Blade Wars: Episode 2 — Schick Quattro Power v Gillette M3Power

Over two years ago I featured these two heavyweights in a shave–off won, surprisingly, by Schick.

That was when razors didn't vibrate.

Times change and old tools learn new tricks.

Gillette came out of the blocks first in May of last year with its M3Power (below),

featuring a triple–bladed battery–powered vibrating head (below).

Now comes Schick over a year later with its recent entry into the vibrating razor arena, the Quattro Power, featuring not three but — Doh! — four vibrating blades.

Gillette's said to be preparing a five–bladed contender called the Fusion, to be introduced next year, but here we deal with reality (Oh, really? — I hadn't realized until you pointed it out...), not vaporware and "real soon now."

This morning's shave–off here at bookofjoe World Headquarters produced a clear-cut — and I use the term advisedly — winner.

Let's just say that should you opt for the Schick you had better pick up a styptic pencil as well 'cause you are gonna lose some blood.

My shave with a new Schick Quattro Power (top and below) left me with six (6) bleeding places on my face.

I so seldom cut myself with the Gillette M3Power that I've stopped purchasing styptic pencils.

I had to rummage around under the sink until I found one to stop the hemorrhaging.

It's odd, the Schick shave felt OK — it just seemed to take a little of my epidermis with it each time it passed by.

In terms of esthetics the Schick is likewise a clear loser: it's bulky, feels cheap in the hand and has an ugly gray, white and orange color scheme.

The winner, by TKO: Gillette.