Snagged a razor off Ebay that came in a case with a dispenser of Gillette Blue Blades (from the looks of it, they're carbon steel). There are several still in the dispenser. Are they safe to use or just a collector's item?
Gillette "Blue Blades" safe to use?
- Thread starter Kevan
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Hmmm.....not good. And here I thought all old Gillette blades were supposed to be awesome! 
Hmmm.....not good. And here I thought all old Gillette blades were supposed to be awesome!
The Stainless ones are. Carbon looses its edge in time.
If they are the teflon coated carbon steel, they still can be good. Some blue blades in the 70's were PTFE coated....look at the date code and patent number on the blade, if any...
I used Gillette Blue blades alot when you could buy them in drugstores and they were OK as I recall.
I don't buy into that "blades were better years ago" thing. Blades are great now.
I'm going to have to buy and antique Williams puck to settle that argument in my head. I don't remember that being so much better either.
Anyway, I digress. If they are still in their wrappers and not rusted they should be OK and will probably feel as bad as they did when first bought.
I don't buy into that "blades were better years ago" thing. Blades are great now.
I'm going to have to buy and antique Williams puck to settle that argument in my head. I don't remember that being so much better either.
Anyway, I digress. If they are still in their wrappers and not rusted they should be OK and will probably feel as bad as they did when first bought.
It's also my understanding that the un-coated carbon steel blades provided for a pretty rough shave even when new.
Gillette's marketing during the time period when they first introduced DE razors was "No Stropping, No Honing", they made no mention of getting the best shave ever.
I use Blue sometimes with an approprate era Gillette. They are carbon steel and require a little stroping to remove the oxidation. I'd rate them good-fair with a range of 2-3 shaves. Todays blades are really much better.
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I'm leaving them alone. The memory of the rough shave I had with Treet Black Beauties is still fresh in my memory. the blade box looks cool in the case though.
There's a post here somewhere about stropping the blades. It might be worth a go if you just wanted to shave with a vintage piece of steel.
It's also my understanding that the un-coated carbon steel blades provided for a pretty rough shave even when new.
Gillette's marketing during the time period when they first introduced DE razors was "No Stropping, No Honing", they made no mention of getting the best shave ever.
Do not know how the Blues shaved back then, but a modern Treet Black Beauty shaves just fine IMO. But, carbon blades get mixed opinions.
I would leave them as a curiousity.
I took a couple swipes at my face with a Gillette 3-Hole Blade once and promptly removed it and finished the shave with a Personna Red.
If I want to use Gillette blades I use current production Gillette Super Thin which shave MUCH better than the Old Blue Blades ever did in their heyday.
Wp
I took a couple swipes at my face with a Gillette 3-Hole Blade once and promptly removed it and finished the shave with a Personna Red.
If I want to use Gillette blades I use current production Gillette Super Thin which shave MUCH better than the Old Blue Blades ever did in their heyday.
Wp
As far as my Don Juans which come from the same period are concerned I dip them in alcohol the day before and hand strop them before using them. You could cork them. The Don Juans tug a bit in the beginning but after a little while they get a lot smoother. Maybe that applies to these blades also...
I bought some Schick Kronas off fleabay. They were Schick's first foray into the double edge area and a blue blade. I found them to be good, not great and safe to use for two to three shaves.
The one I tried was just OK.
Good thing I read this. I recently picked up a gillette NEw standard in the case for 5$ at an antique shop and there's was a little box of blue blades inside. I opened the box and the blades were in new-like condition and were still in the wrappers. I Think I will let them sit now...
I just finished using a Gillette Blue for the past 3 days and it was awesome. I forget the date code on them, I want to say A2, in a metal dispenser. It gave me 3 outstanding shaves, could have probably gotten more than that if I felt like pushing it, but did not want to abuse my face. (it is just getting better after several "going too far for BBS" shaves)
