NOS Gillette Super Adjustable Black Beauty Dilemma

Ok, looking for advice. Long story short, my birth year is 1981, and I've had my eye out for a B2 SA for a few years now. I even posted some WTB threads in a few forums last year, but no luck. It's hard to find one from 1981 at all, much less the second quarter.

That leads me to my dilemma. Yesterday my wife picked up this beauty in an antique store for my birthday (today) . NOS Super Adjustable, black plastic baseplate with the diamond knurling. That means it "could" be my coveted 1981...but I'll never know without opening it.

I'm not a collector, so I say use it if you've got it. Thus far, I've been into aggressive razors, and my wide open adjustables are my favorites. Since the SA is milder, I'm not sure it will make the top of the rotation. I'm also more partial to the shorter handles. Because of that, I'm not sure I have much interest in one UNLESS it's my birth year. But, this one is NOS. I can't even find my birth year for sale at all, much less in pristine condition.

Being NOS, and based on the quick research I've done, I could probably sell it for 10 - 20 times what we paid for it. That would give me some funds to spend on other shaving gear, and I could still keep my eyes open for the birth year version. Or I could offer it up as trade bait for someone who does have a B2. But again, it's very possible that I might be holding a NOS B code razor.

What do I do folks?

I'll have to figure out how to show pictures. I've never really figured that out on this site.

First, gwsmallwood, to post photos, open the button that says "Open Full Editor".  In the toolbar you will see a black square with an "i" in it.  Click on it.  Choose the photo in your photo album or on your desktop that you want to post, click on it, and it will be uploaded for you.  Check this out from andrewjs18: http://damnfineshave.com/thread-how-to-p...n-the-site.

As for the razor itself, that is such a personal decision.  My gut reaction would be to keep it in its pristine condition and keep looking.  However, that's me.  Ultimately, only you can make that final decision.  Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

The market on this things is finicky to say the least.  10 to 20 times profit for what one paid, sounds nice, but....

If that was my Grail, I just use it :-)

As you can see, you have had two completely different answers already and neither one is wrong. Whatever you decide won't be wrong.

I would be willing to bet that with a good photo someone can ID the razor. I don't think I would open the package on the off chance it might be the one you're after.

Ok first of all black beauties can be found on eBay around $100 NOS, those that ask for them more than that their listing is being there for more than a year and can't sell it.

Second, if one person have more than one razor no matter what the brand, vintage/modern, well guess what you are collector.

I have around 8 ish razors and soon to add 2 wolfmans and the Rockwell 6s, so that makes me a collector.

I only have 1 Gillette razor and that is the Slim and was NOS. The reason I bought it is because was new, costed around $55 shipped and I wanted to see what was the fuss about the Gillette adjustables. I immediately opened the package and whipped some lather and started shaving. I same as you like aggressive razors, so I immediately went for setting 9 and still it wasn't as aggressive as I would want it to be, but I guess the Gillette are famous for getting the angle correct on their razors and turned out the Slim did not disappoint and even though wasn't aggressive it was very efficient, it's for sure a keeper and I'm glad I opened and shaved with it.

So it's all up to you what u will do, I do doubt that if u decide to sell it 3-4 years down the road for 200-300 bucks, and even if u do sell it for that much it's not like you are getting rich from it, it's peanuts money...

I would open that damn thing, check what year it is and finally enjoy it, after all your wifey got it for dirt cheap and you ain't losing a damn thing. Here is a chance for you to own one, use it and take care of it, that thing should not be sitting in a box in ur drawer...

I opened it and used it a few times. It was not my 1981. It's a 1983. But, I went with the rationale that I would rather use a NOS razor that has some history and meaning for me, rather than waiting on one that is used and just happened to be made the same year I was born.

So how do you like it, what setting you shaved with it etc etc

I ran it wide open, same as my other Adjustables. It's quite a bit more mild. It's not currently my favorite razor. Too mild for regular use, and I'm still partial to the shorter handles. That could be changing though, at least for my head shaves. I just started laser treatments on my head. I'm trying to eliminate my folliculitis issues for good. At a minimum, it should thin my hair quite a bit, so I may be shifting to milder razors on my head in a few months.