Here comes a comparison I wanted to make for a long time. Gillette Stainless is a discontinued model. It has been introduced around 1990 wheh the Iron Curtain fell and Gillette were eager to conquer new markets where they weren't allowed before. The model is specifically for former Eastern block countries except former USSR republics (Russian, Ukraine, Belarus etc. etc., where a different brand has been introduced - Rubie). Unlike the blades for Western Europe at the time (plastic dispensers), these were made in simple cardboard packaging. Most men here have never seen Gillette dispensers by 1990 anyway.
The model has been manufactured in 4 different Gillette plants. And on the first photo are all 4 in chronological order.
The orange pack (and it is orange, not red faded with time) is of an unknown plant, neither the packs, neither the outer 100 pcs sleeve has any information. Has L-1 code which means 1991 first qiarter - one of the very very first batches. Next is the pack made by Czech Blades S.R.O. Gillette acquired the Astra plant in 1996 and used it for a few years. The third one is made by Gillette India (Z-4 - 2004) when they sold The Czech plant. They were made for a very short time. Could even be only one big batch. The last one is the Petersburg Products International (Russia) which some of you have seen or even have.
How do they shave? A simple answer would be: different. But let's get into some details.
The comparison was with my methodology of keeping all variables the same except the blade. Only brand new blades were used for one shave each. The razor used was Maggard V3. It is interesting how with this particular model Gillette went for gradually increasing the sharpness. The first blade from 1991 is not very sharp. I actually will need a more aggressive razor for them to achieve BBS. With the Czech made blade you notice the significant sharpness increase. The Indian is more or less like the Czech one sharpness-wise. Maybe only a hair sharper than it. And the Russian is even sharper than the Indian and Czech blade.
Hope you weren't bored reading about a discontinued blade.
That's all folks!
The model has been manufactured in 4 different Gillette plants. And on the first photo are all 4 in chronological order.
The orange pack (and it is orange, not red faded with time) is of an unknown plant, neither the packs, neither the outer 100 pcs sleeve has any information. Has L-1 code which means 1991 first qiarter - one of the very very first batches. Next is the pack made by Czech Blades S.R.O. Gillette acquired the Astra plant in 1996 and used it for a few years. The third one is made by Gillette India (Z-4 - 2004) when they sold The Czech plant. They were made for a very short time. Could even be only one big batch. The last one is the Petersburg Products International (Russia) which some of you have seen or even have.
How do they shave? A simple answer would be: different. But let's get into some details.
The comparison was with my methodology of keeping all variables the same except the blade. Only brand new blades were used for one shave each. The razor used was Maggard V3. It is interesting how with this particular model Gillette went for gradually increasing the sharpness. The first blade from 1991 is not very sharp. I actually will need a more aggressive razor for them to achieve BBS. With the Czech made blade you notice the significant sharpness increase. The Indian is more or less like the Czech one sharpness-wise. Maybe only a hair sharper than it. And the Russian is even sharper than the Indian and Czech blade.
Hope you weren't bored reading about a discontinued blade.
That's all folks!
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