I thought some might be interested in this. Having been a staunch user of Wilkinson Sword blades nearly all my life, I decided a while ago that perhaps I needed to try other things. Initial mini trials weren't all that encouraging, since I like my blades to be not ultra-sharp and leave me cut to pieces, but to last without getting too blunt and tuggy too soon. The WS had fulfilled that purpose for years, and would be hard to beat in that respect. But nobody would argue that the modern German version is as good as its old British ancestor.
So I bought one of those sample packs from the 'bay. It contained 18 blades, and I've tried them all in sequence. It's taken a while, because of my love of economy, I've eked out the last bit of sharpness from all of them. So it's been about 17 months altogether. The results are in the table below.
Notes:
1. The razor throughout was a Gillette Fatboy. My normal setting is either 3 or 4, sometimes changing from 3 to 4 later in the life of a blade.
2. The prices in the last column are in UK pence, from the 'bay, in the UK. YMMV.
3. Where a price has n/a in it, I either couldn't find them for sale, or couldn't be bothered looking, not being interested in buying that particular blade.
Conclusions:
The Russians make great blades
The Indians don't
The others are somewhere in between.
If I had to choose a top 5 they'd be:
1. Astra Superior Stainless - this was always a joy, but a tiny bit more expensive than No. 2
2. Astra Superior Platinum - awesome. Wonderful comfortable feel, and lasts and lasts.
3. Feather - impressive sharpness, but you have to be so careful, and it doesn't last all that well.
4th equal - Gillette 7 O'Clock yellow and Wilkinson (white packet, not the black) - both smooth and comfortable, but never ultra-sharp.
My cabinet now has 100 Astra Superior Platinum in it, alongside my stock of Wilkinsons. I expect to enjoy shaving much more, for a good while, starting tomorrow
Hope this is useful.
So I bought one of those sample packs from the 'bay. It contained 18 blades, and I've tried them all in sequence. It's taken a while, because of my love of economy, I've eked out the last bit of sharpness from all of them. So it's been about 17 months altogether. The results are in the table below.
Blade | Country | Shaves | Comments | Available from |
Feather HI-Stainless | Japan | 10 | Very very sharp. Fatboy on 3, very light touch required. Very comfortable on days 3 and 4. A bit tuggy by day 10 | 18.4p / blade |
Gillette 7 O'Clock Sharpedge (Yellow) | Russia | 30+ | Nice smooth feel the first day. Nowhere near as sharp as the Feather. Quite similar to a Wilkinson. | 10.5p / blade |
Gillette 7 O'Clock Super Stainless (Green) | Russia | 15 | Felt tuggy on day one. Not as good as the yellow. | |
Supermax Stainless | India | 7 | Very poor. Tuggy from the start. Tried honing it and that finished it off. | n/a |
Supermax Blue Diamond | India | 12 | Much better than the Stainless but gives a bit of razor burn. May try it on a lower setting on the Fatboy. Not all that brilliant. | n/a |
Astra Superior Platinum | Russia | 40 | Very smooth feel and lasted over a month. Best compromise of feel and longevity so far. | 8p / blade |
Wilkinson Sword - Solingen | Germany | ~20 | (away for 2 weeks on holiday using other kit, hence approximation). Never as sharp as some, but remains comfortable all the way through | 10p / blade |
Zorrik Super Platinum | India | <1 | Awful! Just awful. Threw away without finishing a shave | n/a |
Bic Chrome plated | Greece | 25 | Not as bad as the Zorrik, but not as good as a Wilkinson or Gilette. Perhaps similar to the Supermax Blue Diamond. Lasted well after a poor start. | 12p/blade |
Dorco Platinum ST-301 | South Korea | 8 | Started rough but improved slightly. Never very sharp. | n/a |
Treet Platinum super stainless | Russia | 30 | Quite nice feel to start, better than the last 2. Lasted quite well. | 6.1p / blade |
Shark Super Chrome | Egypt | 14 | Never that great. similar to Dorco. | n/a |
Personna Platinum | Israel | 24 | Always felt as if there were dull spots on the edge | n/a |
Shark Stainless | Egypt | 12 | Not bad. Not all that sharp, but fairly comfortable | 10p / blade |
Astra Superior Stainless | Russia | 33 | A joy from the start. Smooth and comfortable. | 10.5p / blade |
Derby | Turkey | 25 | Quite good. Started tuggy but improved before getting blunt and cutting me | n/a |
Polsilver Super Iridium | Poland | 34 | Never incredibly sharp but lasted very well. A good solid blade. | 11p / blade |
Laser ultra Triple coated | India | 5 | Best of the Indian blades but a long way off being good. Never really sharp. | 11p / blade |
Notes:
1. The razor throughout was a Gillette Fatboy. My normal setting is either 3 or 4, sometimes changing from 3 to 4 later in the life of a blade.
2. The prices in the last column are in UK pence, from the 'bay, in the UK. YMMV.
3. Where a price has n/a in it, I either couldn't find them for sale, or couldn't be bothered looking, not being interested in buying that particular blade.
Conclusions:
The Russians make great blades
The Indians don't
The others are somewhere in between.
If I had to choose a top 5 they'd be:
1. Astra Superior Stainless - this was always a joy, but a tiny bit more expensive than No. 2
2. Astra Superior Platinum - awesome. Wonderful comfortable feel, and lasts and lasts.
3. Feather - impressive sharpness, but you have to be so careful, and it doesn't last all that well.
4th equal - Gillette 7 O'Clock yellow and Wilkinson (white packet, not the black) - both smooth and comfortable, but never ultra-sharp.
My cabinet now has 100 Astra Superior Platinum in it, alongside my stock of Wilkinsons. I expect to enjoy shaving much more, for a good while, starting tomorrow
Hope this is useful.
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