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Some users use a heavier handle and even though the balance is not perfect, it makes it much nicer to use.
Some users use a heavier handle and even though the balance is not perfect, it makes it much nicer to use.I found the lite weight of the General not to my liking, and have sold it. I'm waiting for the brass or SS edition.
Glad Len said that the One Blade was mainly aimed at Cartridge Shavers. I am pleased to have left them, due to skin problems and have progressed from DE to Vintage SE/Injectors and currently trying some of the new SE razors.
Obviously some OB Shavers love it, but Sometimes the way it appears in photos looks odd to me. But each to their own.I love the looks of an ER Streamline and get a good Shave with it, and a fresh Gem blade is not harsh at all.
The OneBlade, like a cart, will shave in about half the time as does a normal safety razor
Okay ........ You're going to have to explain that one; 'Cause it's never mattered to me which razor I use .... I still only have the same amount of face to cover. The quality of my shave may vary, depending on whether I get the razor / blade combo right, but it never takes me more or less time to get a shave.
I'll add that a cart clogs up practically instantly for me when I have any more than a day or twos growth, so I spend more time trying to rinse them out, banging them on the side of the sink, etc ..... than I ever have a DE or SE razor
Don't let Billy fool you. He's already explained how much he loved the OneBlade, calling it the most comfortable razor he's ever used. He's just sore he can't afford one...
Anyway, below is my review of the OneBlade, the newer version they have that I originally posted on another forum:
"In the past month or so, OneBlade has made some slight changes to the head design of their razor, and have claimed to be using a new, harder steel alloy (this alloy has yet to be disclosed, except to say that it is a steel alloy currently only being used in medical equipment) in the OneBlade head. With these changes came a $100 markup in price, up to $399 from the previous cost of $299. For the first couple weeks after it's introduction, version 2.0 was sold at the old price of $299. I was able to pick the 2.0 version up at the price of $299, minus 10% off with their ongoing discount code.
I was an early buyer of the original OneBlade, and it has been my #1 most used razor in my den since I purchased it. For me, it was quite simply the greatest razor ever made; better than any other DE, SE, or cart I had tried. What made it better?
1. The blade
SE blades are thicker, more sturdy and more rigid than DE blades or cartridge blades. An SE blade will not bend or warp the way these thinner blades will, thus the shave provided will be more consistent throughout, at least in my experience. The spineless Feather FHS was the best possible choice, IMO, because it is both smoother and sharper than the GEM PTFE. The GEM may last longer, but this is because it is not as sharp as the Feather. That is the trade off. (Yet, for those who prefer the GEM, the spine may be removed to fit the razor, and it fits even more precisely if the GEM is clipped at it's sides. [Instructions for this modification will be posted upon request.])
2. The head
Beginning with blade insertion, it doesn't get any easier to change blades. Push in, pull up and out, blade changed. Simple, efficient, innovative. No razor makes switching blades so easy or so quick.
Being an SE, the razor head angle can and is designed to lay flat against the face to maintain the optimum shave angle. The correct shaving angle is built into the head, so there is never any guesswork or slip ups; which is something DE razors cannot accomplish, and something which some new SE razor makers have not taken advantage of.
3. The pivot
A pivot on a razor, which prior to the OneBlade only existed on cartridge razors, accomplishes two things. One, a pivot can move with the contours of the face at the same angle whilst shaving. Two, a pivot offers forgiveness in the razor. This second point requires some explanation.
In a normal safety razor lacking a pivot, the aggression level and efficiency of the razor is practically unchangeable. (Exceptions here are adjustable DE's, and new Mongoose/Cobra style SE's that use the wide shavette style AC blades. These latter type SE's have adjustable aggression based on the blade type used [ProGuard, Pro, Super Pro, etc.]) If you want a different aggression level, you will need to change the razor, the blade, or make an adjustment to the adjustable in between passes. With a pivot, however, aggression/efficiency can me monitored and adjusted instantly during the pass and during the stroke by adding or removing pressure. Without a pivot, adding pressure is like going from 1 to 10 on aggression with no middle ground and no brakes. With a pivot, you have very precise control + forgiveness on the level of agression; starting mild at 1, and moving to 2,3,4,5, and up to 10 on those exact places on the face that most need more or less.
Being tight and spring loaded, the OneBlade's pivot is completely unlike the pivot on a cart. A cart's pivot does ride the contours of the face, but is very floppy, and not very pressure sensitive to changes in aggression. And thus, a cart is not made to allow for the highest levels of aggression/efficiency/closeness of shave. A cart is made for safety first, whilst the OneBlade is made for safety with higher levels of closeness with intuitive control. No other razor can boast of delivering such a close shave, whilst having so much control on aggression, whilst being as safe.
4. The handle
Safety razors these days are mostly built entirely in stainless steel. And no wonder. It is a great, hard metal that will last forever without rust or corrosion. The trade off for all this is weight. Stainless steel is heavy, much heavier than any of the vintage razors many of us and previous generations have used. I would say, too heavy. Shaving requires dexterity and nimble fingers. Much of this dexterity is obviated when using too heavy a razor, akin to using a machete rather than a scalpel in surgery.
Most of the weight being in the handle, OneBlade has solved this problem by hollowing out the center of the handle. This not only solves the weight issue, but makes for an excellent non-slip grip within the hollowed out section.
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Above is simply a breakdown of OneBlade's separate attributes. As to the shave itself, I have already partially alluded, but may need restating. There is quite simply no other safety razor ever made that shaves so safely and comfortably, whilst simultaneously providing the closest BBS shave possible. It is as smooth as ice, with very small risk of nicks, cuts, weepers, or irritation, and shaves closer and more consistently than any DE I've used.
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This is why I wasn't hesitant to purchase the unofficially dubbed OneBlade 2.0. With a 30 day money back guarantee, and customer service that has gone above and beyond in the past, I had nothing to lose with trying a new version of my favorite razor.
...And I'm not sorry, as I'll be keeping the new version. Most everything needing to be said about the OneBlade I've said above, so below I'll focus on the differences.
First thing I noticed when receiving the 2.0 was the case. The OneBlade comes with the razor, a solid metal stand which holds the razor horizontally, a stitched leather case holding both razor and stand, and 10 pack of Feather FHS blades. The case on the 2.0 is a dark chocolate leather, much darker than the original case.
The stand and razor look almost exactly the same. The only visual differences I could perceive was slight manufacturing molding lines at different places within the head (where the blade sits). While I do not have a scale to weigh for myself, a member on another forum has found slight weight differences in the razor and stand. These are:
- V1 (Stand 205.1 grams, Razor 89.2 grams)
- V2 (Stand 202.7 grams, Razor 87.6 grams)
I've noticed no difference in weight by simply handling the two razors, but if the weight differences are accurate, my only explanation is for the alleged steel alloy change. (When OneBlade announces what this is, I'll let you all know.)
The next difference in the V2 is the blade insertion/locking mechanism. The blade in V2 can be removed with less pulling force, sliding in and out easier, and the blade sits slightly more loose in the razor. There is an amount of very slight "play", or free floating movement to the blade that is not there in V1. I do believe this was intentional, and as much was said to a member of another forum concerning the design changes as told by OneBlade themselves. I must mention that although there is this "play" to the blade, it is very slight, and the blade is still very much "locked in" to the razor.
Now for the shave. I am about 5 shaves in, and this is where the most noticeable changes have taken place. Somehow, the shave "feels" more mild. For about 80% of the shave, I feel no blade at all. If I took the blade out, my skin would not even be able to tell whether or not there was a blade inserted. The blade feel, or lack of blade feel, can only be described as 'ghost-like'. Now, this 'ghost-like' lack of blade feel did occur in the V1, but only for about 40% of the shave. Now, at about 80% of the shave lacking blade feel, this attribute has increased by about 100%.
This means: whatever chance of weepers or irritation existed in the original version, which was still possible, but better managed than any other safety razor, has now doubly improved. And yes, my skin is smoother and feels less raw post shave.
But while 'apparent' mildness may have increased, zero efficiency has been lost. It feels more mild, but cuts just as close, and for a just as long lasting BBS shave. OneBlade has claimed that mildness and efficiency have increased, but in my experience efficiency has remained the same whilst only mildness/safety have improved. For me, this is enough. I'm still getting the closest shaves of my life, but it is even more smooth, gentle, safe and comfortable beyond the degree which V1 was already the champion. To me, OneBlade (now V2) is the prize and centerpiece of my den."
Anybody clip me some and I'll pay you good money for it?
OK, once again against the crowd? I have a 1st version One Blade Razor. I can't imagine anything better available today. Works super with the intended Feather Blade and with a little fiddling-- just as good with the de-spined Gem blade. A truly neat and easy to use razor. And, a heck of a lot better then a cartridge razor. Very smooth, very forgiving of technique and also very quick to master its use! The closeness is not beat by any other razor in my den and I have so many razors I would not admit!!!! That's My opinion!!! And, I am unanimous in that!!!!
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