Shaving with a Big Fellow

[Ironman06]

Anybody enjoy shaving with a Big Fellow??? I've had mine over a year now, and I'm JUST NOW getting the hang of it. I posted a review of my experiences and linked it to this thread. I'd be very interested in hearing about your experiences.

Since first acquiring my Big Fellow with New-style head about 18 months previously, I have striven to appreciate its unique characteristics, primarily being it’s humongous size and weight comparable to any other large scale production shavers from Gillette, Schick or any other company, and secondarily being one of the most aggressive shavers I have ever experienced short of a non-safety, straight edged razor. I have shaved with it under various conditions with a heavy emphasis on soaps and creams I already appreciated including Tabac and Mitchells Wool Fat Soaps and Creams from Proraso, Wars, Kiss My Face, La Toja Hydrotermal, and Crabtree and Evelyn. As incredible as it may seem most of these products lacked the cushion required by such an aggressive shaver. To this day, if compelled to use my Big Fellow, I always use the La Toja and work a little more diligently to create a lather with maximum cushion and glide. In fact, just this morning I tried making a ‘superlather’ for the first time ever using Tabac and La Toja… well the end result was actually the best… rather most gentle shave I’ve ever had using the Big Fellow.

 

[T Rick]

I've only shaved once so far with a New Improved Big Fellow (DFS for sure). But now I've got 5 (counting two in the mail, if they ever get here! ) including two Old Types, two New Improved and one Big Boy Deluxe. I'll be doing a week of shaving with them beginning about two weeks from now (still hooked on theme week shaving, last week was GEMs, beginning tomorrow is a week of Single Rings).

And I'll probably favor the Tabac, Proraso and Kiss My Face too (don't have the others you mentioned, maybe I should pick some up!). But I don't fear them. I'll just take it nice and easy...

 

[cooncatbob]

It's been my experience that the NEW Deluxe heads are blade sensitive and don't necessarily like the same blades as a regular NEW.

 

[Oldguy]

I've shaved with the Old type, New De Luxe and the New Improved. The New De Luxe gives the best shave but they are all manageable if you use very light pressure. These razors are heavy so let them do the work. The New Improved is a little aggressive. Be careful. I generally use Banquet Bouquet or C&E Nomad soaps with them.

Len

 

[redbike]

I have an Old Type Big Fellow and a New Improved Big Boy. I'd say the Old Type is the more aggressive razor, but I get very close shaves out of both. I'd also say that both are a bit rough on my skin. I never use them on consecutive days. Love the heft of them though.

 

[Ironman06]

I like your new avatar Cooncatbob! And actually, your post reminded me of a thought I had this morning. The razor edge doesn't seem like it extends... or bends down they way I normally notice it in other style shavers. I think you're right that this particular head really doesn't appreciate the blade I use very much... that it the red personna. I wonder if anyone knows a better blade that is perhaps... a slight tad wider... or more flexible or something? The worst thing about this problem is that jutting edge makes me want to tighten down the head tighter and tighter... perhaps this is a leading cause for the oh-so-common cracked handle? When I first received mine, I thought it was perfect but one day while giving it a good cleaning I noticed the oh, so hard to see. hair line crack... oh boy was that a bummer.

 

[thirdeye]

I've shaved with the Old type, New De Luxe and the New Improved. The New De Luxe gives the best shave but they are all manageable if you use very light pressure. These razors are heavy so let them do the work. The New Improved is a little aggressive. Be careful. I generally use Banquet Bouquet or C&E Nomad soaps with them.

Len

+1

I have an Old Type Big Fellow and a New Improved Big Boy. I'd say the Old Type is the more aggressive razor, but I get very close shaves out of both. I'd also say that both are a bit rough on my skin. I never use them on consecutive days. Love the heft of them though.

The heft of these beauties is awesome....Beats the 38c hands down.

 

[Antique Hoosier]

You convinced me...I will shave with mine tomorrow.

 

[Pike]

I love shaving with the new delux...I don't use it that often, but always get a great shave. I have an old as well...I have to use a shim to get a good shave...it's a lot more challenging using the old...I generally just keep it stored away!

cc

 

[bythbook]

this thread inspired me to shave with my New Improved Big Guy this morning... thanks - it had been awhile. I guess my technique has improved since then - a nice shave, no irritation at all.

 

[Rwoodreno]

My Big Fellow 1929 weighs just at 2.95 ounces per my digital kitchen scale so is light weight by the standard of many of the new heavy and long handle current DE razors. Looks like weight standards have changed since the Big Fellow and Big Guy were made, or even since the last post here. Certainly light weight compared to my 4" handle Timeless Razor Open Comb which is 4.75 ounces on the same scale.

 

[mjclark]

My 1920 Old Type Big Fellow weighs in at 77g and, with the handle loosened 1/8 turn as the Gillette literature suggests, it is blowing me away with the smooth and excellence of the shave quality and the superb grip and balance:

A while back I was surprised to find that a 1911 British Single Ring set to aggressive shaves as well as or better than Eclipse Red Ring, R41 and Merkur Vision.

It's like Gillette got it absolutely right (for my face at least) straight out off the box and every razor that followed was just so much extra icing on the cake.

And then the Big Fellow comes along with extra length and weight, the original "Grande" and perfects it.

 

[Hobgoblin]

I like others find the Gillette Old style razors inconsistent when it comes to shave quality, I have a beautiful Bulldog that shaves very rough , a 20s Canadian Ball end that is smooth so I didn't know what to expect , the Gillette Big Fellow Old style really surprised me. It is super smooth and very efficient ,the silver plate is in excellent condition and it's Canadian .This is one of the best shaving experiences I've had so far and the Big Fellow Old style can hold it's own with any razor I own .



Glenn

 

[mjclark]

the Gillette Big Fellow Old style really surprised me. It is super smooth and very efficient ,the silver plate is in excellent condition and it's Canadian .This is one of the best shaving experiences I've had so far and the Big Fellow Old style can hold it's own with any razor I own .


Glenn

I absolutely agree Glenn!

I feel like I have shaved with quite a broad range of DEs, many of which are highly acclaimed by our community, and the Old Type Big Fellow has just given me the very very best DE shave I have yet experienced.

 

[Hobgoblin]

I absolutely agree Glenn!

I feel like I have shaved with quite a broad range of DEs, many of which are highly acclaimed by our community, and the Old Type Big Fellow has just given me the very very best DE shave I have yet experienced.

For me there is something special about this razor , the weight and balance provide the optimal feel when shaving . I find it a more aggressive razor than my beloved News and smoother .This razor is the easiest I've used so far to consistently apply the principle of no pressure and it seems to work well at a variety of angles . I've used Rapira , Perma Sharp , Pol SI and Nacet blades and each one paired very well with the razor for a smooth and efficient shave . I also have used a wide variety of razors both vintage and modern and my prep and technique have reached a point where I can get a very good shave with most razors , but this Big Fellow has reached a level that few of my razors can match . After my first shave I was really surprised at how much I liked shaving with it and also how comfortable and close the shave was and the shaves have remained at this level. Very few of the razors I've used have impressed me like the Big Fellow, my guess is that it doesn't get the acclaim that some razors do as it is not that widely available. Funny thing about this hobby is that when there is a lot of hype around a razor and you try it the razor may or may not work for you .So I'm hesitant to declare a razor as the best but the Big Fellow Old Style has certainly found a place in my rotation . When I read your post I was glad to hear you enjoyed this razor as much as I do

Glenn

 

[mjclark]

Second shave with the Old Type Big Fellow and the NOS Gillette Platinum blade:

The first shave wasn't just a fluke, the second shave was magnificent too.

As Glenn says, the ergonomics of this razor are superb.
It just feels perfect in the hand and on the face.
Very very smooth and stealthily aggressive.
Wow! What a razor!

 

[Highspeedlane]

Really nice looking Razor [MENTION=67066]mjclark[/MENTION].

 

[mjclark]

So the New Improved Big Fellow arrived today to keep the Old Type Big Fellow company:

 

[Hobgoblin]

So the New Improved Big Fellow arrived today to keep the Old Type Big Fellow company:

Beautiful razors and nice score . I've the Old Style Big Fellow, the New Deluxe Big Boy and the RFB #20 and I am now on the hunt for the New Improved Big Fellow . They are my favorite Gillettes and all give excellent shaves

Glenn

 

[mjclark]

Beautiful razors and nice score . I've the Old Style Big Fellow, the New Deluxe Big Boy and the RFB #20 and I am now on the hunt for the New Improved Big Fellow . They are my favorite Gillettes and all give excellent shaves

Glenn

Thanks Glenn! These Big Gillettes are truly magnificent.

How does the New Deluxe Big Boy compare to the Old Type Big Fellow?