A quick count of blades used in SOTD

[Umma2gumma]

I am tired after a long workday, and it's raining. This calls for doing nothing doing a quick pseudoscientific count of blades that people mention in SOTD.

To avoid counting the same blade used by the same person in consecutive days, I would count all blades on the page, then skip 60-100 pages. (There's luckily plenty of them...) I also didn't go back more than about late '22, to keep it somewhat up to date.

So, here's where it stands (out of the total count of 110):

1st Place - a tie between Feather and Gillette Perma-Sharp at (8) each
2nd place - a tie between Gillette Silver Blue and Nacet at (7) each
3rd place - Bic Chrome Platinum (6)
4th place - a tie between Astra SP and Gillette Platinum at (5) each

These seven blades represent about half of total count (46% to be precise).

There were multiple blades mentioned 4 times or less, with 41 different blades total.

This is of course not a proper statistical analysis of all the data available, but a fun enough exercise - for me at least. Not really surprised by the results either, other than Bic Chrome Platinum being so well (and deservingly) represented.

 

[Lockback]

All things being equal, I prefer to buy blades already in SE form rather than snapping a DE in half because of the little bend during the process rather than a perfectly formed, clean break.
Perma-Sharps and Shark Super Stainless come in SE format. I have Sharks and when they run out (which will be awhile), I'll probably buy Perma-Sharps because they are my overall favorite blade. In the meantime, at least in my Leaf Twig and Thorn, the Sharks perform extremely well.

 

[tejolot3]

Not really surprised by the results either, other than Bic Chrome Platinum being so well (and deservingly) represented.

I'm not surprised at all by that. I've noticed that Bic blades get a lot of love on this thread. I am kind of surprised that Gillette Platinum beat out every variety of 7 o'Clock, though.

 

[geneaut]

All things being equal, I prefer to buy blades already in SE form rather than snapping a DE in half because of the little bend during the process rather than a perfectly formed, clean break.
Perma-Sharps and Shark Super Stainless come in SE format. I have Sharks and when they run out (which will be awhile), I'll probably buy Perma-Sharps because they are my overall favorite blade. In the meantime, at least in my Leaf Twig and Thorn, the Sharks perform extremely well.

I'm the exact opposite. I'm convinced the little curl locks my half blades into my ER 1912 and keeps them snug.

 

[geneaut]

Of the shaving subreddits does this monthly to their SOTD posts, and tracks all products used. It's interesting to see at the end of the month.

 

[dmshaver]

Most interesting, thank you for taking the time to tabulate the results. Well done!

 

[Joezamboni]

I'm not surprised at all by that. I've noticed that Bic blades get a lot of love on this thread. I am kind of surprised that Gillette Platinum beat out every variety of 7 o'Clock, though.

He says he didn’t go past late 2022 so not too surprising. The yellows changed dramatically And a lot of people dumped them. The platinum “Swedes” became mainstream and are pretty dang good blades.

 

[helicopter]

Interesting. After I am done measuring and testing both of the Astra SP blades, maybe I will do Feather and Permasharp.

I really want to get to the Chinese blades, though, because so many haven't been measured and reviewed much. I have a lot of time to decide. I can only grow hair on my face so fast.

 

[cranewarrior]

Interesting. After I am done measuring and testing both of the Astra SP blades, maybe I will do Feather and Permasharp.

I really want to get to the Chinese blades, though, because so many haven't been measured and reviewed much. I have a lot of time to decide. I can only grow hair on my face so fast.

Blades made in China or Chinese brands?

The King C Gillette made in China is very good for me, and I like the FlyDear Super Platinum (a Chinese brand) quite a lot for its value and price ratio.

 

[Umma2gumma]

Blades made in China or Chinese brands?

The King C Gillette made in China is very good for me, and I like the FlyDear Super Platinum (a Chinese brand) quite a lot for its value and price ratio.

I assume the Chinese brands. The Gillettes made in China are still using Gillette designs, tooling, processes and QA.

So far, the only Chinese brand I used was Jifuli Platinum Edge included with a razor. A smooth and not particularly sharp blade, that performed great in a relatively aggressive razor (New LC) for two shaves, and was completely spent by the 3rd so I got irritation from scrubbing my face with essentially a thin butter knife.

I know that Suneko blades seem to have a good reputation, but they are also not cheap and there are proven Weatern brands in that price range.

 

[cranewarrior]

I assume the Chinese brands. The Gillettes made in China are still using Gillette designs, tooling, processes and QA.

So far, the only Chinese brand I used was Jifuli Platinum Edge included with a razor. A smooth and not particularly sharp blade, that performed great in a relatively aggressive razor (New LC) for two shaves, and was completely spent by the 3rd so I got irritation from scrubbing my face with essentially a thin butter knife.

I know that Suneko blades seem to have a good reputation, but they are also not cheap and there are proven Weatern brands in that price range.

I have pretty much the same feelings as you. I think the Sunekos are good, but when they cost $12.19 + tax (and sometimes also shipping if the listing doesn't offer it for free), I'd rather buy Gillettes for around the same amount. I can at least offer the Gillettes up for sale or trade here if I get bored of them.

By the way, the Iguetta razor blades may be the same thing as the Jifuli, just branded differently. This is what a company rep told me when I irritatedly emailed them about why I was sent Jifuli blades instead of my order of Iguetta blades.

 

[helicopter]

Blades made in China or Chinese brands?

The King C Gillette made in China is very good for me, and I like the FlyDear Super Platinum (a Chinese brand) quite a lot for its value and price ratio.

I ordered a box of KCG blades from the current Amazon deal, but I meant Chinese brands. I have a bunch to try out.

I have a couple Flydear blades, the KCG coming, and maybe some others. Flydear SP is a fairly high priority, because it is becoming popular and I have tried and liked it. I just haven't measured its performance yet.

 

[WhiskerLess]

Sorry could not help myself but notice that blade in the center of it all.

FEIYU !!!

 

[cranewarrior]

I ordered a box of KCG blades from the current Amazon deal, but I meant Chinese brands. I have a bunch to try out.

View attachment 1846670

I have a couple Flydear blades, the KCG coming, and maybe some others. Flydear SP is a fairly high priority, because it is becoming popular and I have tried and liked it. I just haven't measured its performance yet.

You have a nice assortment. I like the Gillette Blue, Baili, Apache, and Matgicol the best out of the ones I have tried. VDH and Red Cloud are OK, but they dull so quickly. The VDH is almost a one-and-done for me. PearlMax sits another notch below the Cloud. The carbon Flying Eagle is less-than-wonderful in my opinion.

I think you will like the FlyDears ultimately. I spent 2 weeks with them very recently. Those rank highly for me given their low cost and good performance.

I am generalizing, but Chinese brands aren't honed to as fine of an edge as say Gillettes, hence the frequent negative feedback they receive here. Matgicol, FlyDear, and Suneko are the exceptions to this in my experience.

I like more mild blades in some of my aggressive razors, so the Chinese blades have a spot in my collection.

 

[geneaut]

Speaking of Chinese blades.

A few years back, someone PIF'ed us some blades supposedly made in China at the Shanghai Gillette plant, but they were not specifically labeled 'Gillette'.

GIVEAWAY! - Participation PIF: Surf vs Turf - Battle of the Beast Blades!!

Participation PIF: Surf vs. Turf - Battle of the Beast Blades!! There are nightwares just below the water's surface, lurking, hunting, ready to rock your boat!! There are terrors just inside the forest's edge, shadows that move, leaves that flutter, watching you!! When Beast Blades Battle...

www.badgerandblade.com

That thread details our experiences with them, though not every one of the blades in that PIF was from that plant ( or even Chna actually, but many were ). From what I recall, they were mostly pretty good blades. I am currently awaiting an order of the Jianyu's ( Swordfish wrapper ) to arrive from China because I recall liking them.

 

[Hallucinosis]

All things being equal, I prefer to buy blades already in SE form rather than snapping a DE in half because of the little bend during the process rather than a perfectly formed, clean break.
Perma-Sharps and Shark Super Stainless come in SE format. I have Sharks and when they run out (which will be awhile), I'll probably buy Perma-Sharps because they are my overall favorite blade. In the meantime, at least in my Leaf Twig and Thorn, the Sharks perform extremely well.

I use small high precision scissors/shears (e.g. Xuron) to make a nice clean center cut on each side, while the blade is still in the paper.

 

[Lockback]

I use small high precision scissors/shears (e.g. Xuron) to make a nice clean center cut on each side, while the blade is still in the paper.

Well, that makes perfect sense.

 

[Umma2gumma]

You have a nice assortment. I like the Gillette Blue, Baili, Apache, and Matgicol the best out of the ones I have tried. VDH and Red Cloud are OK, but they dull so quickly. The VDH is almost a one-and-done for me. PearlMax sits another notch below the Cloud. The carbon Flying Eagle is less-than-wonderful in my opinion.

I think you will like the FlyDears ultimately. I spent 2 weeks with them very recently. Those rank highly for me given their low cost and good performance.

I am generalizing, but Chinese brands aren't honed to as fine of an edge as say Gillettes, hence the frequent negative feedback they receive here. Matgicol, FlyDear, and Suneko are the exceptions to this in my experience.

I like more mild blades in some of my aggressive razors, so the Chinese blades have a spot in my collection.

There was a microscope photo of the blade edge that someone posted comparing Feather and I think Jifuli ?

The Feather profile looked almost hollow ground. Jifuli looked like a wood splitting wedge. Definitely not a complex blade geometry.

That said, while I like Feathers, I can’t get more than 3-4 good shaves out of them either. They are exceptionally sharp at first but degrade quickly. Given their price point, it’s unfortunate.

 

[helicopter]

I measured the sharpness of the Perma Sharp over in my blade sharpness thread. It is sharp enough, and incredibly durable and consistent. I can see why it is popular in the sample. It is a blade that lives up to its name.

 

[helicopter]

I also measured the Feather blade in my blade sharpness thread this evening. As we know, it is incredibly sharp. While the exceptional sharpness degrades quickly after the equivalent of 3-5 shaves on my face, the blade is still durable and remains reasonably sharp for a long time.