This thing is big, hence the name. Due to it's large size, it finds the correct shaving angle for you. You can't claim that this razor is top-heavy in any way. Finding the right balance is a breeze. One thing I noticed when holding the handle is that though the knurling is very deep it does have a slicker feel. I wonder if it's due to the silver plating. However, a little pinch from the Alum bar allowed me to have a secure grip. My previous shave was with a complete opposite (1940 Gillette Milady) and switching to this was like switching from a Porshe to a Mac truck. I loaded it with an Astra SP (my go-to OC blade) and loaded up some lather with an Omega Mighty Midget (very nice scrubby mixed boar/badger) and VDH luxury soap. I went for 3 passes today. My experience with my Tuckaway and Criterion New Deluxe has taught me that I don't need to have a multiple pass Mantic59 style shave with these guys. I decided to go with a XTG, ATG, and blade buff ATG pass. The plan worked! There was no irritation (except for a tiny weeper from a tiny zit on my neck). Starting with a XTG pass was not a problem. I don't have quill like beard growth but the Big Fellow plows it down like no one's business. Blade buffing was fun and I did not have any irritation whatsoever. For my post shave, I rubbed a block of Alum on my face to assess the damage........but no irritation, just an invigorating tingle. I closed with some vintage Avon Wild Country from a keg-style decanter and had a positive feeling about my day. The Big Boy's a keeper. This is a beautiful strong looking razor. They don't make them like they used to. No hand is to big for this Fellow and it would have its place in any collection. The New Improved and NEW style razors (long comb) have a rather nice combination of aggressivness and smoothness unparallelled to no other OC's that I've tried.