Item Description
For evaluation purposes, I tried these blades with Merkur HD, Merkur LH, and Merkur Slant Bar razors. Throughout testing, I rotated between various high-end creams and soaps and also used 4 different brushes (Rooney, Shavemac, & 2 different Simpson’s). All products and equipment used are items that I am highly familiar/experienced with and items that deliver consistently excellent results.
As a bit of background on the blades I’ve used, for a brief time I served as a blade tester for an overseas vendor. Beyond the Big 5 (Merkur, Derby, IP, Feather, Swedish Gillette), I’ve also used multiple production versions of the Sharp and 7AM blades and have also used those by Dorco. Additionally, I’ve toyed with a majority of the commonly available drugstore/Wal-Mart blades, and a handful of other obscure brands. I say all of this merely to add validity to the statement: I’ve used some very good blades and have also experienced some that are murderously bad.
For my first shave with the Treet Blue Special, I chose my trusty Merkur Long Handle razor, Simpson’s CH1 brush, and D.R. Harris Arlington shave soap. After going through extensive beard prep, I lathered up, loaded my razor, and went to work.
At the completion of the first pass, I was convinced that I must have pulled the unfortunate dud from the pack. I shucked it and unwrapped the second blade, only to be equally thrilled by its supreme dullness. This blade drug and pulled more than a rusty butter knife. Being the trooper that I am, however, I forged onward. I made:
- 3 N-S passes
- 1 diagonal-down
- 1 horizontal
- 1 diagonal up
- 1 S-N
: To save you the math, that is 7 passes, plus an ungodly amount of touch-up work.I had no razor burn, no cuts, and no nicks, but my face literally felt bruised from all of the vicious pulling. I could have sworn that I had ripped every hair out by its roots, yet I still wore a Miami-Vice style beard.
All subsequent shaves (1 more with the LH, 2 with the HD and 1 with the slant) were equally bad or worse than this first experience. I am truly astounded at how despicably bad these blades are. They are nothing close to sharp and the pull/drag is truly a marvel of modern metallurgy. If this is the best that Pakistan has to offer, I am in awe that every Pakistani man is not sporting a Rumpelstiltskin. This product is a tragic waste of metal.
Price – If ordered by the 100, these blades will run $0.15 - $0.20 per blade (with shipping). This is not a bad price and certainly competitive with many of the other popular choices available.
Sharpness – In comparison to reputable brands that I have/do use, these blades are pathetically dull.
Longevity – The longevity of this blade is greatly influenced by its tendency to quickly rust (I could see bits of rust within 24 hours). Aside from this fact, being that an unused blade is dull, longevity isn’t really an issue.
Smoothness of Shave – At the end of each multiple pass shave with this blade, regardless of razor and lathering product, I had much stubble remaining.
Packaging/Presentation – These blades come in an attractive enough cardboard 10-pack. Each blade is double wrapped (wax paper, then paper) which is a pretty standard practice for blades that come in soft/non-rigid packs. The colors and graphics chosen have a cool retro look to them and the fact that the blades themselves are black carries a fairly high cool factor.
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