It’s the handle on the HD - it’s simply perfect. Well executed yet not too fancy and beautifully weighted. Effective knurling too. It has everything it needs and nothing it doesn’t yet manages to look great just sitting on the shelf winking at me.
When I first joined the forum and became aware of the HD, I lusted after one. Yes, the Aristocrats have beautiful spiral knurling, the wider twist knob and that gorgeous Rhodium plate but the HD still has a similar heft, does the job equally well and in its heyday was more within reach of the ordinary man, like me.
As to the Tech, I bought one the BST here. It was the older English type with the heavier, slotted baseplate and the fat handle. I always felt that handle needed more weight. Eventually, I gave it away as my DE89 shaved better at the time but I never forgot it. Gillette made the Tech in various guises for decades so they must’ve got something right. As I’m a lover of vintage things, I ultimately got another just the same on the BST years ago and had it replated in its original nickel.
That handle though - still too damn light! The head works well on custom stainless handles but I kinda like things as original as they can be. Then I read somewhere that you can stuff the handle with tungsten putty which is normally used by carp fishermen to weight lines, etc. I decided what the heck, bought a wee tin for less than fiver off eBay and duly stuffed the handle. It is perhaps blasphemy but by ‘eck the extra weight, for me, turns an already very good razor into a truly excellent one.
Now my Tech is the best daily driver I have, narrowly winning out over my TTO’s which include the following: Aristocrat #22 in its original mint Rhodiium plate, the said Rocket HD, a Flair Tip Rocket that Matron has purloined as the knurling on this is the grippiest of all, an Aristocrat Jnr which has a different baseplate to the later Rockets and a very pretty 58 pattern Rocket. The last two need a replate in Nickel (Jnr has just a tiny bit of plate loss on the neck just under the head but the #58 has a large bit of brassing on the handle. These are my keepers.
I also have a vintage 7 o’Clock NEW which is less aggressive than some of its brethren such as the #77/88. I have it on an intact and solid ball end handle which I’m not convinced is original but I like the combination. This delivers a good shave too so it’ll go to Prestige in Mexborough with a few others accessories for a bath in Nickel. Again the handle could do with extra weight for my tastes.
I am sorely tempted to have my #58 redone in gold by Dave at Restored Razors in New Zealand. Perhaps one day if Matron allows. Again, that’s not the original finish but it’s my razor and I’ll do what I like. Besides, those lovely vertical ridges on the handle will look glorious in gold and I don’t have a gold razor in my collection.
Each of these British TTO’s offer a fairly similar shave as the heads are more or less the same but the handles differ and that’s the variety I love.
If it was just one then it would be the Tech albeit just. It is mild yet very efficient and easy to get to know plus the handle fettling raises it skywards. The angle is easy to find and everything just gels. Upgrade me to two and I’d add the Rocket HD over its fancier family. As things stand they’re all going nowhere except for the few that require refinishing in my eyes.
There’s also a Fatboy in its original, gorgeous case with the correct blade dispenser. Mr Fatty himself is in perfect working order and although the plating is fairly good, he could do with a replate for perfections sake. I’ll be moving him on eventually as I just don’t need an adjustable when nirvana has already been reached with what I have - Tech, TTO’s and number 7 NEW.
Sorry for such a long detailed post but you did ask and I had to do something whilst waiting on my chippy being delivered!
P.S.
@saj1985 you may have a loan of the Fatboy if you promise to look after him. That’s if I can find the bugger!