Astra SP 100-pack: different packaging and glue spots?

[dbconlin]

I just purchased my first 100-pack of these blades and was surprised to find different packaging (no outer wrapper within the cardboard) and different glue spots (two only, near the center of the blade). I don't have any other Astras to compare them to, but I recall the previous Astras to have a double (inner and outer) wrapping and four glue spots near the edge and sometimes bleeding onto the edge.

No other differences I could tell, but the glue spot placement seemed better on these.

makes me wonder about the factory setup, assembly line, etc. did something change, or perhaps there is more than one type of run?

thoughts?

 

[graysonhenryrussell]

I just checked a 100 pack that I just got & they have the inner wrapper & 4 glue spots. You have photos & where did you buy? Could yours be fake? This makes me wonder.

 

[Ronnie Aloha]

I have the newer ones. Got it on Amazon about a month ago. Love the new wax placement.

 

[BrownDwarfOrion]

I bought one pack of 5 and the very first blade had glue spots on them. And these are the ones double wrapped. It was only first blade though. Not a huge deal, but obviously I'd prefer it not to have them... Got mine from wcs if anyone is interested.

 

[eth]

All Astras have wax spots, they're there to prevent the blade from sliding in the wrapper when they are wrapped. Newer ones have two wax spots on the center of the blade, similar to Feathers. Older ones have four spots along the edges. They are perfectly genuine, and because Astras are widely available there is probably plenty of old stock around, you can't be sure what you will get. They're the same blade though, the newer ones are just a bit more practical.

 

[Atalk]

I bought my 100-pack of Astra SP's around February this year - They were single-wrapped (in 5 count boxes) and had only 2 wax spots along the center center. This was different that those I received as part of a sampler pack (4 wax spots along the blade edges). For what it's worth, performance and durability were identical.

 

[dbconlin]

OK, so they have changed something along the production line so now they only get two glue spots near the center.

I wonder if any/all of the other blades produced at the Petersburg plant are affected by this change.

Can't say it matters much - when I first opened the blade I was worried it may not be as good, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I prefer the new glue placement.

 

[eth]

I received several blades manufactured by PPI a few weeks ago, the Polsilver Super Iridiums also had two wax spots at the center of the blade. Haven't opened the other ones yet (Gillette Silver Blues, Nacet Stainless).