I think I already know the answer but I've found by far my favorite blade to be the Wizamet Super Iridium in every razor I have tried. I have ordered a total of 750 now and want to continue to buy a 250 pack here and there to hopefully last my lifetime as long as they are available since Russian production is now an unknown. Because they are coated and made of metal, assuming a typical household storage situation such as vanity drawer or even a ziplock back, will they ever degrade for some reason over the next 50 years?
Do blades have a "shelf life"?
- Thread starter NEPA507
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EclipseRedRing
I smell like a Christmas pudding
If they are stored properly as you suggest then the blades should be fine. I use blades which are older than 50 years every week 
Keep them clean and dry, they should last many years. This doesn't have to be very elaborate. I keep mine in sealed plastic baggies. Open tucks go in a metal tin.
In my opinion, as long as the vanity drawer stays above the water, ideally in a typical household storage environment, they should "last" centuries. That is, fairly constant temperature, at 17°C-25°C and around 45%RH.
I am planning to use up my stash after 250 years, at which time, I will report back here with my conclusions.
Ha.
I am planning to use up my stash after 250 years, at which time, I will report back here with my conclusions.
Ha.
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Get some silica packets and put them in the plastic bags to remove moisture. They will last indefinitely.
I am still using blades a dozen years old, just left in a cigar box in my bedroom closet and they are fine. I'm using vintage blades over 50 years old and they are also fine, but the ones in dispensers were oiled, and they sometimes stick together. But they shave great! Those little silica packs are cheap insurance. But I've never bothered.
Ron R
I survived a lathey foreman
Keep them dry and they should last many decades, it is amazing how little I have used up of my inventory over the last 7 years of approximately 600 DE & SE blades. SE blades last 6-10 shaves and DE blades 4-6 shaves on my beard type. Do the math might help how much you might want on hand.
Brand new Carbon steel blades(still made these days) will not last as long as stainless steel blades I should of mentioned ( they are prone to oxidize from humidity in the bathrooms or after use, You might want to keep your carbon steel blades with a lower inventory if you like to use them IMO! Some fellows claim carbon blades are smoother than Stainless blades but I did not find them with that physical characteristic + longevity is not as long either with carbon blades from my limited experience with using a few.
Brand new Carbon steel blades(still made these days) will not last as long as stainless steel blades I should of mentioned ( they are prone to oxidize from humidity in the bathrooms or after use, You might want to keep your carbon steel blades with a lower inventory if you like to use them IMO! Some fellows claim carbon blades are smoother than Stainless blades but I did not find them with that physical characteristic + longevity is not as long either with carbon blades from my limited experience with using a few.
With carbon steel blades since I don't really use them too often, I usually keep a tuck out to use and vacuum seal the rest with a couple Silica gel packs, probably not really necessary but just something I do.
"Among these assumed properties are the ability to preserve foods,[1] sharpen or maintain the sharpness of razor blades, ..."
en.m.wikipedia.org
If you use something which has the same power as a pyramid,
*Such As A Sock Drawer*
you should be OK.
Pyramid power - Wikipedia
If you use something which has the same power as a pyramid,
*Such As A Sock Drawer*
you should be OK.
Wizamet Iridiums are stainless steel. They will be fine even if they get wet unless it's seawater.
Carbon steel blades are nowhere near as long lived, even if coated and oiled. Just the nature of the material.
I have not tried one yet (I have a 100 pack), but if they are at all like Polsiver Iridiums, 250 will last far longer than I will be around to use them. I don't expect to live more than another 30 years or so, and 100 blades at 100 shave apiece is 27 years -- and I have 150 Polsiivers too, plus a ton of other nice blades.
Carbon steel blades are nowhere near as long lived, even if coated and oiled. Just the nature of the material.
I have not tried one yet (I have a 100 pack), but if they are at all like Polsiver Iridiums, 250 will last far longer than I will be around to use them. I don't expect to live more than another 30 years or so, and 100 blades at 100 shave apiece is 27 years -- and I have 150 Polsiivers too, plus a ton of other nice blades.
I keep mine in sealed sandwich bags. You should be fine for years to come. 
I just shaved with a vintage carbon steel Purple razor blade from the 1940s. It was fine.
I have a few red wrapper Gillette blades from 1950s that I am afraid to use as I was told these old carbon blades are very uncomfortable.
The simplest thing, would be to try it
while having a spare blade ready to use,
just in case you don't like it.
Wouldn't you rather be able to say
what you know about the red wrapper Gillette,
instead of what you've heard about it?
No way to tell if they are not rusty, test is use on self shave no rust blades.
Do not think blades go dull sitting to be used.
JMHO
Do not think blades go dull sitting to be used.
JMHO
Humidity is the enemy of razor blades. Keep them dry and they will last generations.
Well it depends on how long the itch lasts...
I recently used a Gillette Blue blade from 1957, and I wouldn't say it was uncomfortable, but it wasn't nearly as sharp as I'm used to with modern blades, so it took a little more work to get there, but it provided a perfectly acceptable shave.
Yep, don’t store them in the bathroom.
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honestly I'll get a cheap dry container and some silica packets and call it good enough. Then even if the house floods they'll be safe
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