Thread: Gillette Fat Boy question..

Myself, I wanted a fat boy cause I have large hands. Holding a 1920's ball type is like holding a toy for me.

Originally Posted by KrazieSj

Myself, I wanted a fat boy cause I have large hands. Holding a 1920's ball type is like holding a toy for me.

I'm amazed by all the comments on the size of the Fatboy.
I find it to be almost unusable due to how small it is

Nah, give me a merkur Vision, that is a proper sized shaving tool

I agree that Fatboys are overrated. Slims are cheaper and IMHO better.

I have a Fatboy E-1 that I got for a good deal. Personally I am not satisfied with the shave and I have been considering selling mine so that I can buy more straights, but I never seem to pull the trigger when its time.

IMO the Fatboys are overpriced, paid $5 for my '71 Gillette adjustable with the long black handle and after some Lysol and metal polish it looks and shaves like new. I am using to clean up after my 1st pass with the str8 (still learning and adhering to Lynn's advice).

Will keep the DE for a great travel razor, but now it is doing great at giving me a DFS while I'm learning. I hope to become good at the str8 before my 5 yo begins shaving.

Originally Posted by JayhawkPharmD

IMO the Fatboys are overpriced, paid $5 for my '71 Gillette adjustable with the long black handle and after some Lysol and metal polish it looks and shaves like new. I am using to clean up after my 1st pass with the str8 (still learning and adhering to Lynn's advice).

Will keep the DE for a great travel razor, but now it is doing great at giving me a DFS while I'm learning. I hope to become good at the str8 before my 5 yo begins shaving.

I believe that i have the same razor you do, the adjustable long black handle one at least, its the one I use, paid like


and OP, if the fatboys are really going for that much, I need to sell mine and buy a strop, i found one in an antique store for $10.....its jammed right now and needs a cleaning, but its easily fixed stuff

Originally Posted by bharner

But what other adjustable DE DOESN'T cost an arm and a leg? That, to me, is what makes a fatboy/slim so appealing.

Yo, B... sorry you can't make it to Sunday's gettogether at AF's AO... I'd have gone the extra mile to meet up with you and the others for sure.

Next time, when my starter is young somebody will have to hold me back! DIYGuy and AF will instruct many... of that I'm sure. I'm sad for both of us we can't attend.

Wish your better half - Happy Birthday - for me... any body that bled that much and lived had to have had help...

The reason the Gillette Fatboy is in such demand, and especially since everyone seems to pay a bit more attention to them than the slim, was that it was the 1st adjustable of Gillette, starting out in 1958 and only continuing in that style of handle until 1961, where the transitioni to the slim adjustable was made. I have 2 and they work extrodinarily well. Geofatboy on youtube.com has commented that he likes the Fatboy as one that is very hard to beat. It has adjustments from 1 to 9 positions, and a unique turn knob as well as a different knurling on the adjusment dial. There were a few made with a toggle, being a flip-like end piece that worked the silo doors as the TTO mechanism did, and there was just a few made with the adjustment made at the bottom of the handle rather than the top. Those last few are really sought out by collectors and can seemingly always demand a high price. I have watched, also, the Super Adjustables and Slim Adjustables being touted as "Fatboy" by unknowing or otherwise unscrupulous sellers "playing" off the popularity of the "Fatboys".

I really enjoy mine, but I also enjoy the Slim Adjustables, the Super Adjustables, the 1980 series black handles adjusables as well.

Originally Posted by bharner

Because they're awesome...
I've been wanting one for a while but I don't want to pay more than $40. So I do a lot of watching. If it was worth another 10-20 to me I could find one. Have you looked at the Slim? Same thing but different handle. Can usually be found for a smidge less.
Someday I'll find one at a thrift store or antique store for $20 and it will be an awesome day. At least that's my plan.

The last slim I bought was from an antique store. I was too shocked to even barter them down. I just paid the $2 and ran away!

Because when I was 7 years old I watched my Dad shave twice a day with one so he could go to school (industrial arts instructor) in the morning, then work until 11PM at night at Sears....

To put food into my mouth.

I have his Fat Boy and it's rather worn... probably because he shaved with it twice a day.

I'd sell it... for 150 million dollars.

Interested?