Shaving with really old blades

[johnmrson]

Has anyone done it? I was lucky enough to pick up about 40-50 late 1920's Gillette blades. All are in original wrappers and some are in unopened boxes.
I can't think of any reason not to try them and I was wondering if anyone had actually shaved with blades this old and what it was like.

 

[Oldguy]

Let us know how you make out John. i've been wanting to try an old 3 hole blade from the 1910's in a Double ring. I'll give it a soak in Barbicide and a quick strop first though. If yours are nos you should be OK.

Len

 

[Marco]

If they are made of high quality stainless steel, as I suppose they are, they should be OK (no rust or whatsoever dubious spot).
I have never been that lucky to find so ancient blades, so I've never used one in my life.
Anyhow, if I were you, I wouldn't use them.
Having almost one hundred years, I think those blades have a very high collectable value and the more you keep them in good shape, the higher their value will become.

 

[W_B_K]

Wow, look at that price! .50 per 5 blade pack? That is over $6 in today's money!

Suddenly those period DE blade stroppers make a lot of sense!

 

[SmoovD]

I tried some unopened, vintage carbon blades once. And one time was enough to inform me that I much prefer newer blades. I will still buy old blades for the packing but not for use.

 

[americanarmsdealer]

This thread tells the story of my one and only attempt (thus far) to use vintage blades.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=142791
I read somewhere in the company history of Gillette that they made a public apology for how bad their current blades were. Maybe it was the ones I tried? Maybe you'll have better luck with your blades, though, John. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right? Report back and let us know how it goes if you decide to give them a spin, though!

 

[michiganlover]

If they are made of high quality stainless steel, as I suppose they are, they should be OK

These blades are not high quality stainless steel. Stainless didn't come on the scene until the 1960's. These are un-coated carbon blades.

Assuming they are not rusted, at best they are going to provide for a very rough shave. That's assuming they have maintained a usable edge over nearly 100 years.

Personally, I wouldn't want to use them.

We seem to assume that DE shaving of eons past was the same as it is today; it's far from the truth, as there were many advances in blade technology over the years; including better metals, and better coatings.

 

[firehydrant]

So, I load a vintage NOS, rust free, Gillette three hole blade into my double ring and and prepare for a truly "classic shave".

Screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeech!
(Think rusty nails on a chalk board.)

I give it another try.

Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!*&^$%@#!

The vintage blade goes into the blade bank and I finish up a DFS with a feather blade in my Sheraton.

My advice to you good sir is: Run away! Run away!...

 

[HoosierTrooper]

I've tried some Gillette thins and blue blades from the 40's and 50's, as well as an old GEM single edge. None of them showed any rust or corrosion and were still in wrappers. It was not a pleasant experience at all.

 

[DE Shaver]

Unless your vintage razor blade have been well preserved, such as being stored in oil, they will not shave you well at all. In fact, even if they have been well preserved, you won't get a very satisfying shave, as stated in preceding comments, due to many advances in technology. Save them as collectors items and use a more modern blade.

 

[taffy]

I was thinking about this about old blades as the antique mall where i find a lot has one stall there which has loads and loads of old blades from 4 or 5 different gilette blades, watsons blades and many more i have never heard of, plus gem, and he sells them induvidually or in unopened packs of 100's and i look at them every time i am there but never yet even bought 1 to try as i dont want to buy them and not use them though very tempted by some of the displays he has of blades on advertising stands he has with all the un opened blades all intact but dont want a blade rad.

 

[Deltaboy]

I have used some 1960's Gillette Blades they were Super Sharp and gave me a BBS shave.

 

[sandmountainslim]

I tried shaving with a Gillette 3 Hole Blade in my Old Type once.....one swoop down my right cheek and out she came! Terrible experience.
Wp

 

[HoosierTrooper]

I'd like to know how they felt back when they were fresh.

 

[firehydrant]

I'd like to know how they felt back when they were fresh.

"Like Velvet" according to the Gillette ad copy.

 

[denim]

So, I load a vintage NOS, rust free, Gillette three hole blade into my double ring and and prepare for a truly "classic shave".

Screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeech!
(Think rusty nails on a chalk board.)

I give it another try.

Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!*&^$%@#!

The vintage blade goes into the blade bank and I finish up a DFS with a feather blade in my Sheraton.

Anyone who tries this should have an up-to-date tetanus shot. :-d

 

[Scott0079]

So, I load a vintage NOS, rust free, Gillette three hole blade into my double ring and and prepare for a truly "classic shave".

Screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeech!
(Think rusty nails on a chalk board.)

I give it another try.

Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!*&^$%@#!

The vintage blade goes into the blade bank and I finish up a DFS with a feather blade in my Sheraton.

My advice to you good sir is: Run away! Run away!...

+100 I used a vintage Don Jaun about a month ago...given the option I'd rather shave with a cheese grater.

 

[Stubblefield]

John, those old carbon steel blades can be made to be serviceable, but you may have to resort to stropping them on glass and/or corking them, plus any other tricks you can think of. Even after that, you will probably find they still tug quite a bit.

 

[luvmysuper]

I have used some 1960's Gillette Blades they were Super Sharp and gave me a BBS shave.

I think the 60's were the heyday of DE blades.
Late 60's and early 70's saw some of the most amazing blades produced, and they are still highly sought after.

Those old carbon steel Gillettes though?

Pretty to look at,
Lovely to hold.
But if you shave with it,
Don't say you weren't told.

 

[HoosierTrooper]

I think the 60's were the heyday of DE blades.
Late 60's and early 70's saw some of the most amazing blades produced, and they are still highly sought after.

I decided to take a break from SE's this morning so I broke out one of my 1947 SS's and loaded it with a Spoiler from 1973 (T4). Simply amazing how well it worked.