open comb or safety bar?

Yeah, I think it's tricky to come to any firm conclusions either way, since there are aggressive open comb razors and mild open comb razors; good OC designs and mediocre OC designs; combs which scratch and combs which are smooth. It's unfortunate that some guys have a bad experience with one OC razor and then decide they don't like OCs as a category, but I suppose it's understandable.

The Gillette NEW (SC and LC) is what warmed me to open comb designs. Nowadays I'd guess what I like about the NEW has a lot more to do with its head geometry and the way it rigidly clamps the blade, but I associate its smooth shaves with the open comb, too. Because of that, I went with the ATT S2, and the Wolfman WR1-OC.

In theory, an open comb should leave more lather in place by the time the blade reaches the whiskers. I'm not sure how this actually plays out compared to a safety bar, but it's probably significant that many safety bar designs include scalloping or channels along the bar. I've also seen the claim that an open comb leaves more hair standing up, but again I'm not sure that makes such a difference in practice.

Safety bar. I do enjoy my FaTip Grande but I rarely use it. It typically only gets used if I have 48+ hours growth.

Straight Bar for me as I seem to find them smoother. I guess my Weber DLCs have spoiled me, greatly.

If you asked me 4 months ago I would have said straight bar. After learning to use the R41 properly, open comb all the way.

Open Comb all The way. I Like The Gillette NEWs LC and SC,RFB,Deluxe,Flat Bottom and 1936 Aristocrat and Sheraton

Open Comb all The way. I Like The Gillette NEWs LC and SC,RFB,Deluxe,Flat Bottom and 1936 Aristocrat and Sheraton

Hi Graydog , is that a weimaraner in your avatar? You have to meet kwsher who also has his weimaraner as his avatar = sorry for turning this thread into a dog fancier thread.

Ok back to our regularly scheduled programming - open comb vs not open comb (safety bar or closed comb or other). I like both.

I have a Wolfman WR1 with a safety bar on one side and open comb on the other. They're both very nice but in the case of this wolfman razor, I prefer (by a whisker) the OC side. I have an ikon with a similar configuration and I like it as well. The ikon SC short comb is probably my most aggressive razor and I'll reach for it when comfort isn't my top priority.
Marko

Rough and thick growth, I think I get better shaves with an OC.

good point, Freddy. I've updated the thread title to safety bar rather than closed comb.

good point, Freddy.  I've updated the thread title to safety bar rather than closed comb.

Actually, if anyone has a preference for open over closed comb, or vice versa, I would be interested to hear about that and why.

To your quuestion of open comb vs. safety bar, for me it truly depends on the razor.  For example, the Open Comb Micromatic is a real face eater (and I am speaking strictly for myself here).  Nicks, cuts, weepers, you name it.  On the other hand, my Gillette NEWs, both long and short comb, give me just beautiful smooth comfortable shaves.  As for safety bars, my inexpensive STAR DE (a 1950s competitor to the Gillette Tech) is one of my favorite razors of either type.  Again, beautiful, close, smooth shaves with any of my favorite blades.  However, the safety bar side of my iKon OSS is all but useless and doesn't give me a close shave no matter what blade I use.  The open comb side of that razor, however, is excellent.

I guess for me the answer is that I like both but it depends on the particular razor.