Have you tried the Gillette Yellows and Blacks? Any of the Gillette blades are great in a Fatty, but the Black is perfection. For a cheaper alternative, try the Gillette Wilkinson blades that are being made in India. I got 100 of 'em from www.italianbarber.com for 16 bucks.
TDA-I have used both and like both the Yellow and Black. My 4th shave with the Fat Handle Tech and my 1st shave with the WD Synthetic Brush. I decided to go with the La Toja cream. It was a great combination! The WD Synthetic face lathered like a champ. I just loaded the brush for about 5 seconds and had enough cream for a great 3-pass shave! I finished up with Speick. The FH Tech is just flat out a nice razor!
That is a beautiful razor. Congratulations on your find, Bobcat! I didn't have much luck with the Gillette 7 O'Clock SharpEdge (yellow wrapper). The Gillette 7 O'clock Super Platinum (black wrapper) and Gillette Wilkinsons, on the other hand, worked well in all the razors in which they were used. They are among the few blades that did. The Gillette blacks last me for 12-14 shaves, and are among the very best blades I have ever used. Using blades like the 7 O'clock blacks and seeing razors like Bobcat's serves to remind one of just how good traditional wetshavers have it.
I have your razor's Canadian cousin (also with the triangular holes). It's my first DE razor and I've only got one shave on it so far. I think I'm gonna like this razor.
That's my plan. Currently I use my FHT head with a heavier Cadet handle. Upsizing to one of these soon... http://theshaveden.com/forums/threads/7-days-of-utopia-product-review.37924/ I think everyone had tiny hands in the 40's
The Fat Handle Tech is my favorite Tech razor. I have the Canadian '38-'45 model with the triangle holes and IMO it outperforms my birth year '53 tech.
A pre war Fat Handle Tech has eluded me thus far. Hopefully I'll get my hands on one soon. As far as Techs go, I have a British Aluminum Tech (first DE) and an Argentine Ball End Tech. The Argentine is near mint with the blade card, full pack of Gillette Blue Blades, and case. It was NOS, but I couldn't resist not to use it!
Love my prewar fat handle tech. I sometimes mate it with a Weber classic handle. Put a feather blade or gillette silver blue in there and it's an easy 2 pass BBS every time.
I don't know about "THAT" different, but my FH Tech with the triangular slots does give me a better shave than my Ball End Tech. Both are very good however............. I used it again a few days ago. I had used my Ball End Tech the day before.
Before aquiring my Canadian prewar Fat Tech, I had my eyes on a ball-end Tech because I like the look. It would also be the cheapest way to get a birth razor (K-1). It's a shame they stopped making the gold ones before I was born. But after a few weeks of shaving with this one and seeing how much love they get on the forums, I'm now seriously considering getting it replated. I like it that much! It took a while for me to discover that these are actually kind of rare, which to me is big bonus. I've never been one to have something just because "everyone else has one". I'd much prefer having something rare or unique.
