That two-bladed razor is the same style as the one my father gave me when I was 16. In those days it was called a "safety razor". Nowadays I use a straight razo

That two-bladed razor is the same style as the one my father gave me when I was 16. In those days it was called a "safety razor". Nowadays I use a straight razor ("cutthroat") for the first over, and a Mach III for a second over, "against the grain". I've been using cutthroats for 15 years, but I still don't have the confidence to use one against the grain. No electric razor has ever "cut the mustard" for me. If I can't have a wet shave then I'll stay with the beard, thanks. A cutthroat of course has no replaceables; but you do need a strop and a stone. I have a belgian stone, which I pass the razors over every 6 months or so. No pressurised cans of foam for me; I use a cream from The Body Shop, but I could just use a puck of soap like everyone else. Anyway, that means I need a brush: I use a silverpoint badger brush. So two cutthroats: call it £100 each. One badger brush: about £50. Belgian stone: £120. Total: £370 one-off cost (brushes do wear out, but if you dry them properly they should last 20 years). The Mach III blades are good for about a dozen shaves each, and give a pretty good "baby's bottom" finish. I use a bay rum cologne as an aftershave lotion. Truth is, I happen to like sharp blades. So I use the belgian stone on my carbon-steel chef's knife and my Buck pocket knife.