As planned, I spent the last week using the Gillette New Improved Big Fellow exclusively. I changed my shaving prep (soap/cream, brush) and also AS routine, but the razor was kept constant. I intended to use just one blade, but I changed my mind on that - more on that later.
My Gillette Big Fellow (New Improved head) is a 1926 model, I believe (going off the date code). It came in a metal case (which I have), and is silver plated. The plating on mine is pretty worn on the handle, but the shave is not affected, of course.
The New Improved head was one of Gillette's three non-TTO open comb designs. It was preceded by the Old Type, and succeeded by the NEW. Like the Old Type, it has two posts on the head that help position the blade. Modern blades fit on these posts with a little wiggle room, and attention has to be taken when placing them. The teeth are thicker than in the Old and NEW type heads.
As its name implies, the Big Fellow is bigger than 'standard' New Improved razors (the New Standard or Bostonian, for example). The larger handle makes the razor more balanced and less head-heavy. Though the handle itself is not that heavy, it does change the balance-point when you hold it. It does feel substantial in the hand, and the knurling makes it easy to keep a hold of.
I planned to use the Big Fellow with just a Red IP for the week, but after a couple of days I changed to a Gillette yellow - reasons for that come later in the review. Blade replacement is similar to other 3-piece DE razors, but since you have to place the blade carefully to ensure even blade exposure, it is not as simple as in the NEW, for example. The fiddly blade replacement procedure may be a drawback for some people.
Once the blade is in place however, this razor shaves brilliantly.
I used to think the New Improved razors were aggressive, but as my technique has improved, I've found these to be somewhat mild, and very smooth shavers. A three-pass shave with this razor equals a close, comfortable shave every time. No sting with the AS, and my face stays smooth for a long time. It is easy to access all the nooks and crannies in my throat area too.
While the shave was very close, it wasn't as long-lasting as the shave from the Cobra Classic. I put that down to the greater aggressiveness of the CC and the extra sharpness of the blades in that razor, so I switched the Red IP to a Gillette yellow. The shaves were even smoother, but they lasted about the same length of time as before. I had some tactile (not visible) stubble by the end of the work-day. This is normal for me, but the CC gave me another hour or two before the stubble was noticeable.
However, the main thing is the comfort of the shave. I'm not a guy who obsesses over 'BBS' (which is a concept I deplore); instead I tend to focus on getting a CCS (close, comfortable shave). This razor gives a more comfortable shave than the Cobra Classic, that's close enough to last me through the work-day. The fact that the shave from the CC lasted an hour or more does me little good.
Perhaps the Big Fellow would be even closer with a Feather blade, and I may try that sometime.
The prices on these razors vary. They're not common, but they're not too rare either. Prices range from below $50 to about $100 for a cased version in good shape. I'd say they're worth the price.
Note: Other New Improved razors (Bostonian, Tuckaway, etc.) shave similarly, but with some variations due to the handle design and weight balance. I'll review the Bostonian separately.
Previous reviews are here:
The Classic Shaving Cobra Classic
My Gillette Big Fellow (New Improved head) is a 1926 model, I believe (going off the date code). It came in a metal case (which I have), and is silver plated. The plating on mine is pretty worn on the handle, but the shave is not affected, of course.
The New Improved head was one of Gillette's three non-TTO open comb designs. It was preceded by the Old Type, and succeeded by the NEW. Like the Old Type, it has two posts on the head that help position the blade. Modern blades fit on these posts with a little wiggle room, and attention has to be taken when placing them. The teeth are thicker than in the Old and NEW type heads.
As its name implies, the Big Fellow is bigger than 'standard' New Improved razors (the New Standard or Bostonian, for example). The larger handle makes the razor more balanced and less head-heavy. Though the handle itself is not that heavy, it does change the balance-point when you hold it. It does feel substantial in the hand, and the knurling makes it easy to keep a hold of.
I planned to use the Big Fellow with just a Red IP for the week, but after a couple of days I changed to a Gillette yellow - reasons for that come later in the review. Blade replacement is similar to other 3-piece DE razors, but since you have to place the blade carefully to ensure even blade exposure, it is not as simple as in the NEW, for example. The fiddly blade replacement procedure may be a drawback for some people.
Once the blade is in place however, this razor shaves brilliantly.
I used to think the New Improved razors were aggressive, but as my technique has improved, I've found these to be somewhat mild, and very smooth shavers. A three-pass shave with this razor equals a close, comfortable shave every time. No sting with the AS, and my face stays smooth for a long time. It is easy to access all the nooks and crannies in my throat area too.
While the shave was very close, it wasn't as long-lasting as the shave from the Cobra Classic. I put that down to the greater aggressiveness of the CC and the extra sharpness of the blades in that razor, so I switched the Red IP to a Gillette yellow. The shaves were even smoother, but they lasted about the same length of time as before. I had some tactile (not visible) stubble by the end of the work-day. This is normal for me, but the CC gave me another hour or two before the stubble was noticeable.
However, the main thing is the comfort of the shave. I'm not a guy who obsesses over 'BBS' (which is a concept I deplore); instead I tend to focus on getting a CCS (close, comfortable shave). This razor gives a more comfortable shave than the Cobra Classic, that's close enough to last me through the work-day. The fact that the shave from the CC lasted an hour or more does me little good.
Perhaps the Big Fellow would be even closer with a Feather blade, and I may try that sometime.
The prices on these razors vary. They're not common, but they're not too rare either. Prices range from below $50 to about $100 for a cased version in good shape. I'd say they're worth the price.
Note: Other New Improved razors (Bostonian, Tuckaway, etc.) shave similarly, but with some variations due to the handle design and weight balance. I'll review the Bostonian separately.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Previous reviews are here:
The Classic Shaving Cobra Classic
Last edited:
