Today's Shave...

~ Today's Shave, October 18th, 2010 ~

Prep: Hot shower, Dark Roast coffee, Pheobe Snow via Pandora stream on iPhone
Cream/Soap: Speick Stick
Brush: Shea Moisture, Pure Badger, aka Target Special
Razor: 1966 Gillette Twist, Bob's Razor Works Slim Bull Mastiff Deluxe handle
Blade:Feather
Balm: Kiehl's

Pic to follow.. this is a beauty!

For the past three days I have been shaving with a new to me, Gillette Twist, modified by CoonCat Bob from Bob's Razor Works (BRW) in California. This razor was born in England some time in the fourth quarter 1966 (Date code L4).. The Twist, and it's domestic sister the Gillette Knack, were essentially a Gillette Superspeed head on a cheap plastic handle, but with the Turn To Open collar just under the head instead of on the end of the handle as with the SuperSpeed. It shaves very much like the SuperSpeed, which is to say.. very mild.  So much so that it easily tames a Feather blade which as noted in earlier posts is considered one of the sharpest blades available.  The marriage of the smooth head design and wicked sharp blade seem to meld into a sweet combination and my shaves have been consistently superb.

This razor was modified by BRW around December, 2009 when it was fitted with a slimmer version of the outrageous BRW Bull Mastiff Deluxe handle. This could easily become my favorite razor.. Near BBS with zero discomfort. Perfect balance and hefty weight attributed to the handle. Simple blade installation through the top load silo doors.. And beautiful nickel plating on both the head and handle. 

I continue to enjoy Speick Stick.  Using a stick requires you rub the soap on your moistened face depositing the pre-lather in and around your whiskers.  Unlike many other soaps, Speick leaves a nice slick residue after a pass, a characteristic that is more cream than soap. Face lathering with the Shea Moisture brush is a bit prickly, but it exfoliates well, and the size and shape of the brush are spot on for whipping a froth without depositing it in your nose or ears.  The 'Target Special', so named because that is the only source for this item, is an absolute bargain at $9.95.. if you can find one.