Which TTO to buy?
- Thread starter tack
- Start date
A vintage Slim can be had in excellent condition for well under $50.
I paid $42 for one, but it was my birth quarter (1st qtr 1963) so I bid a bit more than I would have otherwise.
It lacks the case, so it's not "mint", but it is definitely in NOS condition. Looks brand new.
It is adjustable, so you can tweak how much bite you get.
IMHO, much higher quality than the cheaply-made modern Merkur and Chinese TTOs.
I paid $42 for one, but it was my birth quarter (1st qtr 1963) so I bid a bit more than I would have otherwise.
It lacks the case, so it's not "mint", but it is definitely in NOS condition. Looks brand new.
It is adjustable, so you can tweak how much bite you get.
IMHO, much higher quality than the cheaply-made modern Merkur and Chinese TTOs.
High quality TTO = Vintage Gillette, that's it. Easy to acquire and not too agressive = Super Speed or English Rocket (Thought, the English Rocket cost a bit more).
I don't know about easy to acquire, however, if you can get a good looking Aristocrat from either BST or from the bay, I believe you'll be mighty happy. It is a great looking razor, and it performs superbly as a relatively mild razor. To date, it is offers me one of the best shaves when combined with a Med Prep blade. Although I gave a Feather an attempt with that razor last night, and that combination was not all that smooth. Nevertheless, they can be found in TTO forms and are made of high quality. They are great display pieces with case and blade bank. They can be had from 30-45 dollars...
But for cheap money, you can't go wrong with a 40's/50's style Super Speed which can be had for about 10-15 bucks.
But for cheap money, you can't go wrong with a 40's/50's style Super Speed which can be had for about 10-15 bucks.
How about a Gillette TTO open comb Sheraton? Just got one myself today.
My personal favorite I've settled on is the English red tipped rocket. It feels like you can hammer nails with it. For a milder variant try the blue/black tips.
I like all of my adjustable Gillettes but the Aristocrat an Diplomat are tough to beat. I have had many DFS with the the Aristocrat.
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If you are not going Vintage Gillette, the only TTO worth considering is the Cadet/RazoRock. Not quite the built like a tank quality of a Vintage Gillette, but still quite good. But also quite a bit more aggressive than a typical Gillette.
I would also suggest a Slim. If you want vintage without the adjustment, get a Red Tip. IMO, the Red Tip is the finest razor Gillette ever made, but YMMV.
For modern, the Cadet TTO is hard to beat for price or performance.
Good luck with your decision!
For modern, the Cadet TTO is hard to beat for price or performance.
Good luck with your decision!
Fatboy, Slim, Redtip, etc. all very good.
I just want to comment too on the wonderfulness of the Red Tip (my personal favorite all time razor) but I'm not sure what tack means by "not too aggressive." The Red tip is about a #7 on the FatBoy or Slim scale- so it is slightly aggressive and was built to be- It happens to be the perfect razor for my face (and a decent specimen can still be obtained for $30- $40), but it could possibly be "too aggressive" for some. So I would go with the recommendation for a Slim and if you set it on #7 and that seems right, go right out and buy a Red Tip too- it is my personal gold standard and having both a Slim and a Red Tip is not a bad thing. I regularly use both these razors.
I like the slim! It has a nice long handle and you can adjust the aggressiveness of the razor with a nice dial
Flare Tip Rocket. Just a touch more aggressive than its American cousin, but still quite mild. Quality workmanship, but not extremely heavy, and easy to maneuver.
Chad beat me to it. 1940's Gillette SS is a great classic.
