Fatboys going for too much - what other vintage Gillette?

[zygalski]

As above.
I'd like a vintage to compliment my DE89. A nice adjustable or TTO, or failing that a non-adjustable vintage that's about the same over all aggressiveness as my Edwin Jagger.
What can I get that is less than the silly money Fatboys always seem to go for these days?
Any suggestions welcome

 

[Dozer]

I like my slims. I'm not sure what they are going for now, but they have never seemed to be as popular as the fatboy. I mean I really like my fatboy but I think I only paid like 25 for it. If you can find a flare red tip those are supposedly pretty aggressive.

 

[gmgaj]

Get a slim or an earlier model super adjustable (black beauty). They go for less money, and I think they shave better than the fatboys. They are great razors.

Sort of off topic: I always throw out Gillette new as an option, too. My favorite razor but it is non-adjustable and not TTO. I have the handle from a razorock razor on a replated new head and it is terrific.

 

[Sir Lurkalot]

Slims aren't populating the radar lately and not nearly as pricey as the Fat Boy is. Maybe consider the Red Tip?

 

[mdevine]

I have a dozen vintage Gillettes, and a pre-war Fat-Handled Tech (with triangular holes on the base plate) is my favorite. I also reach for my NDC Superspeed and Rocket HD more often than an adjustable.

 

[dcobranchi]

They are always generally more reasonable than a Fatboy

Slims and the SA variants were made for much longer than the FBs.

 

[Maxime D.]

Slims and the SA variants were made for much longer than the FBs.

+1 Folks tend to forget that the FB were only in production for 3 years, more than 50 years ago... I never found any adjustable in Canada and I roamed around MTL spending gas many time. When I see a shaveready FB sparkling on the bay, its like cheesecake.

 

[Mason_07]

I purchased a Fatboy from a member on the forums here for $30 or $35 that is in good user grade shape. in the past month, I've seen several fatboys on the forum here priced between $30-$40. I also picked up a fatboy in about the same shape for about $38 on Ebay a couple of months prior to that. If you keep your eyes open on Ebay for a week or two, you can pick up a decent user grade Fatboy for high $30's or low $40's. This isn't unreasonable in my opinion for a razor that's over 50 years old.
On the other hand, I was able to pick up two slim razors for $10-$15 less than the two fatboys just mentioned. When you're only talking a difference of $10-$20 in price....why not just go for the fatboy that you really seem to want in the first place? Just my two cents...

 

[Sir Lurkalot]

I have two Fat Boys that will go to the grave with me.

 

[toyman]

I got a slim in a package from Etsy. All the razors in the package were good, but the slim was very good. I started using it this week and it's been great. A lot closer (set on 5) than my DE89 and no irritation with either. I think I paid $35 for the Slim, a Travel Tech, a Super Speed, and a Gold Fat Handled Tech, so they were about $8.75 each.

 

[Hen]

I grab for my slim before my fatboy. Both are great shavers, though.

 

[Rothman]

I just got my slim, it's my first and only adjustable. I have only shaved with 3 times but it's great. I've been stuck in an open comb loop but the slip easily broke that. It just feels very high quality and shaves amazingly well. I'd definitely echo the others and say get a slim.

 

[larzone]

British Rockets! #58 or a Flare Rocket. Can't go wrong with those razors.

 

[Saltwater Cowboy]

never tried a DE89 but i have a special love affair with the early 60's flare tip.

 

[fsturnz]

+1 for the slims. I actually like the shave better than my fat boy, and set at 5 it shaves very much like my EJ 89.

 

[Scott0079]

All metal head super adjustable, longer handle, better shaver!

 

[tacchini]

i would say go for the slim as well, i think its a better shaver than the fb, or you could look on the bst on here from time to time, you will get a lot better deal on a fb on here than from ebay.

 

[Beerhunter]

Nothing IMHO beats a close comfy gold tech shave. Others will chime in on the superspeed and the slim all good choices. Good prices too. Good luck.

 

[Antares600]

Fat Boys go for more because they were only made for 4 years, Slims were made for 8 years. I still think FBs are way overvalued on ebay.

I say get a Slim if you don't want to pay too much. You should love it, I have yet to meet a DE enthusiast who doesn't like Gillette adjustables.

 

[alaskazimm]

If you are after the general aggrssivness of the DE89, consider the plain Flare Tip or the Blue Tip as these are milder than the Red Tip. I have a DE89 and a Red Tip, and to my face the Red Tip is more aggressive than the DE89.

Edit: I also have a Slim which I reach for more often than the Red Tip. Gives a good shave and you can dial in the aggressivness that you want. Much cheaper than Fat Boy also.