Time for a new DE razor! What's next?

[nthn]

I've been shaving "the right way" now for a little under a month and have been loving every shave. You guys here on B&B have been an amazing help.

I started off with a Merkur 34C HD, but I'm ready to venture further out into the world of safety razors!

What should be my second safety razor to officially start my collection? Should I go vintage? Or another style of a modern?
I'm looking for a good razor to add some variety to the shave.

Give me a name and maybe a direction in which to go get it.

Thanks guys!

 

[tiernan22]

What qualities are you looking for in comparison to your 34C?

 

[zygalski]

Get a Fatboy.
You'll need to scratch that itch eventually anyway...

 

[Redzone]

Any Gillette vintage adjustable as mentioned in post above, its only a matter of time

 

[nthn]

Qualities I'm looking for.. Umm.. see, I don't really know what to look for. I'm not sure what I'll like until I try the other side.

 

[tiernan22]

Qualities I'm looking for.. Umm.. see, I don't really know what to look for. I'm not sure what I'll like until I try the other side.

I can understand that. The Fatboy is a fun adjustable that you'll want to get eventually. My favorite modern adjustable is the Progress/Mergress. The 34C falls right in the middle of that one in terms of blade gap so you could play with what you're "used to." I've been enjoying my recently acquired Fatboy for a little while but my Red Tip has been getting a lot more love lately. It feels a tad more aggressive than my 34C. Fantastic razors. If it were me, I'd avoid slants, R41s, and Futurs for now until you really dial in your technique.

 

[nthn]

Thanks tiernan!
Always nice to hear from a fellow Giants fan.
GO GIANTS!

 

[nthn]

If I were to get a Fatboy, what price would I be looking at? Should I care about the year? And where could I get one?

 

[California Cajun]

If you liked the 34C, I'd recommend trying the 37C (Slant). Hands down my favorite DE razor.

 

[bosseb]

Don't listen to these guys, they are not telling you the secret truth that is ruling this place.

TRY THEM ALL!!! RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!!!!

​

 

[nthn]

Being only 18 I believe that I will eventually try them all. The question is, what should I try next??

 

[tiernan22]

If I were to get a Fatboy, what price would I be looking at? Should I care about the year? And where could I get one?

Someone else around here might be able to speak to the differences in manufacturing from year to year but I've got a '59 and I'm happy with it. I picked mine up on the BST for $40 a *very* fair price. I would suggest looking through the BST listings so you could get a better idea. You could take a look at eBay as long as you ignore the $185 buy it now listings!

I really only buy from other members because I know it's coming from another gentleman's loving, caring home

 

[Reevers]

I picked mine up on the BST for $40k a *very* fair price.

40Gs!!!!

+1 for hitting up BST here. Maybe post a "want to buy" (WTB) thread and you should get some great offers!

 

[chgruver]

Although I haven't tried it yet, as I just won it on the bay, I would suggest a vintage Gillette Old or New Open Comb I have seen them ranging from $30 for a replated one here on B&B and cheaper.

 

[gmgaj]

Any gillette adjustable. The fatboy is 3rd place, IMO, and you can get a slim or super adjustable (black beauty) for less. Also, you need to eventually look into a Gillette new. All of these are fantastic razors, and can be had for a reasonable price.

I've had a couple of replates done by Krona Kruiser, and you might see what he has. If he's got one, you should be able to get an vintage razor with a fresh replate that will last you a lifetime.

 

[chgruver]

Any gillette adjustable. The fatboy is 3rd place, IMO, and you can get a slim or super adjustable (black beauty) for less. Also, you need to eventually look into a Gillette new. All of these are fantastic razors, and can be had for a reasonable price.

I've had a couple of replates done by Krona Kruiser, and you might see what he has. If he's got one, you should be able to get an vintage razor with a fresh replate that will last you a lifetime.

It looks like he still has the OC Old type franken razor reduced to $28 so the price I mentioned is now cheaper, and a red tip SS. Here is a link to his listing.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...oodwill-Otto-Roth-Super-Speed-OC-Frankenrazor

 

[FaceScraper]

I started with a 34C HD also. I quickly developed RAD (within a week) and i now have SEVEN vintage Gillettes (in just over a month since i started DE shaving). I like the Fatboy very much for its versatility. Im currently on my third shave with my 1955 Red Tip and it was smooth and irritation free.

My recommendation would be get a Slim or Fatboy. If you want to go new/modern, get a Progress/Mergress. That will probably be my next razor although ive stopped buying razors for the time being and am now working through soap samples.

 

[Ron Scott]

+1 on an adjustable vintage. I'd say a Slim over a Fatboy. Then you're set. 2 razors, a modern and a vintage adjustable, should last you a lifetime without having to wonder if you're missing something.

 

[rotto66]

I also would recommend a vintage Gillette adjustable. I suggest that you check out your local antique shops and estate sales to get some great bargains. I also find it is more satisfying to find a razor in the wild than it is to just click on one on the computer.

 

[Havok305]

Here is how I would do it.

Red Tip-more aggressive. Great weight. Relatively inexpensive
Fat Boy- adjustable
Slant- Because you haven't shaved with one
Open Comb-because I want one.