Open Comb vs. Closed Comb Showdown

        If you are just starting your Wet Shave Journey you're going to hear a lot of great advice from seasoned vets, "wettube", and forums.... and a lot of YMMV (your mileage may vary). We find the idea that "closed comb" guards are somehow less aggressive or efficient than "open combs" to not tell the full story. The first OC (open comb) razors were manufactured similar to straight razors but used these teeth to safe guard the single edge blade against nicks and cuts.

Fast track to the Old Type series, these razors are more aggressive than later Gillette razors, however this can be attributed to the curve of the head and angle which the blade is held. OC vs CC does not necessarily correlate to a more or less aggressive shave. For instance, the open comb 26C from Parker is a mild to medium shaver and the Gillette Red Tip, Aristocrat #21, and almost every Slant are all aggressive closed comb razors. 

In today's video we put a random open and a random closed head to head to see which would be more aggressive.. watch the video below to see what happens!

Taylor of Old Bond St. Mr. Taylor

Omega Boar

Proraso Anti-Irritation Aftershave Balm

Polsilver Super Iridium Blades

1941 Gillette Ranger Tech 

1920's Gillette Single Ring

On a historical note, these razors have more in common than meets the eye. Both are significant in the Gillette timeline as both marked design changes that were not announced or promoted. Very uncharacteristic for the attention hungry Gillette.. Reference the recent Single Video for more information here. These ads here are only a few of the surviving mentions of the Ranger Tech, and here's the clincher: these are not ads from Gillette but local stores trying to sell their sets. It's still a mystery as to why Gillette did not promote the 1941 or 1946 Ranger Tech set, but plastered every wall with the Super Speed and later Notched Super-Speed. Let us know your thoughts!