Having heard so much about them, I just had to try the legendary Graham-Fields Prep blade. Thanks to Jaidmaster for the PIF.
Day 1: Gillette Slim Adjustable (1963 I1), Pacific Shaving Natural Cream, Semogue 830
My first impression is that it's not a very good blade, but nowhere as bad as I'd been expecting. That's in a Slim at 5 WTG & XTG, then opened up to 7 ATG. Because I forgot to dig out Slick Willy before my wife went to sleep, I settled for Pacific Shaving Natural, so I didn't even use my best soap. It felt harsh, but I still got my usual DFS around the Adam's apple & BBS elsewhere.
Day 2: Rockwell 6S - Plate 6, Nivea Men Moisturizing Cream, Maggard 20mm synthetic
Today's shave on plate 6 was DFS around the Adam's apple, BBS elsewhere, although I admit the DFS patch was a bit larger than usual. There were no nicks or weepers, and the alum was totally sting free. The blade was a bit tuggier than usual, but nothing extreme. I declined to chase the baby. As I type this, about nine hours after the shave, I'm still feeling a CCS.
Day 3: Schick Krona, Col. Conk Almond, Omega 10049
The GF was definitely tuggy today, and I could only get a CCS- out of it, even with 3 passes and a little buffing. I'm binning it after this shave. No nicks, weepers or irritation, and it wasn't pulling the hair out by the roots like a Flying Eagle blade, it just wasn't cutting it.
Conclusion:
After testing this blade in both vintage and modern razors, both aggressive and mild, I'm underwhelmed. Graham-Field has earned its bad reputation on this forum. This blade is mediocre at best, although not nearly the horror that the Flying Eagle blade was, at least not on my face.
Sharpness 4/10
Smoothness 4/10
Overall 4/10
Day 1: Gillette Slim Adjustable (1963 I1), Pacific Shaving Natural Cream, Semogue 830
My first impression is that it's not a very good blade, but nowhere as bad as I'd been expecting. That's in a Slim at 5 WTG & XTG, then opened up to 7 ATG. Because I forgot to dig out Slick Willy before my wife went to sleep, I settled for Pacific Shaving Natural, so I didn't even use my best soap. It felt harsh, but I still got my usual DFS around the Adam's apple & BBS elsewhere.
Day 2: Rockwell 6S - Plate 6, Nivea Men Moisturizing Cream, Maggard 20mm synthetic
Today's shave on plate 6 was DFS around the Adam's apple, BBS elsewhere, although I admit the DFS patch was a bit larger than usual. There were no nicks or weepers, and the alum was totally sting free. The blade was a bit tuggier than usual, but nothing extreme. I declined to chase the baby. As I type this, about nine hours after the shave, I'm still feeling a CCS.
Day 3: Schick Krona, Col. Conk Almond, Omega 10049
The GF was definitely tuggy today, and I could only get a CCS- out of it, even with 3 passes and a little buffing. I'm binning it after this shave. No nicks, weepers or irritation, and it wasn't pulling the hair out by the roots like a Flying Eagle blade, it just wasn't cutting it.
Conclusion:
After testing this blade in both vintage and modern razors, both aggressive and mild, I'm underwhelmed. Graham-Field has earned its bad reputation on this forum. This blade is mediocre at best, although not nearly the horror that the Flying Eagle blade was, at least not on my face.
Sharpness 4/10
Smoothness 4/10
Overall 4/10