Given consolidation in the industry, are all these blades the same now except for packaging?
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Are All St. Petersburg Blades The Same?
- Thread starter Seattle
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The St Petersburg blades I have tried so far are the Astra SP and the 7 O'Clock yellow. For me the Astra is so bad that I gave away 95 of the hundred pack I bought when I started DE shaving whereas the 7OC yellow is one of my favourite blades.
No, for me there are some differences in how smooth they shave.
Just wish the St. Petersburg Russia blades were available here in St. Petersburg, FL.
Just wish the St. Petersburg Russia blades were available here in St. Petersburg, FL.
My experience mirrors this. When people say they like Astra, I wonder if they even grow more than peach fuzz. Those blades, on my face and beard, were worse than DERBY! Which are worse than dollar store DE blades! 7 O'clock Yellow are my current favorites, good shave, sharp, and last 5-6 shaves on average. I LOVE the first shave on a Feather, but they degrade quickly for me.
I have PolSilver Super Iridium (10) to try. If they work well, there will be 100 coming to my door, as well as I think I am just going to order 100 more Yellow and store them away somewhere dry. Might as well do it while they are available
I have a pretty dark, thick beard and the Astras have been the best blade of the dozen or so I've tried thus far.
Astra's on OC's work smoothly but on safety bar DE's, it does nothing but irritate me. However, blades coming out of St. Petersburg are some of the best.
No, for me there are some differences in how smooth they shave.
Just wish the St. Petersburg Russia blades were available here in St. Petersburg, FL.
The funny though, is that they're not available in St Petersburg Russia either.
No, there are certainly differences among the blades. I won't claim that every blade is unique, but they are certainly not all the same. I've used the three 7 O'Clocks, the two Astras, Polsilver SI and Perma-Sharp Super from PPI, and they are significantly different.
What's up with the comments on that article? Starts out perfectly normal, ends up being a Nigeria letter where someone wants to sell their blade manufacturing plant.
What's up with the comments on that article? Starts out perfectly normal, ends up being a Nigeria letter where someone wants to sell their blade manufacturing plant.
I really want to try some of the Iridum Supers and the Swedes, but I haven't gotten around to ordering any yet. I love the Gillette Silver Blues and they're made in St. Pete. I also really like the Astra. I have a pretty coarse beard, especially my chin. Lots of grey around my chin (but strangely not on my head) and they are super thick and hard to cut. I can't get BBS on my chin with anything yet.
Strangely, I just ordered 100 Voshkod's and they come in the exact same trifold cardboard packaging as the Gillette Silver Blues. Graphics are different obviously, but the style is identical. However, it clearly lists a Moscow address on the packaging, and lists an email of [email protected]. I assume this means they are made in the same plant at Rapira and some of the other Russian blades, non St. Pete produced. I'm not an expert on these things though.
Strangely, I just ordered 100 Voshkod's and they come in the exact same trifold cardboard packaging as the Gillette Silver Blues. Graphics are different obviously, but the style is identical. However, it clearly lists a Moscow address on the packaging, and lists an email of [email protected]. I assume this means they are made in the same plant at Rapira and some of the other Russian blades, non St. Pete produced. I'm not an expert on these things though.
Where can you order the Swedes?
There are lots and lots of brands of blades coming out of that plant, e.g., 7 Yellows, 7 Blues, Silver Blues, Perma-Sharps, Astras, Rubies, Minoras, Bleue Extras, White Platinums, Gray Platinums, Gillette Super Stainless, Iridium Supers and Polsilver Iridiums, Polsilver Stainless, Nacet, and still others I can't think of off of the top of my head. It's hard to believe they are all different in some way; it's seems highly likely to me that some are the same but being marketed under different names for different markets.
You be the judge. Blade edges magnified at 450 power magnification.
Gillette 7 Sharp Edge stainless, Yellows
Gillette 7's Super Stainless, Green's
Astra SP's
Astra S/S
Iridium Super Stainless
Gillette 7 Sharp Edge stainless, Yellows
Gillette 7's Super Stainless, Green's
Astra SP's
Astra S/S
Iridium Super Stainless
You can see some have a secondary grind, some only have the single grind. Also, what we can't see, is what grade of stainless is used and what coating there is.
I agree that images do not tell the whole story - and may not even an interesting story. The steel, its treatment, the coatings, and process consistency are all important.
But despite all that, here are some of my St. Pete blade images, all taken before the first shave. The order roughly reflects my preferences. I believe the coatings are sometimes visible as roughness near the edge.
Super Iridium
Gillette Silver Blue (two from the same pack)
7 O'Clock SharpEdge yellow
Astra SP
But despite all that, here are some of my St. Pete blade images, all taken before the first shave. The order roughly reflects my preferences. I believe the coatings are sometimes visible as roughness near the edge.
Super Iridium
Gillette Silver Blue (two from the same pack)
7 O'Clock SharpEdge yellow
Astra SP
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+1 on definite differences. I've never used Super Blues, but, from what I've used, my clear favorites are Yellows, Perma-sharp Supers, and--from just a couple of sample blades--SIs, all of which for me are incomparably better than Astra's. My understanding is that Russian Greens are uncoated Yellows; I find the Yellows to be much smoother than the Greens.
I have seen my share of wrecked blades due to various reasons. The most common are poor packaging and rough handling during transit. If you tried Astra SP blades for the first time and you find them worse than Derby, there is a good chance you stumbled upon a bad blade/pack/batch.
That is not to say that Astras are perfect, nor that they should work for all of us.
Just a thought.
That is not to say that Astras are perfect, nor that they should work for all of us.
Just a thought.
I agree with JayEddie 
. They are not avalable in St.Petersburg.
. They are not avalable in St.Petersburg.
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