I need Blade Testers

[Wildalaska]

I have rediscovered vintage/old stock Wilkinson Sword Blades (English made) and even though I am a convinced Feather user, I am rapidly becoming aware of the nagging feeling in my pea brain that the Wilkies may be the holy grail of blades....today was an effortless, truly effortless one pass BBS using a stainless one...

That being said, I would like to verify whether these blades are that good or whether I am just smokin crack.

So I would like to PIF three of these blades for testing. I would like these blades to go to experienced shavers, who regularly achieve BBS, and who use Feathers or Kais. The tester must give an honest report on these blades to the crowd

I will select my testers by their hardware and software, to get the best test sample. Post your stuff, please note your experience in your post.

 

[SplitHair]

Sure, I am game. Ive been DE shaving about three years and used Feathers almost exclusively. I have only in the last several weeks been trying other options including returning to some blades I used before I feared the Feathers.

 

[Wildalaska]

Sure, I am game. Ive been DE shaving about three years and used Feathers almost exclusively. I have only in the last several weeks been trying other options including returning to some blades I used before I feared the Feathers.

Hardware and software?

 

[xillion]

Don't count me in, but I am curious which vintage Wilkinson blades are you using?

I've tried every vintage English made Wilkinson blade that I could get my hands on and the tops for me are The Blade aka Light Brigades.

Sword Masters are also nice.

 

[GreekGuy]

Don't count me in either, but I suspect you're just having a case of experiencing vintage blades. Before you start hoarding, I would suggest trying some others. I've tried most everything out there and I do like wilkinsons, but as with modern blades, there is a lot of variety out there, its just the bar is so much higher

 

[Wildalaska]

Don't count me in, but I am curious which vintage Wilkinson blades are you using?

I've tried every vintage English made Wilkinson blade that I could get my hands on and the tops for me are The Blade aka Light Brigades.

Sword Masters are also nice.

I have the Sword Chromiums aka the Blade and sword stainless and super swords. No Swordmasters right now

 

[Wildalaska]

Don't count me in either, but I suspect you're just having a case of experiencing vintage blades. Before you start hoarding, I would suggest trying some others. I've tried most everything out there and I do like wilkinsons, but as with modern blades, there is a lot of variety out there, its just the bar is so much higher

I honestly think that I ran through different blades in the old days...my Dad used Wilkinson Swords and thats what I started with, but there were times when I would do a Schick or Gillette.......

Its more like that I consider Feathers to be such a superior blade so that its cool that the old Wilkies shave the same. Curious as to other Feather users see them

I would like to play with some Spoilers though

 

[SiBurning]

I found B&B after the Wilkinson blades went downhill. From memory, it seems like somewhere around 2002 that they mostly weren't good anymore. Ultimately, I was buying them from one small store where they were still good for a few years... Until they weren't. That's when I went online to find a replacement, and found B&B. I read about them closing down the factory and moving production elsewhere. Ended up mostly with feathers. Was using the Wilkies since about 87, though I honestly don't remember exactly. It could have been anywhere from 84-97.

To be honest, I'd rather not try the old ones. Not unless you have a huge stock that'll keep me in blades for years. I might like them. Anyway, I probably fail your "regularly achieve BBS" test, since I usually do a quick 1 or 2 pass shave. It grows back too quickly to bother with a BBS. I'm happy to just look clean.

 

[brother cavefish]

COUNT ME IN, i would love to try them , but alas my first experiance with feathers was not a good one,and have never tried one since- i got one free with a ebay or B&B DE buy , and if it was used or new, i could not tell, it was wrapped in the paper , but it shaved like crud-so i never felt the need to try Feather again---a feather will/may soon come my way again so we will see if it is worthy of my face
Hardware---R41, DE89, SS and 1904
software? creams and soaps

 

[rivieraranch]

This "Holy Grail" nonsense starts the hoarding and the hype. This is what happened to electron vacuum tubes. There are too many variables involved in shaving to make conclusions with only three people sampling.

 

[Mick]

Count me in. Been shaving 45 years.

As far as DE razors, blades, and soap/cream, it would be faster for me to name ones that I DON'T have I use a different razor and brand of blade every day and go about a month before starting back into the beginning of the rotation.

 

[cfender]

I'd love to try the blades. Feather is my "go to" blade but I have experimented with many premium blades including Kai, Gillette Black, Blue, Silver Blue, GBE, & Super Iridium.

I've been DE shaving for 19 months.

I cold water shave with a new style R41 Razor and a variety of creams and soaps but most often use Bigelow cream bowl lathered.

I'm currently posting a blindfold test on the Kai and Feather in the B&B razor blade forum.

 

[Wildalaska]

OK perfect

We got 45 year vet turtle. Rookie cfender. and cavefish, the Feather rejecter. Both of the latter with R41s. Rock on.

PM me guys

 

[Renato1]

I've still got a packet of Wilkinson Sword Made In England blades I bought in 1978 or 1979. I went off DE shaving for decades because I'd always get razor burn and a fine pimple rash from using them.

I posted a thread the other day on the razor blade forum about not much liking Feathers and Astra SPs much, as I get a fine pimple rash using them. I haven't been game to try my old Wilkinson Sword blades, because I suspect they may indeed be just like my Feather and Astra SPs.
Regards,
Renato