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Hey everyone, I have fallen in love with the British Gillettes, my favorite being the #21, I also have a #15 and #66. My daily driver is a back up #21 that is a replate.
I have heard around the interwebz that the #16 seems to be the holy grail of the # Aristocrats, can anyone who has used the #21 and #16 offer a fair comparison?
I really like the feedback here, everyone is really laid back.
Thanks!
I don't own a Gillette Aristocrat but one of the best write ups I have seen is here Understanding the british Aristocrats: A shaver's perspective . Hope that helps.
Bob
I've had both (several years ago now). I can't remember them shaving differently from each other, and I think they may be the same razor with different packaging (but I'm not sure of that). Regardless, my memory tells me that I didn't find them all that different from each other.
As I said, this was a while ago, so my memory may not be all that reliable.
They are beautiful razors, but they did not match my preferences.
I had the 15, 16 and the 66. Long gone now. The 16 surprised me because the end of the blade was exposed enough to nick my nostril when I was manipulating the head around a mustache I had at the time. Not the cutting edge, but the very end, where you grab the blade to handle it. Other than that it was as good or better than its cousins in the Aristocrat family.
The Rhodium plating is what is so attractive about the British Aristocrats to my eye. Other than that ........ don't flame me ....... the American Aristocrats from the 40s/50s are every bit as good IMHO. Trouble being the gold plate doesn't hold up like the Rhodium. I also have to say that the 'barber pole' knurling of the Brits is very attractive, and they might be slightly heavier, I'm not sure on that. Been years since I had one.
Gentlemen,
I have the pleasure of owning two 1948 American Aristocrats, which I am saving for my grandsons, but have never owned the British version of this sweet razor and, therefore, cannot offer a comparison. I am sure it upholds the name Aristocrat.
I just realized after reading Obie's post I should have said I don't own any "British" Gillette Aristocrats. I do have a couple of post war, 1946-51, America Gillette Aristocrats. Well built, smooth shaving and not too aggressive DEs.
I have to agree with Jimmy that what draws me to the British versions is the barber pole knurling and the rhodium plating.
Bob