No easy answer for what should be an easy recommendation. So many variables are going to lead to the one conclusion in all of our purchasing OCD’s {soaps – creams – blades etc - etc}, until you have actually tried them yourself.
My first razor was the EJ Chatsworth which a great three piece razor followed by the Futur, this being acquired to stop the adjustable razor itch i had picked up. This razor being very efficient at doing its job at all settings, in a very clinical way.
What followed was the result of my new found magpie eyed fascination of vintage TTO and adjustable razors and a very unhealthy love affair with the bay of E.
Two Jnr Aristocrats, so so, kind of mild, nothing to write home about. (Ebay)
A Fatboy, well built but loses something in translation the higher up the settings you go.(BST)
Three Slim Adjustables, again well built and i find they shave better than the Fatboy.(1 on Ebay 2 from the BST) the two from the BST being the better condition of the three.
A Merkur 34HD, another solid performing three piece, on equal footing with the Chatsworth. (BST)
An English Super Speed, used twice and then left on the shelf. (Ebay)
A HD Rocket, very mild, the only razor i can even attempt to go against the grain with. (Ebay)
Two Red Tips, the best non adjustable vintage shavers I’ve used to date. (BST)
The pattern I’m trying to show in my RAD, is that none of the razors purchased after my first two (Three piece and Adjustable) have been any better and in a lot of cases been significantly worse than these two. The best deals ive had apart from one have been purchased through the BST and I’ve had to suffer extremely inflated prices through Ebay to acquire the others.
Would i recommend an Adjustable as a first razor? YES. Would i then, like others have mentioned, point out that once you have found the setting that works well for you will leave you with what for all intentional purposes is a users self restricted non – adjustable fixed head razor. (kind of defeats the purpose). Not that this is going to stop you, so go with the Futur and if you want vintage get the Slim.
Vintage wise, if you like a razor leaning closer to the aggressive side, id say go for a Red Tip. If not, any of the others (HD Rocket-Super Speed-Blue Tip-Black tip Blah Blah Blah).
The use of the PIF service offered by Antdad with his Red Ring saved me not only a vast amount of money but what would have been a disastrous purchase if i had done. So use this free trial of hard and software when you can, it saves a lot of money down the line.
If i could go back to the beginning of this expensive distraction with what i know now id be sat here with my first two acquisitions and be happy in the knowledge that both are top performers for the roles they play and if i needed to scratch the vintage itch id have the Red Tip and Slim Adjustable as well. But where’s the fun in that. :roll:
). You'll get a great shave from a non adjustable and be able to learn your beard growth without the distraction of another variable.
