I tried a Derby blade for the first time in my Merkur HD. I have to say I was not impressed. I was as careful as I usually am and still walked away with a few cuts. Plus the shave was not as close as I'm used to with my Merkur blades. I've read a lot of negative reviews about the Merkur blades but I've always been happy by their performance, even after 4 shaves. The Derby blades will be placed in the medicine cabinet, only to be used as a last resort. Any thoughts on a better blade?
Derby No Winner
- Thread starter zakatk
- Start date
Its always a good idea to own more than one razor, most blades perform better in one than the other. Derbies are not bad. Why not name the blade brands available to you to help us make an appropriate suggestion.
If a derby blade could talk it would say "I don't get no respect!" Not the sharpest but comfy for me!
I bought a 100 pack of Derby's after returning to DE shaving. They were not very good but cheap. I saw a post that stated that the Derby's worked quite well with the SS and color tip razors and found that indeed that was true. So now when I use those razors in my rotation, a Derby goes in and I get a quite good shave. As for a suggestion for another blade, Med Preps seem to work well in any of my razors.
Today was quick lather with proraso and a 4th use rather dull Derby in my HD for a super fast three pass. Sublime.
Derby blades almost made me switch back to cart shaving.
- Thread starter
- #7
Thanks Oblique! I have Merkurs, a Lord Platinum, a 7 o'clock, a Shark, and a pack of Wilkies I just picked up from Wally World. Thinking about getting a sampler from WCS to try some others out.
- Thread starter
- #8
Thanks Gordy! I'll definitely give the Derby's another try in my '49 SS and see how it works. Go Tony!
Red Personnas, crystals, Astras, feathers, sharks, lords. ANYTHING but a derby!!!
astras and feathers get my vote
All I can say is, never discount a blade. Unless its a shoddy counterfeit copy, every blade can perform well if paired with the right razor. I only have one SS, barely shave ready, but it has performed well with several problem blades that didn't work well with my other razors.
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I like Derby's in my vintage Gillette's but not so much in my more modern razors. For example, I find that Derby + Slim is a good combination but Derby + EJ89 is not. I'd imagine it has a lot to do with the grind angle of the blade matching or conflicting with the angle that the razor holds the blades. There are some blades - Meds, SI's, Gillette Yellows, etc. - that are not as peculiar as Derby's and work well with most razors.
I would take a Derby over a Merkur super. Anytime
+100
When I started traditional wet shaving, one of my first blade trials was a Derby in a Merkur 23c/180. Along with some bitterness, I came away from that feeling like I stuck my face in a alcohol soaked cat fight. Now after a year of experience and acquiring various razors I've found Derby's work very well in the EJ DE89, 40's SS and my British #58. But, I still do not buy Derby as Astra SP work just as well in the previously mentioned razors but also work well in my R41 and 37c, in which Derby rip my face up.
Blades really are a combination of personal choice and the razor to which they are paired with. I hated Derby blades in many razors, but loved them in the R41.
My regular blades that I like are SuperMax Super Platinums, Lord Platitum Class and Feathers, but Derby work for me in an aggressive razor.
Dave at Razor Blades and More (he is a member here) has great pricing on sampler packs. Try a few and mix it up, see what works for your face.
Good luck in your search for that perfect razor/blade combo.
My regular blades that I like are SuperMax Super Platinums, Lord Platitum Class and Feathers, but Derby work for me in an aggressive razor.
Dave at Razor Blades and More (he is a member here) has great pricing on sampler packs. Try a few and mix it up, see what works for your face.
Good luck in your search for that perfect razor/blade combo.
I shaved with one in my R89 yesterday. Not impressed (again). Keep giving it another chance, but I think these blades are just no good for my setup.
I tried a few of the derbies that came with my Edwin Jagger and they were pretty poopy...have since tried out a platinum chrome Crystal and they are soooooooooooo much better.
I have not hate for Derby's they are a decent to meh blade. Still gets the job down. Although I will have to try one in my Slim.
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If it doesn't work well in a Merkur HD...it might work in a Gillette RedTip "razor n blade" combo is key
