It is safe to say that Derby is a better blade than it was back when I could rely on those blades to render my face as red as an uncooked pizza (less the cheese). This blade was a bit of a conundrum, it got better on shave 3 which hasn't happened to me before. However, after that shave it got bloody. In thinking about it, I get enough bloodless shaves and even had one blade so far give me COMPLETELY bloodless shaves through to disposal. I am beginning to wonder if I am wearing away coatings an doing so is exposing me to a blade with, for all intents, multiple personalities. I took a look at blades so far to see how they grouped by material and will discuss that a little later. Getting back to the Derby, not a choice I would make but if given the blades, I would give each a shave or 3 before disposal.
To rate an 8, there are 4 or fewer weepers/bleeders from the first to last shave for the blade.
In looking at the multi-coated blades, so far, the best I can say is mediocre performance while those billing a simple single metal composition appear to be able to deliver the performance. All of the Derby blades have this same coating and we don't see it again until I get into the L's where Lion uses the same coating, but that is also a Derby manufactured blade. The 2 derby blades I have used so far scored very close (7.62 vs 7.64) and that makes me wonder if it is coincidence or simply the same manufacturing line and 2 marketing labels.
Next up, Derby Extra Blue
To rate an 8, there are 4 or fewer weepers/bleeders from the first to last shave for the blade.
In looking at the multi-coated blades, so far, the best I can say is mediocre performance while those billing a simple single metal composition appear to be able to deliver the performance. All of the Derby blades have this same coating and we don't see it again until I get into the L's where Lion uses the same coating, but that is also a Derby manufactured blade. The 2 derby blades I have used so far scored very close (7.62 vs 7.64) and that makes me wonder if it is coincidence or simply the same manufacturing line and 2 marketing labels.
Next up, Derby Extra Blue