Thick handle vs. Thin handle de safety razors

[santamariasteve]

I wonder what the consensus is? I am average height with average sized male hands. I prefer razors with somewhat thick substantial handles. They impress me as being more efficient and more stable.

For example I much prefer my thick handled Tech to my thin-handled ball end Tech.

But there may be some arguments in favor of razors with thin handles that I am unaware of.

Most (maybe all?) of the Old type Gillette's in the first 2 decades of the 20th century had thin handles. If thick handles are superior for many folks, I wonder why it took so long to bring out the thick handled New Improved Gillette in 1921?

I realize the question is largely subjective, but I solicite your thoughts. Handles are important. They connect us to our razors, physically and psychologically.

 

[ras120]

Thick or thin doesn't make much difference to me, I'm more concerned with length and weight. I can adapt to any handle, but I prefer longer, heavier ones.

 

[Captain Coconut]

I think this is like asking if someone likes thick or thin women. It's a completely personal preference, and even if there were a statistically more common preference, it still wouldn't mean much.

 

[JCinPA]

Consensus?

Here?

Think of the Gillette FatBoy versus Slim adjustable debate. Try, them, go with what you like. I like bigger handles, generally, but I did enjoy my Slim when I had it.

 

[ERVARGASNY]

Does mot matter to me either, i prefer a more heavier handle, Little on the Long side when thin like the Weber ARC with classic handle and a little on the short side when Thick like the Weber Bulldog with EJ89 Head, So i just go with what feels right )

 

[jamesspo]

I tend to favor thicker handles, I think because I ultimately get more surface area contact with my fingers, and that leads to better grip and confidence holding it. With thinner handles I have to modify my grip to use more of the longitudinal dimension of the handle, which I just don't like as well.

 

[btg]

I prefer length over girth. I tried a Super Speed yesterday and hated it. Couldn't get a good grip, always felt it was going to slip. I prefer my long handle Merkur. Much more comfortable for me.

 

[MacDaddy]

Most (maybe all?) of the Old type Gillette's in the first 2 decades of the 20th century had thin handles. If thick handles are superior for many folks, I wonder why it took so long to bring out the thick handled New Improved Gillette in 1921?

I realize the question is largely subjective, but I solicite your thoughts. Handles are important. They connect us to our razors, physically and psychologically.

Personally, I find I tend to prefer thicker handles but it's not a deal-breaker issue for me. I use my Senator more frequently than my '30s Aristocrat, but I prefer my Weber head on my Cooncat Bob handle over its original Weber "classic" handle.

I could get into the physics of the smaller effective "gear ratio" at thicker handle radii affording finer grained angular control of the head, but at the end of the day it comes down to a much more visceral response than a cranial one.

 

[JCinPA]

I tend to favor thicker handles, I think because I ultimately get more surface area contact with my fingers, and that leads to better grip and confidence holding it. With thinner handles I have to modify my grip to use more of the longitudinal dimension of the handle, which I just don't like as well.

Zactly! Well said! I do think they are easier to handle than thin ones. And the added weight seems to improve a razor head in a meaningful way. I loved my original Edwin Jagger razors, but when I mounted that head on a hyooge BRW Deluxe XXL it turned it into a power mower.

 

[chongo gordo]

Bigger, heavier razors are easier for me. However, I recently used an inexpensive Chinese-produced Tech knock-off. It was very light weight with a handle smaller/narrower than a Gillette ball-end. It felt great.

Balance is what more important I think.