Fat Boy Obsession ?

[Doc Thornton]

I tried a lazy search on the forum to find an answer to the following questions. I am certain that this is not the first time the questions have been asked.

What is the reason for the high prices asked and paid on the internet auction sites for razors of the Gillette Fat Boy persuasion?
Are these vintage razors special or unique in some way that their performance or shave is worth the extra money?
Why should I want one other than a collectors item or a person trading in vintage razor futures?

I already have 2 ball end Techs and 3 Super Speeds so I don't "need" another razor but I do understand just wanting another one for the fun of it.
However the high money that they go for seems a bit curious to me. Is there a current production adjustible razor out there that is just as good and close in cost?

Thanks and remember,

Happiness is just a shave away.

 

[brucered]

the SLIM is cheaper and shaves as well or better. the FB is just the gillette Flagship if you will and they skyrocket on ebay, but you'd have better luck snagging one on the BST here (buy, sell, trade thread)

as for modern adjustables, nothing compares to a vintage FB or SLIM, but the closest would probably be the Merkur Progress

FB's can be had, near new, on the BST for under $50, sometimes under $35, you just have to be patient.

it's worth the wait, but in the meantime, start looking for a SLIM. it's the same concept, just a tad longer and slightly shallower head and is still probably my all time favorite razor. i own 2 FB's and 4 Slims, but the Slim gets most of the duty in my den and is also my travel razor.

 

[BennyVega]

I just picked up a very nice, clean Fatboy for $34. I think that's a great price considering what a lot of them go for on ebay.

 

[brucered]

I just picked up a very nice, clean Fatboy for $34. I think that's a great price considering what a lot of them go for on ebay.

yeah, BST is the way to go

this one cost me $46 shipped from the BST vendor section:

 

[Doc Thornton]

Thank you, gentlemen, for your quick response and veteran wet/DE shaver advice.

Doc T.

 

[sychodelix]

Depends on what you want. FBs are heavier than a slim, therefore tending to be more apt to letting the razor do the work, and being slightly more aggressive. Slims are extremely similar, but close to half as expensive, and quite a bit lighter. Those 2 are considered to be the best Gillettes and possibly the best razors ever. YMMV, of course.

 

[robochoche]

I really like the feel of the fatboy in hand. I own a slim but have only used it once because I like the weight and grip on the fatboy better. I did get a good shave from it. I did have to change my go to blade from a BIC chrome to Astras on my fatboy. When using my EJ BIC is the blade of choice not astra. I own two fatboys both are in very good condition I payed $38 for non cased one and $56 for my cased fatboy. Both were bought on ebay.

 

[rivieraranch]

I daresay a form member here is more trustworthy than the run of the mill ebay vendor. Some of these ebay Fatboy razors are real wrecks; you can't see that in a photo always. What if it was dropped? What about hidden brassing or corrosion. The members here are more frank and open about describing the razors more accurately. Not to mention that the prices here are not driven by the kind of hype and nonsense that the ebay auction model has.

 

[takeshi]

Are these vintage razors special or unique in some way that their performance or shave is worth the extra money?

Worth is always subjective on any topic and it's no different with DE's. I wouldn't say that a Fatboy is worth the extra money but it's a YMMV matter like anything else here.

There's just a lot of interest in Fatboys (there always has been since I joined B&B at least). That doesn't mean that they're universally better or inherently better for everyone.

 

[Kentos]

A Fatboy is just one of those razors that seem to be harder to find in the wild vs. other vintage razors. If you go down to the local junk shop you will likely find everything but a Fatboy.

I don't find them to be anything special, but I have one nonetheless .

 

[nortac]

I have two Fat Boys, one I paid high dollar for and one was part of a group (lot) of razors I paid about the same amount for several razors. That being said, I like my slims better, also purchased as part of a "lot" of razors. FBs are nice and retro cool. Be savvy and don't pay a premium for one.

 

[GreekGuy]

I wouldn't consider Fatboys expensive. With minimal patience you can find one in excellent condition on ebay for $50, less if you're persistent. You cannot buy a new adjustable for that much money, and in my honest opinion, the vintage adjustables are light years ahead of the modern ones in terms of build quality, engineering, and aesthetics.

 

[garyg]

As GG says, they aren't that expensive if you are patient, but the cachet drives the eBoy prices up .. last couple I sold on the BST were cased, in excellent condition for about $50. Recent prices though are higher, but they are perhaps the most iconic of all the adjustables, maybe all of the Gillettes. And they shave really well

 

[Harry Snider]

I'm on the hunt for a nice FB as well. I know what you're saying. I've seen auctions go a little crazy for them.

 

[GreekGuy]

I'm on the hunt for a nice FB as well. I know what you're saying. I've seen auctions go a little crazy for them.

Theres a lot of idiots buying on ebay. Just don't be one of them. There are 4 fatboys on ebay right now with a BIN or BO for $60, and I only looked on the first page. So it isn't hard to find one that isn't $100.

As Garyg said, they are cool. Thats why they are desirable and tend to sell for more than many gillette razors, although they not even anywhere close to being the most expensive.

 

[Doc Thornton]

I'm hearing all of you! All are making valid observations. Kentos, I think that you are correct about the finding of a Fat Boy
or any other adjustable razor out there in the world not being as likely as finding a fixed blade model.

Our little family took a trip to so called "Amish Country" In Kidron Ohio, at a very small gathering of folks who set up
a mini flea market in the egg auction parking lot (by Lehman's Hardware) I picked up 3 old razors.
For 7 dollars I got 2 Techs. One is a ball end fake gold, and one is a fat handle in nickle, and also a G4 flare tip SS in very clean cond.
No adjustables of any kind available there though.

Of the three I found today I love the hand feel of the fat handled nickle tech the most. I have not shaved with it yet but tomorrow
before getting slicked up for church I will try it.

I will keep an eye out for an adjustable here, or out there. At present I am looking for my birth day razor, a Super Speed V 2.

 

[NexlevMM]

Found mine in the wild for 19 bucks with the case.

The best thing about FB's is the heft in my opinion. It feels like you're holding a big piece of machined goodness.

 

[Kentos]

Found mine in the wild for 19 bucks with the case.

The best thing about FB's is the heft in my opinion. It feels like you're holding a big piece of machined goodness.

It is an endorsement like this that makes them so desireable . I need to try out my FatBoy again.

 

[Matt_Bloodletter]

I went from Slim to FB to 1960s SS to 1940s Aristocrat. I've used the FB the bulk of the time but I find I get the most enjoyment from either the SS or the Aristo. The fixed models just have a je ne sais quois feeling of precision. I like the heft of the FB but IMHO it doesn't outclass other commonly available classics. I don't want to sell mine but it's just one of a group of very enjoyable tools for the job. I do like to run my Slim and FB at 9 though. Good times!

 

[eelhc]

I paid $30 for my Fatboy before the prices started going up (a lot in the last couple of months). Most auctions on fleabay are ending in the $40~50 range. For a solid brass adjustable razor... this is still a bargain IMO. There's simply no razor that's built to the same quality as a 50 year old Fatboy for $50 or under. The Merkur Progress at ~$65 looks like a tinker toy compared to the Fatboy.