I did not upload a pic cause everyone knows what this looks like. I will upload one later though. I bought this razor to sorta round out my small den. It fits the bill well. This particular razor weighs in at 2.5 oz. which is a full .5 oz heavier that than the Super Speed J4 that I have. The extra .5 oz gives the razor head the ability to sit one the face and fall into the whisker with little to no pressure. I find that the light SS needs just slightly that much more pressure to work for me. Balance is great in this because all or most of the weight is located in the head or near the top of the handle. When gripped tweezer style at or near the TTO screw the feel is second to none. Your probably wondering why I gave the blade exposure a 0? Well this is an adjustable razor so the exposure from 1 to 9 will vary depending on your mood or level of sadism. I set mine on 3 and finish with a 1. Ease of use I gave a 10 because it is as easy to use as the other Gillettes as far as loading and shaving and opening. The only real learning curve it that you cannot dial the number up with the TTO closed. Grip is great the knurls and the heft provide a great grip in all soapy circumstances. Price I gavea 5 because again this is subjective as to condition. $20 bucks is a good price to pay. You may pay more on the BST but your money stays within the community. All in all a great razor and a definite recommendation for the beginner.
These can be found for bargain finds at $2 to over $100 for the mint 1960's Gold Aristocrat. Caeat Emptor, luck and opportunity applies across the spectrum. Lovely weight (71grams) and balance. The knurling on the handle is crisp and provides plenty of grip...dry or wet. The silo doors open and close easily. These must be loosened when making adjustments otherwise it will not work. Bladegap is mild (1) to wild (9). The handle is a decent, comfortable and managebly dextrous circumference and length. FWIW, I am 5'10" or 178cm. Lean/Medium Build. If you have 'sausages for fingers' and don't mind the higher head profile, then perhaps a FATBOY would be better. An excellent DE safety razor for an experienced shaver, but more importantly I found this DE razor the best I could have hoped for as a (disciplined) DE newbie. It remains my favourite safety-bar razor.
Gillette's Slim Adjustable-The Epitome of Razor Design In the early '60s, it was like all of Gillette's vast experience, and innovative technological know-how came together; as with the Fatboy before it; to make their new Top of the Line Sensation, the Slim Adjustable, an instant Classic. Perhaps the epitome of razor design. Everything about this razor is so well thought out, so deliberate and so well made, nothing was left to chance. Balance & Weight: by adding 1/2" length and putting the weight at 71 grams, the Slim's balance is second to none. I believe its these modern changes, along with the lower head profile, that made the Slim a more refined and improved design over its predecessor, the Fatboy. Blade Exposure: With the settings from 1 to 9 ,you not only control the blade gap, but you also control the angle that the blade presents itself to your face. And with the very deliberate extra 1/4 turn "lock-down" twist of the TTO knob, everything is "locked" in place, I love this feature. And the genius of the mechanical simplicity of this whole system is why 50 years later they still work great. Ease of use:TTO design, blade changing too easy, and blade always a perfect line-up. The lock down 1/4 turn of the TTO knob, keeps everything where you want it, just remember to unlock it, and loosen silo doors before you change settings. The grip is beautiful to look at (similar to the '58 TV SS), as well as utilitarian, you really have a hold of that razor, even with wet hands. Price: On E-Bay they are starting to go up, but can still be found under $20. And on TSD's BST you can find them like new at very resonable prices. That design and workmanship is priceless, or at least worth the far greater price tags I see on many new razors, that are, just not nearly as good or capable of the shaves that this razor has been giving its owners for decades, and will continue to for decades to come. The Slim along with its older sibling, the Fatboy, are quite possibly the finest adjustable razors conceived before or since. And they are collectively, and the Slim in particular the epitome of razor technology, and a perfect example of Gillette's finest hour...In My Humble Opinion
Just Great I just got mine at a flea market a week ago for $4!!! I could not have asked for a better deal as it was absolutly new,The woman explaned that her late husband "liked them new cartrage things" and never used it and apoligized that she didnt have the box-I told her it was alright and that having two sons It had found a permenent home.BOY was that an understatment,this thing is wonderful,the timeing couldnt have been better as I had gotten my Merkur Futer about a week before this happened,well the upshot is that the other reviewers are right,this might be the zenith of the gelette DE razor,it does everything the Merkur does and is easier to load,the adjustments are ample and the balance and weight is perfect in my opinion,I like the Merkur but you can use it for a workout,Its heavy,really heavy,but that may be for use with thier blades which Im not all that impressed with.The grip on this thing would be great even if I had lost two fingers and it was covered with Vasoline,its not going anywhere you dont want it,and at four bucks how could I give it anything but a 10? I would have paied $20 without thinking. To sum it up ,if you find one BUY IT,you wont regret it.being adjustable how could I give it anything but 10s across the board. P.S. I used a Wilkinson in it and I loved it
My first I think that this should be required equipment for all DE users simply for the utility. It does take a little bit to get used to using so ease of use isn't as high in my opinion, and that is before you go playing with the adjustment. I learned on this razor and it is what I base a good razor on. All other razors are good if better and bad if worse than this for me.
