injector won't get clogged up like it typically does with the guard. that's my biggest complaint about the injectors, personally.

Hold the phone!!! The ivette is already commercially available: http://www.winkelplein.nu/barbershopsupl...Id=1927898

This Dutch shaving site has taken the veterinary equipment and (admirably) marketed it for humans.

Here's the vet supplies link:
http://www.kruuse.com/en/ecom/Hest_produ...42133.aspx

Essentially it's a guardless Schick O (!)

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That razor has been lusted after by many folks. Thanks for the links.

Thanks for the source of the original *vette idea Marcus!

FWIW, taking Marcus' cue I modified a 1912 and an OCMM. Both were unusable as they were, so modifying them was no loss of a fine razor, and as Marcus wrote, the shave is extremely good. It's basically a no maintenance Rolls Razor... sort of. But I would strongly suggest that folks not use it to test ones manhood or approach it with more courage than smarts. Technique must be 100% and not a falsely claimed perfect technique. The modified razor is not PC and does NOT grade on a curve, make a mistake and you'll pay for it. The unguarded blade will be just as happy to sink into the skin 1/4" as it will be to slice whiskers. And again, as Marcus wrote, stretching of the skin is mandatory.

OK, regarding the 1912, the blade flexes a bit more due to the unsupported blade. That led to the OCMM SEvette which does support the blade almost out to the cutting edge. There is no felt flexing with it. There are other SE razors that support the blade in that manner. The only reason I modified those razors is that the 1912 was really an ugly and well used razor and would never be used. The OCMM while beautiful was missing a blade stop making it unusable as a safety razor. But the OCMM SEvette doesn't need to have a blade in proper relation to the comb by means of blade stops. So removal of the comb gave the razor new life.

To turn a perfectly good razor that isn't being made anymore into a SEvette IMO shouldn't be done. There are plenty of razors that it can be done to in order to breathe new life into them.

One curious trait of the OCMM SEvette is that while a fresh GEM SS ptfe blade I find to be better after 3-4 shaves when used in a safety razor, in the SEvette I find them to be quite good. I'll use the fresh blade for 10 or so shaves in the SEvette, then retire it to a safety razor for the rest of it's life.

If you have the technique to handle one, and the proper razor to modify, you'll find it to be a very interesting shave experience. It's definitely different and for that reason alone has a place in my shave cabinet. Of course it gives a great shave, that helps to keep it in my cabinet.

we might have to get leefish to send us some, being Dutch and all.

Beautiful devette shave this morning:[Image: 20150916_070611.jpg]
The Lord blade is working really well here and the shave was very smooth for the first time - perhaps my technique has improved.

And yes this is still the greatest DE shave on earth!

I generally make devettes from modern RiMeis but this is my keeper, made from a 1930s Souplex Open Comb:[Image: 20150916_070756.jpg]

Very interesting, but I have a Muhle '11 R41 which for all intents and purposes is a DEvette near as I can figure. The comb, while existing on the razor, does little in the way of limiting cutting depth. I tried it with 2 shims to see what would happen and the answer was... nothing much happened. A bit more blade flex was all. Because of the blade flexure I cut the experiment short.

Just curious, how is blade flexure with that razor?

Just curious, how is blade flexure with that razor?

Blade flex is less evident with the Souplex devette than with the Spitfire R41.
And I agree that the guard on the R41, Shavecraft Tech and a lot of interwar bakelites is not protective at all but serves to stretch the skin.

Actually the devette and the Shavecraft Tech feel very similar but the controlled blade chatter of the R41 gives it a unique feel.

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Just curious, how is blade flexure with that razor?

Blade flex is less evident with the Souplex devette than with the Spitfire R41.
And I agree that the guard on the R41, Shavecraft Tech and a lot of interwar bakelites is not protective at all but serves to stretch the skin.

Actually the devette and the Shavecraft Tech feel very similar but the controlled blade chatter of the R41 gives it a unique feel.

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Out of all of the vette's, what's your favorite?

I actually prefer the stock 2013 r41 over my hurricane cap or my 2011 because there is less blade chatter. I agree with the bakelites, my Neillite 400 is one of my top two favorite razors.

Just curious, how is blade flexure with that razor?

Blade flex is less evident with the Souplex devette than with the Spitfire R41.
And I agree that the guard on the R41, Shavecraft Tech and a lot of interwar bakelites is not protective at all but serves to stretch the skin.

Actually the devette and the Shavecraft Tech feel very similar but the controlled blade chatter of the R41 gives it a unique feel.

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Out of all of the vette's, what's your favorite?

I actually prefer the stock 2013 r41 over my hurricane cap or my 2011 because there is less blade chatter. I agree with the bakelites, my Neillite 400 is one of my top two favorite razors.

Yes - there are a lot of 30s and 40s bakelites with astounding R41+ aggression coupled with beautiful smoothness and supercool Art Deco designs. I love them!

And the difference between the devette and the sevette for me is the same difference as between DE and SE.

The devette shaves a lot like the Shavecraft Tech but requires manual skin stretching. The thin and incredibly sharp blade has a "needley" surgical feel to it and is absolutely the most efficient of the 'vettes.

The sevette feels more comfortable and the rigid blade is great for ATG and sensitive areas. It really behaves like a disposable blade Rolls razor and that means a gorgeously comfortable and very long lasting shave with smart regrowth (I find the regrowth from the devette can be a bit untidy).

The ivette I haven't really enjoyed - the narrow blade requires a lot of practice with angle.
With perserverance the ivette may be incredible and perhaps dedicated injector shavers can take it further.

So I like the unequalled power and fun of the devette. It's like magic shaving.

And I also like the very comfortable and smart rigid blade shaving of the sevette - it combines the excellence of SE and straights and is a combination of all the very best elements of shaving.

I lke both DE and SE shaving depending on mood and circumstance, and the devette and sevette represent the end of the spectrum and ultimate performance for both these razor types.

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