Gillette Blues

[Maleficarum]

I have a couple of vintage, new-in-the-plastic-wrap boxes of old Gillette Blue blades.

Anyone have any sort of experience with these blades and/or shaving with blades that were made awhile (i.e. decades) ago? Is it worth a shot or are these better off being a sort of collectors piece that i'd be happier keeping in the original wrappers? (pictures to come later)

 

[luvmysuper]

These are most positively a collectors item, not a users item.
Those blades are carbon steel, and not that great when they were brand new.
Nope, best stick to modern stainless PTFE coated blades.

 

[Straight Arrow]

I enjoy experimenting with old carbon steel blades. I have tried several brands with varying degrees of success. The thing to remember is that the carbon steel shave is going to feel quite different than what you are accustomed to with stainless/coated blades. You will feel some pulling. That is to be expected. With many of these blades you will also feel some degree of discomfort that goes beyond pulling. This could be due to deterioration of the blade that may be attributed to poor storage conditions. I have tried Gillette Blue blades that were not sealed in plastic and have gotten reasonably good shaves. If I had some of them sealed in plastic like yours, I would definitely try them out. Just remember...no carbon steel blade is going to feel like a stainless/coated blade.

 

[tgarza]

dont do it. I runied my face trying one of these old blades. My face was sidelined for 3 days.

 

[haiti222]

Blue Blades that have the Silicone and/or PTFE coating and have been fine even out of the box:

Gillette Blue Blades from sometime in the 60's onward through the 70's
All Super Blue Blades from the 50's on

For the Blue Blades you have to look up the patents on the blade. Some show the use of PTFE on a carbon steel blade.......I used an open container of blue blades from the 70's----Great Shave!!!

 

[luvmysuper]

Check out Mr. Razors site to find out when your blades were made.

Thanks Achim.

http://www.mr-razor.com/Rasierklingen/Rasierklingen.htm

 

[sandmountainslim]

Were the uncoated Blue Blades used multiple times or discarded after one shave? I would imagine carbon blades would rust up pretty quick if the owner didnt lubricate them everyday.
Wp

 

[zimmer]

I used them quite a lot years ago. They rusted easily, lasted for about three shaves and would take a pretty good chunk of your face off if you weren't careful, but they were the only DEs available at the time. My Dad had a Schick injector and a Gem but I don't recall if either were decent.
I'd say the best thing about the blue blades was/is the nostalgia.