Low profile razor recommendations

**chrisb** · 11-26-2008, 10:28 AM

Hello folks. Looking for a 'new' razor recommendation.

I have been using 2 Gillettes since I stated using a DE razor several months ago, a '56 ball end Tech and a '53 40's SS. I really like both razors but think I tend to appreciate the Tech a little more because of it's low profile. The head on the SuperSpeed just seems a little to chunky for my liking. Makes it a little hard for me to get the angle just right.

How about some suggestions for a razor with a smaller profile than the '53 SuperSpeed but maybe a little more aggressive than the Tech.

Thanks guys and have a good Thanksgiving holiday!

**Confuzius** · 11-26-2008, 10:31 AM

Try a Lux.
Check out the "review" here http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=64457

**tom myers** · 11-26-2008, 10:42 AM

You might want to try a Gillette old style. They tend to be fairly aggressive but they do have a much lower profile head than a superspeed. They are an open comb razor which may seem a little foreign to you at first, but once you use it, you'll find that the comb doesn't seem to act or feel much different than a safety bar.

Regards,
Tom

**bythbook** · 11-26-2008, 10:45 AM

I would second the Old Style - I use a 1907 single ring frequently - it should be plenty aggressive for you and as Tom says, it has a MUCH lower profile head. The old style is my favorite razor for skidding around my (substantial) nose!

**TheBigL** · 11-26-2008, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by chrisb

Hello folks. Looking for a 'new' razor recommendation.

I have been using 2 Gillettes since I stated using a DE razor several months ago, a '56 ball end Tech and a '53 40's SS. I really like both razors but think I tend to appreciate the Tech a little more because of it's low profile. The head on the SuperSpeed just seems a little to chunky for my liking. Makes it a little hard for me to get the angle just right.

How about some suggestions for a razor with a smaller profile than the '53 SuperSpeed but maybe a little more aggressive than the Tech.

Thanks guys and have a good Thanksgiving holiday!

I think my problem is similar to yours. I have so much trouble getting a good shave out of my 2 SSs. I could only get one with an Astra platinum blade (currently out of) and Williams soap (weird, eh?). Just too clunky seems right.

I agree with Confuzius and recommend the Lux. Look for seller open_razor on ebay. Get the Lux with derby blades, because it's cheaper than the Lux by itself for some reason. The seller will combine shipping so check out the other items also.

**AsylumGuido** · 11-26-2008, 10:59 AM

I agree with the Old Type.

**D.Irving79** · 11-26-2008, 11:13 AM

if you can find a 1915 bulldog, GET IT. the head profile is even lower than an old type

**AsylumGuido** · 11-26-2008, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by D.Irving79

if you can find a 1915 bulldog, GET IT. the head profile is even lower than an old type

Actually, I use the term Old Type inclusively. I'm referring to the Bulldogs, ball-end pocket editions and the standards. Some people refer to them as the Old Style, but I use the same terminology as Krumholz does in his Gillette Collector's Handbook.

**D.Irving79** · 11-26-2008, 12:48 PM

the bulldog head profile is different from your "standard" old type. its weird.

**STAFF** · 11-26-2008, 12:56 PM

Bic Metal, can't get much lower profile in a single blade razor

**tom myers** · 11-26-2008, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by AsylumGuido

Actually, I use the term Old Type inclusively. I'm referring to the Bulldogs, ball-end pocket editions and the standards. Some people refer to them as the Old Style, but I use the same terminology as Krumholz does in his Gillette Collector's Handbook.

Guido, I didn't mean to muddy the water by refering to the early Gillettes as "old style". I too, should have refered to them as "old type", as in the Krumholz book. Gillette themselves used the term "old type" on the post 1920 razors of that configuration.

Although the older 102 heads were a little thinner than the 102A's from 1921 and newer, they were all relatively thin when comparing them to a Superspeed per chrisb's original question.

Dave, doesn't the 1915 bulldog have a regular 102 head as was being used on the regular Gillette models of that era?

Regards,
Tom

**D.Irving79** · 11-26-2008, 05:22 PM

i thought so too, but after this thread started up today, i lined up an old type and the bulldog on their heads side by side, w/ the bulldog head being of a lower profile than the old type. im gonna see if i can figure out how to take a picture of it.

**tom myers** · 11-26-2008, 06:00 PM

Originally Posted by D.Irving79

i thought so too, but after this thread started up today, i lined up an old type and the bulldog on their heads side by side, w/ the bulldog head being of a lower profile than the old type. im gonna see if i can figure out how to take a picture of it.

Is the other razor dated prior to 1921 or is it newer? Sometime in 1921 is when they changed to the 102A head which was about .050" or .060" thicker than the 102 head that was used up until that time.

The Old Types which were still sold concurrent with the New Improved razors up until sometime in 1929, had the 102A head. The 106 head on the New Improved was, of course, different yet.

All the above is assuming I understand the history correctly.

Regards,
Tom

**D.Irving79** · 11-26-2008, 06:58 PM

all my old types are 1920 and earlier.

**bythbook** · 11-26-2008, 07:05 PM

Old type. Old Type. Old... type. Type. Type. Type.

Old.

Type.

EDIT: I confess my ignorance. The razor I referred to as the "old style" is my 1907 Single Ring. I guess convention would have it that that is Old Type. I certainly didn't want to confuse things, nor claim expertise I don't have....

Old. Type.

I get it now!

And the Single Ring does have a low enough profile head to allow me to shave around my nose!