I've been using a safety razor for only a couple of years now, so my knowledge about them isn't as extensive as I'm sure many of the other members here is. I'm not exactly always known for moving like a cat, and have ruined two razors by dropping them in the shower. (I shave in the shower) In both cases, I seemed to have damaged the mechanism for the butterflies. (In case you don't know, if your butterflies won't close completely, you will cut yourself to ribbons) Both times the shavers were cheap Van Der Hagens. After the last time, I began to wonder if the razors weren't all that durable. (I know, none of them are designed to be dropped, and maybe that's all there is to it) This past time, I bought a Schmidt R10 Retro Vintage Classic double edge DE. The thing looks more robustly built, and frankly, I've found that I prefer the heavy weight and bulky shaft. (Not sure if this is because I have large paws) Started looking around, and I find I like the look of the SCHMIDT R30 GRANDE Closed Comb, and the Razorock Bamboozled Slab and Classic Turn-to-Open. These all look to be built like tanks and having the weight and heavy shaft of the Schmidt I'm using now. I'll also admit that I'm a sucker for vintage things of all kinds and usually associate vintage things with better quality. I like the looks of the old adjustable Gillette Fat Boys, and again, these look like very robust razors with the weight and dimensions I prefer. Please weigh in with your opinions on any of these razors you have experience with.
Sorry, no experience with these razors yet. But, since you've got large paws, I'd suggest a razor with a thick handle. Fat boy comes to mind, but there are also 3-piece razors with thick handles. Some other member may chime in and point you to a brand / type.
Hmm... I think you have posed more questions than you may know. Most of the inexpensive modern razors are made in China, India, or Pakistan. There are some EXCELLENT shavers for really good prices out there. The challenge for consumers is knowing which are the good ones and which are the "gotchas" luring us to a purchase that we regret in the end. It gets even harder to choose when you see wildly mixed reviews for a given razor. (Search TSD on the Utopia razor for an example. Mine rivals my EJ89 and I love it. Others here say it was worth it for the handle, but have vowed to never shave with their Utopias again!) SO... the trouble is 1) choosing a razor from a picture 2) knowing who made it 3) knowing if two razors that look the same are the same 4) quality control at the manufacturer (this one can be all over the map!) 5) trusting the seller I haven't heard of Schmidt razors before, but my intuition is telling me it comes from China. I saw some on Amazon, but >this< link has links that take you to ebay. The Schmidts there say they ship from Zurich, Switzerland! <sigh> My gut says they aren't Swiss made, though! If you have a Schmidt, like it, and trust your seller, then I say you are clear to experiment. Ultimately, you never know if you will like a razor based on someone else's review. You just have to pay to play. However, if you do, please post your review here! We're all razor junkies, even if the same razor is being sold under umpteen different brand names. ANOTHER OPTION... The good folks over at Maggard Razors have been importing razors and standing behind what they sell for quite some time. They have earned a lot of trust and many at The Den are happy customers. They sell their own line of DEs as well as brand name razors (and other products). They are very up front about their imports and quickly address the minimal number of quality concerns that slip through. They have several beefy handles, most of which are knurled. My EJ is smooth like the Schmidt R30, but I much prefer to have some knurling. My best answer to your post: check out Maggard. Howzzat? .
I would look at 2 or 3 piece razors. If you drop one, there is less chance of ruining it versus a TTO, since there are less moving parts. I know the old Gillette Ball Handles can be had relatively cheap and would fit the bill. I have an EJ87 which I really like. It was around $39 though.
GEM Micromatic.....That is one indistructable bullet-proof TTO.....I saw pics were some cat ran over his with a car and it still worked.....Plus it's a Great Shaver.....I personally prefer it to all the razors mentioned above....And it's super cool looking, well built and drop it all you like...Drop it from an airplay, this one will still be perfect...Course it's heavy, might break a toe, but the razor will be fine....lol!
I really enjoy my Merkur 38c HD Barberpole razor. I would say its the toughest razor i have out of my 5+ razors ( Two Gillette Slims, Fatboy, Gillette Super Speed, Two Gillette Travel Tech's, Schick Krona, Merkur 1904, Merkur Futur, 2 Gem SE razors). It a 2 piece design and offers a nice long handle and plenty of weight, you can also get it in a slant version. Hope this is an option for you!
Hello oldschoolpaulie, I'm not sure what your budget is but, ATT makes some very heavy razors. They don't make any TTO's, only 3 pieces. They have 3 different handles to choose from and all parts are stainless steel. You can see their selection at abovethetie.com. I have the M1 (mildest) w/Kronos handle (3.5"). They will run you $185 new. My Fatboy is fairly heavy, as well, and I like the adjustability.
