Modern Blades versus NOS Classics

[Alegre]

I`ve seen it claimed that the best blades of the 60s and 70s, Personna 74s, Gillette Platinum Plus, Schick Plus Platinum, Made in England Wilkinsons, & perhaps some others, all of which are no longer manufactured, are historically the best of blades. Is this true or not?

How do some of the classic blades stack up against some of the most popular modern ones such as the Feather? Do any of these old school blades match the Feather in sharpness or overall performance?

I`m new to the game, and this all struck my curiousity. I googled around and couldn`t find much discussion in this direction. It would be interesting to see some of the experienced blade enthusiasts weigh in. Thanks.

 

[haiti222]

My comment would be that the Feather has some unique positive characteristics, but is not the high point of blade performance, in terms of the total package. When I have used Feathers, I have gotten some incredibly close shaves that are almost perfect, but have also had bouts of irritation and generalized blood flow.


Poorer quality stainless blades often result in weepers, poor first shaves, difficulty in getting hard areas like the upper lip, almost none of which are good qualities.

The best carbon blades can be very difficult to cut you, but can wear out quickly and unevenly, becoming almost totally unusable. Also, carbon blades don't work well for many and have a greater variability in YMMV. Personally, I have also had some of my best shaves from the best carbon blades, including certain 1970-80s NOS.

To me, the best NOS stainless blades have less risk of blood and irritation than the Feather, with a smoother, easier shave that yields almost perfect results with less variability and more longevity than the Feather.

Perhaps it could be said the Feather is sometimes too close.

 

[sandmountainslim]

I have shaved with NOS Schick Krona blades from the sixties and with sixties and early seventies Gillette's as well as Personna 74. WONDERFUL blades all of these mentioned but I am perfectly happy with German Wilks, Personna Reds and Gillette Super Thin. I would say six/half dozen for me. Love em all.
Wp

 

[RapidRobert]

I remember shaving with Gillette blues, Wilkinson Swords and Schicks and I gotta say that the Schicks of the 70s and early 80s were the best blades I ever tried. They weren't always available where I lived but they were always my first choice--they were usually a few cents cheaper than Gillette and Wilkie, too.

 

[michiganlover]

I have four packs of Schick Plus Platinums I have yet to try (bought at a local junk store for .25 cents each). At the time when I bought them, I had no idea they were highly prized; I think I bought them mostly to be polite.

My thought on Vintage Blades is this: if you get a BBS shave with your favorite blade, and that shave is irritation free, just how much better can it get?

A vintage blade that might feel slightly smoother to the face probably isn't worth the huge price premium one would pay for that privilege.

 

[mmack66]

I have yet to find a modern DE blade that can compete with the 60's/70's Gillette and Schick stainless steel blades that I have used. To me, they are more than worth the extra cost.

 

[40boy]

I have used Schick Plus Platinum, Gillette Platinum Plus, Gillette Super Stainless (Spoilers) and NOS UK Wilkinsons(not Light Brigades), all fairly recently.

All the NOS blades are very sharp and give a very good shave. Of the current production blades I've used, I would compare their sharpness to Iridiums and the Indian 7 O'Clock Blacks.
To me the one advantage they have over most current blades is longevity. On my face, they definitely last longer. Say 5 or 6 shaves, rather than the 3 I usually get with most current production blades.

The Schick PP to me are the best of those that I've tried. A good combination of sharp and smooth, with 5 excellent shaves per blade.

IMHO the ones I've tried do not justify the prices they are being sold at these days.
Why pay $1+ for 5 shaves when I can pay $0.30 for 3 shaves from a Feather?

In terms of pure sharpness, Feather still beats them all. If you can use a Feather without irritation, I'd stick to those and forget chasing the NOS blades. If you want something almost as sharp as a Feather with a little more smoothness, then the NOS blades might be worth investigating.

At least this has been my somewhat limited expereince on my wiry grey/black beard.

YMMV and all that.

 

[Alegre]

I want to thank all that offered feedback on this thread, some great insights offered!

I`ve tried a bunch of different modern blades, and most have been plenty good. But I`d read here and there that some prefer vintage NOS blades, so I decided to try some that I had laying around. They came along with some vintage razor purchases...

First up were the Gillette carbon Blue Blades of 40s and 50s. These were a no go for me, too rough. I didn`t bother finishing the shave. Then I peeled open a "Made in England" Wilkinson. I`d bet it`s from the 60s as they came with a Slim, and the paper was quite yellowed. GREAT performer. I have I think six left.

Next up was the Schick Plus Platinum and it was even better, noticably smoother than any other blade I`ve ever used. Great overall experience start to finish. I have perhaps four more shaves on that blade and two left in the dispensor...

I haven`t tried a Feather yet, have been scared away by all the talk of blood , but am confident enough in my technique now to give it a go. Are there any other modern blades someone thinks may compete well with the classics, other than the Feather? Thanks again for all the replies.

 

[Chester]

I haven`t tried a Feather yet, have been scared away by all the talk of blood , but am confident enough in my technique now to give it a go. Are there any other modern blades someone thinks may compete well with the classics, other than the Feather?

I can suggest souplex and timor, to start with. Bolzanos are excellent, too. I had pretty good results with perma-sharps, too. Lately, I was also impressed by the Treet Durasharp Silver Edge Classics, though I have not heard of any retailer aside from -=banned vendor=- who has them. They're faboo.
Hope it helps,
-- Chet

 

[Alegre]

Very interesting Chester, thanks. The first two brands you mentioned I can only find offered by UK or Irish vendors. The Timor is on the Bay for about $1 a blade, offered only in 10 packs. Anyway this will all require more research. I`d like to try some of these blades you mentioned. To me blades are the variable in my routine that I notice the most. If I get a big addiction going, it`s likely going to be about blades. I`m already settled in a brush, a couple of creams, and a few fav razors. I have no real itch to venture off in those areas...

 

[Go West Young Man]

I can get a shave in the 95th percentile with $0.15 blades that I can buy at any vendor in about 3 clicks. I can't imagine that NOS blades are so remarkable that they're worth the $$$ and the effort spent tracking them down. If a pack fell in my lap, so to speak, I'd use them, but otherwise I'm quite happy with our modern versions.

 

[Alegre]

I can get a shave in the 95th percentile with $0.15 blades that I can buy at any vendor in about 3 clicks. I can't imagine that NOS blades are so remarkable that they're worth the $$$ and the effort spent tracking them down. If a pack fell in my lap, so to speak, I'd use them, but otherwise I'm quite happy with our modern versions.

I thought the same thing, was plenty content with various $15 per 100 price range blades I have on hand, until I loaded up a Made in England Wilkinson, and especially the Schick Plus Platinum, and the difference was quite noticeable. I`m still trying to decide if it`s worth the extra $ to me. As to tracking the NOS down, really nothing to it in my case. They are either on the Bay or they aren`t, and checking the listings there has long been part of my daily routine...

 

[gagarin]

In my experience, top-tier current blades are just as good, maybe a bit better than the legendary vintage NOS blades. I've tried the NOS Schicks, and didn't like them. My favorites among vintage production are 'The Blade', the so-called Light Brigade Wilkinsons. Lovely blades, no doubt, but my Super Iridiums are just as smooth, just as sharp, and last longer (for me).

Of course, the Iridiums may now have joined the vintage category. Even with their possible demise, there are still several brands being made which can hold there own against the oldies.

Regards,

 

[Alegre]

Even with their possible demise, there are still several brands being made which can hold there own against the oldies.

Can you provide a list? If they are blades I haven`t tried, I`d like to try them to see if I might agree with you, all of course within the YMMV parameter...

 

[gagarin]

Can you provide a list? If they are blades I haven`t tried, I`d like to try them to see if I might agree with you, all of course within the YMMV parameter...

All of my favorites from current production are produced in St. Petersburg. I think the 7 O'Clock Super Platinum Blues are nice. They are very smooth on the first shave, reminding me of the LB Wilks. My current-production favorites are the Perma Sharps, made in St. Petersburg for the Turkish market, available from Turkish vendor Best Shave for a good price, about $26/100.

Regards,

 

[Alegre]

Thanks gagarin. I haven`t tried those brands yet, but will quite soon.

 

[michiganlover]

The Timor is on the Bay for about $1 a blade, offered only in 10 packs.

You can buy the Timor from Razorbladesandmore, who is a B and B supporting vendor. They are $4.75 per 10 pack. Still expensive at roughly .48 each, but at least it's not $1 per blade:

http://www.razorbladesandmore.com/content/10-timor-solingen-double-edge-blades

 

[Alegre]

Sounds good to me ML. Thanks a lot.

 

[talibeard]

Though I am always at the look out to score a few extra Schick Platinum Plus at reasonable cost, they only rank #3 at best in my den. My #1 & 2 are current production blades; Souplex and Lord SS, so a rather expensive and a super cheap blade.

Part of the mythical properties of vintage blades no doubt comes from the fact that they are no longer made and hard to come by. Only interesting when you can get them at reasonable prices IMO.

 

[Alegre]

You know, in my case, I do not believe the fact that the English Wilkinsons or Schick Plus Platinum are old or out of production is a factor at all in my appeal for them. I wasn`t expecting a lot when I loaded them. They sat here for months before I bothered testing them. I also thought they might have deteriorated some with age, but was I ever in for a pleasant surprise. At the same time I do hope that I come across a modern blade or two to completely or nearly match the Schick PP, and it would be all the better if one or all happen to be cheapies....