Premium Razors vs the rest

@Bruce and BadDad, thanks for the kind words.  I guess I'm just trying to say that sometimes the best surprises happen when we least expect them and cost isn't always the deciding factor.

Chris, have you tried a Schick Adjustable Injector razor and injector blade?  It's a Single Edge offering a top notch shave, at least on the face.  I don't know what it would be like for a head shaver like yourself.

I have not, yet, had the opportunity to try a Schick Injector. There are 2 at a local curio/antique shop that I may pick up, but I just haven't pulled the trigger on them yet. I am the only one in town that seems to be interested in vintage razors, so I am not real worried about them getting grabbed up on me. Town only has about 3500-4000 permanent residents, and these razors have been sitting in these shops for several years, just waiting for a guy like me to come around...

I tried shaving with a GEM Featherweight. Not to my liking. I did not enjoy the experience or the shave at all. Could be techniqe, could be bad blade choice. I would rather trade it or give it to someone than keep trying...

That's interesting because I had some of my worst shaves ever with a GEM open-comb Micromatic SE.  I call it the face eater because that's what it felt like when I used it.  I could not understand anyone liking it but it definitely has its fans.  A few folks started talking up the Featherweight so I thought I might give it a try.  I met one of our Scottish members (1morepasswill) in Glasgow this September and happened to mention it to him over coffee.  Guess what he sent me as a gift for the holidays?  I cannot believe what a fantastic shave I got from it.  It's hard for me to believe that the OC Micromatic and Featherweight are siblings.  

As for the Featherweight, I wonder if it has to do with face shaving vs. head shaving.  Also, the blade can definitely make a difference, at least for me.  These are my favorite SE blades: http://tryablade.com/blade/gem-stainless...tfe-coated.  Try-a-blade is a merchant here and you may buy as many or as few blades as you like.  He offers a very large selection from which to choose.

Freddy

My Tech is my "least favorite" of my vintage razors. It is not nearly as comfortable as my Super Speed, and doesn't shave nearly as close as the Old Type. It's pretty, and I it's a decent shave, just not as good as my other vintage razors, or even my moderns. I may relegate it to travel status, though I honestly don't travel that much...

I would really like to get my hands on a T3 adjustable. Preferably a Slim or a Black Beauty Super Adjustable, but really...any Gillette with a T3 date code would make me happy.  Evidently 1973 was not a popular year for manufacturing razors, OR there are so many of us born that eyar, that they have all been collected already!

And that STAR is a looker!

They are out there. I just picked up my P2 last year. Look on B/S/T often and one will pop up.

Freddy

My Tech is my "least favorite" of my vintage razors. It is not nearly as comfortable as my Super Speed, and doesn't shave nearly as close as the Old Type. It's pretty, and I it's a decent shave, just not as good as my other vintage razors, or even my moderns. I may relegate it to travel status, though I honestly don't travel that much...

I would really like to get my hands on a T3 adjustable. Preferably a Slim or a Black Beauty Super Adjustable, but really...any Gillette with a T3 date code would make me happy. Evidently 1973 was not a popular year for manufacturing razors, OR there are so many of us born that eyar, that they have all been collected already!

And that STAR is a looker!

Right there with ya, man. I'm a 73 baby and I've just been kinda looking for one, and they are thin on the ground from what I've seen so far.

T1 needed here as well, short handle. I've all but given up looking as a I have another date code one.

when I tried the OCMM, I found it to be awful as well...ended up changing out razors after a few passes and then sold it off.

Not that I like posting on wicked edge on reddit, but no joke, they have one of the best B/S/T out there. They call it the shave bazaar. Another really good place is wet shaver enablers B/S/T on Facebook. I got mine for $25.

I stiil haven't totally figured out the MMOC either though.

I recently posted similar thoughts. After months of using my ATT and my Wolfman, I had to accept that my best shaves with a DE come from my Merkur 34C. My Gillette Tech is probably as good. I think I'm done with expensive razors. I loved the look and quality of the Mongoose but the shaves weren't spectacular and I sold it.

I love the construction, materials, and looks of my Wolfman and ATT. You can't beat stainless and these razors are flawless. But I still get a better shave from the Merkur 34C. I also love my Feather Artist Club but that's a different tool (which I prefer to straights).

One thing I've learned about wet shaving: it's one of the very few areas where price does not necessarily coincide with quality as far as performance. I've not found my pricey soaps and balms to be better than my inexpensive soaps and balms. And I've been annoyed by that! I also wish my Wolfman or ATT just blew all my other razors away so I could say, "Money well spent!" Well, it was money well-spent as these are beautiful items, but not as far as performance, and a razor, let's face it, is a tool that's there to fulfill a purpose.

I agree with the poster below about holy grails. I went through this with fountain pens. I've learned there is no perfect pen, and no perfect razor. BUT IF MERKUR MADE A 34C IN STAINLESS STEEL, AND A LONG-HANDLED VERSION, I think that would be my h.g.

Great thread and my thoughts are the same as the OP that started the thread. I have been wet-shaving for over 40 years (tried a cart for a few years and didn't like them) .I have used a lot of different razors over the years and I will say about 2 years ago I realized that for me the razor didn't matter as much as the quality of the blade. I can get BBS with any razor but I now concern myself with the longevity of the shave and how long the BBS will last. To that end, I decided that SE's trumped ALL my DE's my a wide margin. Furthermore,for me, the modern SE's just being produced now (cobra,mongoose) are better than the vintage SE's thanks to the Artist club blades. I still love my Gem OCMM but it is getting a lot less time. I also have the oneblade being delivered tomorrow,so I reserve judgement on that. I sold off my ATTH2,futur,fatips.gillettes and all my DE's except the sledgehammer slant and I will use that as my travel razor. Anyhow just my thoughts and thanks again to the OP for starting a great thread.