Orange London Bridge (India) for Indonesia 11/07/2023

[ErkRusselReserve]

Just took delivery of these from SE Asia. Orange box London Bridge blades. Manufactured on July 2023. I was a little disappointed to find that they were from the India plant. The China ones get a lot of good press.

How do they shave? I’ll let you know tomorrow!

 

[pjgh]

Personally, I'd be thrilled to find them Indian-made. Yes, the Chinese-made do get good comments but India do know how to make a razor blade! Maybe you could swap a few tucks with someone who has the Chinese-made and you can both make some comparisons.

 

[deafficianado]

The Gillette plant in India produces excellent blades, I'd say that the Indian plant is just as good if not better IMO. Having compared Gillette Wilkinsons and blacks (both no longer made in China) both blades were good but slightly different. The Indian blades felt sharper while being almost as smooth. Maybe something to do with the demographics of Indians having thicker more facial hair so the coating is modified? I will say that I greatly prefer the Russian King C Gillettes over the current Chinese version.

 

[Lil Cooties]

Interesting that it says "Vertice Global Private Limited", so I guess the blades are being made by them under subcontract and not by one of Gillette Indias manufacturing plants that makes 7o'clocks for example. I believe Vertice are somehow related to the now defunct SuperMax. I have have heard of Indian Gillette blades being actually manufactured by other companies (one of the Winner blades from memory).

 

[ErkRusselReserve]

Interesting that it says "Vertice Global Private Limited", so I guess the blades are being made by them under subcontract and not by one of Gillette Indias manufacturing plants that makes 7o'clocks for example. I believe Vertice are somehow related to the now defunct SuperMax. I have have heard of Indian Gillette blades being actually manufactured by other companies (one of the Winner blades from memory).

That, my friend, is a good catch. I believe the blue box made for the Middle East London Bridges are also made at Vertice in India. The orange box made in China ones were from the Shanghai plant.

 

[ErkRusselReserve]

I am not sure about these blades after one use. The razor used was a Baili BD176 with a RR Bulldog handle. I used the Rayclem method of blade testing where I had few swipes with my previous razor- a Bic CP (4) still in its sweet spot. Smooth!

When switching to the India London Bridge (1) there was more resistance, but it shaved pretty ok. However, lots of during the shave and post shave irritation. Scratchy irritation. I did not palm strop the blade prior to use. I did post use though. There was some strange wavy texture on the blade that stropping removed.

This Baili is said to shave better with sharper blades. So perhaps another evaluation with a more efficient razor is necessary.

 

[ErkRusselReserve]

The second shave was more of the same. Switched to a sharper blade midway. Before I decide on these blades I will try them in another razor.

A shame. The Chinese ones were the ones I signed up for.

 

[Jopo]

The second shave was more of the same. Switched to a sharper blade midway. Before I decide on these blades I will try them in another razor.

A shame. The Chinese ones were the ones I signed up for.

Hmm, I had a better experience. I purchased some of these a couple months ago in. Found them to be among the very best blades I've ever used, purchased 600+ more. Used in a Gillette Tech.

Also, I wonder if the Chinese made version is even still in production. Perhaps the version on hanging card is still made in China. But whereas previously the version sold in the box in Thailand/made in China appeared the same as the hanging card version (ie blade printed "London Bridge"), it seems that now the version sold in Thailand matches the version sold in box in Vietnam/Indonesia (blade printed "Gillette Stainless Steel")

 

[ErkRusselReserve]

Hmm, I had a better experience. I purchased some of these a couple months ago in. Found them to be among the very best blades I've ever used, purchased 600+ more. Used in a Gillette Tech.

Also, I wonder if the Chinese made version is even still in production. Perhaps the version on hanging card is still made in China. But whereas previously the version sold in the box in Thailand/made in China appeared the same as the hanging card version (ie blade printed "London Bridge"), it seems that now the version sold in Thailand matches the version sold in box in Vietnam/Indonesia (blade printed "Gillette Stainless Steel")

That is indeed YMMV.

 

[lasta]

Sorry @ErkRusselReserve , but I'm gonna have to stand with Jopo on this one. These are some of the best blades I have ever used.

Very sharp and very smooth. Top shelf worthy.

Blade Biter's Tasting Notes

I hope you haven't been biting Mezcal and this is joke; I admit that I snickered, but then I thought about and... 🤔 Just for the record, all I've had today is a few Dos Equis with limes. 🍻

www.badgerandblade.com

 

[AndyPanda]

@helicopter hasn't tested the Indian London Bridge yet but the China London Bridge came in below the Indian Gillette Wilkinson Sword. How do those of you who like the Indian London Bridge compare it against the Indian Wilkies?