What Single Edge Did You Use Today

Growth: 1.5 day beard
Prep: Warm shower: Stirling Sheep bar soap
Pre: None
Brush: Maggard Razors 24mm premium boar knot with Maggard Razors sky blue 25mm handle
Lather: Van Der Hagen Select Shave Soap
Load Bowl: Old Spice Mug
Lather Bowl: Old Spice Mug

Razor: Blackland Vector Ti (Ti SB base plate) with Timeless Razors Ti Crown TRH8 handle
Blade: Kai Captain Titan ProTouch MG (D7.5)

Razor: Mongoose SS
Blade: Feather Pro (D1)
Handle: PAA Flare Tip handle

Third pass:
Razor: Schick 500 Injector Razor
Blade: Chinese Schick  (D7+)

3 pass mustache and chin, 2 pass elsewhere

Post: alum, Stirling witch hazel, PAA Mysterium Serum

It is rare that I shave daily and there were several razor combinations that I wanted to try on one day's growth, so I picked two combinations and and did an A/B shave. This was an A/B shave between the Vector/Protouch MG and the Mongoose/Feather Pro.

May I ask what your impressions were, and if you plan to A/B them some more?

GEM Micromatic Clog Pruf razor/Personna coated SS blade/Pacific Shaving Caffeinated cream/Edwin Jagger 25mm Silvertip Fibre 2 brush

Eric

Growth: 1.5 day beard
Prep: Warm shower: Stirling Sheep bar soap
Pre: None
Brush: Maggard Razors 24mm premium boar knot with Maggard Razors sky blue 25mm handle
Lather: Van Der Hagen Select Shave Soap
Load Bowl: Old Spice Mug
Lather Bowl: Old Spice Mug

Razor: Blackland Vector Ti (Ti SB base plate) with Timeless Razors Ti Crown TRH8 handle
Blade: Kai Captain Titan ProTouch MG (D7.5)

Razor: Mongoose SS
Blade: Feather Pro (D1)
Handle: PAA Flare Tip handle

Third pass:
Razor: Schick 500 Injector Razor
Blade: Chinese Schick  (D7+)

3 pass mustache and chin, 2 pass elsewhere

Post: alum, Stirling witch hazel, PAA Mysterium Serum

It is rare that I shave daily and there were several razor combinations that I wanted to try on one day's growth, so I picked two combinations and and did an A/B shave. This was an A/B shave between the Vector/Protouch MG and the Mongoose/Feather Pro.

May I ask what your impressions were, and if you plan to A/B them some more?

No problem at all.

For the first pass, I would say the actual shave/razor feel, both of these were close. I think the Mongoose had more glide to it. I think the Vector was a closer shave by a tiny bit. After two passes the Mongoose had a nick in the mustache area, a bleeder on the neck and razor burn all over. The alum stung in places. I am sure it was an angle thing. It has been a two months since I last used the Mongoose. The Vector side was smooth without razor burn or sting from the alum. The mustache area was a draw for both as both left some stubble. To be fair, I only went WTG in the mustache and chin areas. I used the Schick to clean up the mustache area as well as clean up the tip of the chin. If I had another daily shave, I would pick the Vector combination for comfort and ease of use. I would save the Mongoose combination for a 2-day+ shave. Granted, this was a guarded blade vs. an unguarded blade, but I was curious to try these two combinations and see which one I liked better.

Face BBS, Neck BBS-

I could see more A/B shaves in the future. The next A/B shave I have in mind is the Feather DX wood handle vs. the Kai Captain Standard barber razors. Another one I may do (if I don't have it documented in my notes already) would be the Feather SR kamisori razor vs. CJB kamisori. I am sure I have a few GEM comparisons I want to do as well.

Thanks for asking!

Growth: 1.5 day beard
Prep: Warm shower: Stirling Sheep bar soap
Pre: None
Brush: Maggard Razors 24mm premium boar knot with Maggard Razors sky blue 25mm handle
Lather: Van Der Hagen Select Shave Soap
Load Bowl: Old Spice Mug
Lather Bowl: Old Spice Mug

Razor: Blackland Vector Ti (Ti SB base plate) with Timeless Razors Ti Crown TRH8 handle
Blade: Kai Captain Titan ProTouch MG (D7.5)

Razor: Mongoose SS
Blade: Feather Pro (D1)
Handle: PAA Flare Tip handle

Third pass:
Razor: Schick 500 Injector Razor
Blade: Chinese Schick  (D7+)

3 pass mustache and chin, 2 pass elsewhere

Post: alum, Stirling witch hazel, PAA Mysterium Serum

It is rare that I shave daily and there were several razor combinations that I wanted to try on one day's growth, so I picked two combinations and and did an A/B shave. This was an A/B shave between the Vector/Protouch MG and the Mongoose/Feather Pro.

May I ask what your impressions were, and if you plan to A/B them some more?

No problem at all.

For the first pass, I would say the actual shave/razor feel, both of these were close. I think the Mongoose had more glide to it. I think the Vector was a closer shave by a tiny bit. After two passes the Mongoose had a nick in the mustache area, a bleeder on the neck and razor burn all over. The alum stung in places. I am sure it was an angle thing. It has been a two months since I last used the Mongoose. The Vector side was smooth without razor burn or sting from the alum. The mustache area was a draw for both as both left some stubble. To be fair, I only went WTG in the mustache and chin areas. I used the Schick to clean up the mustache area as well as clean up the tip of the chin. If I had another daily shave, I would pick the Vector combination for comfort and ease of use. I would save the Mongoose combination for a 2-day+ shave. Granted, this was a guarded blade vs. an unguarded blade, but I was curious to try these two combinations and see which one I liked better.

Face BBS, Neck BBS-

I could see more A/B shaves in the future. The next A/B shave I have in mind is the Feather DX wood handle vs. the Kai Captain Standard barber razors. Another one I may do (if I don't have it documented in my notes already) would be the Feather SR kamisori razor vs. CJB kamisori. I am sure I have a few GEM comparisons I want to do as well.

Thanks for asking!

Thanks very much!  Both your review and reply are detailed and well thought out.  FWIW I have shaved with three different stainless Vectors, the first two of which were loaners from good friends.  The loaners both accepted Proline P30 blades, and they rocked the house for me - efficiency and smoothness were both nicely more than passable, and the nimble handling of the Vector was delightful.  When I bought my own stainless Vector, I was disappointed that it did not accept P30s, but after trying a few blades, I popped in a Protouch MG, and I liked it enough to stick with it (although not as much as the P30s).  

Thanks again for taking the time.

HSOTD 3.30.24


Parker SoloEdge
APShaveCo handle w/GDMG G5 knot
Rex Supply 1977

Razor: Schick G1 Injector Razor
Blade: Schick Injector
Brush: Trotter Handcrafts Quartz Vein, Shavemac Finest
Pre-Shave: Proraso White Pre-Shave Cream
Lather: Truefitt & Hill Grafton
Aftershave: Truefitt and Hill Grafton Aftershave Balm
Additional Care:
  Thayers Facial Tonic Witch Hazel Unscented
  Imperial Leather Talcum Powder

May I ask what your impressions were, and if you plan to A/B them some more?

No problem at all.

For the first pass, I would say the actual shave/razor feel, both of these were close. I think the Mongoose had more glide to it. I think the Vector was a closer shave by a tiny bit. After two passes the Mongoose had a nick in the mustache area, a bleeder on the neck and razor burn all over. The alum stung in places. I am sure it was an angle thing. It has been a two months since I last used the Mongoose. The Vector side was smooth without razor burn or sting from the alum. The mustache area was a draw for both as both left some stubble. To be fair, I only went WTG in the mustache and chin areas. I used the Schick to clean up the mustache area as well as clean up the tip of the chin. If I had another daily shave, I would pick the Vector combination for comfort and ease of use. I would save the Mongoose combination for a 2-day+ shave. Granted, this was a guarded blade vs. an unguarded blade, but I was curious to try these two combinations and see which one I liked better.

Face BBS, Neck BBS-

I could see more A/B shaves in the future. The next A/B shave I have in mind is the Feather DX wood handle vs. the Kai Captain Standard barber razors. Another one I may do (if I don't have it documented in my notes already) would be the Feather SR kamisori razor vs. CJB kamisori. I am sure I have a few GEM comparisons I want to do as well.

Thanks for asking!

Thanks very much!  Both your review and reply are detailed and well thought out.  FWIW I have shaved with three different stainless Vectors, the first two of which were loaners from good friends.  The loaners both accepted Proline P30 blades, and they rocked the house for me - efficiency and smoothness were both nicely more than passable, and the nimble handling of the Vector was delightful.  When I bought my own stainless Vector, I was disappointed that it did not accept P30s, but after trying a few blades, I popped in a Protouch MG, and I liked it enough to stick with it (although not as much as the P30s).  

Thanks again for taking the time.

You are very welcome!

I hear you about the P30s. From what I read, the P30 holes are not consistent (even in the same dispenser of blades). You may find a blade or two out of the pack that will work in a Vector but the rest may not. I could not get the P30s to work in my Vector either. My favorites for the Vector are the original Kai Captain Blade and the Kai Captain Titan ProTouch MG. I use the P30 blades in my Mongoose SS.

La Faulx with Kai Protouch MG

Razor: Gem Feather Weight Deluxe
Blade: Personna GEM PTFE Stainless Steel Blade
Brush: Rubberset 200-3 TNS Boss knot
Pre-Shave: Proraso White Pre-Shave Cream
Lather: Spearhead Shaving Seaforth Black Watch
Aftershave: Seaforth! Black Watch Aftershave Toner
Additional Care:
  Thayers Facial Tonic Witch Hazel Unscented
  Nivea Post Shave Balm

GEM Micromatic OC razor/Personna coated SS blade/Pacific Shaving Caffeinated cream/Edwin Jagger 25mm Silvertip Fibre 2 brush

Eric