Vintage Wilkinson DE blades from UK

[DrAwkward]

I recently purchased a tiny number of UK Wilkinson DE blades. After some research, I remain confused.
Are there different types?

There is Stainless Steel and triple coated and New Chromium Edge and Light Brigade and Super Sword Edge and Sword Master and who knows what else. Here are 3 BINs on eBay - all of them appear to be Stainless Steel, but I can't tell if they are all the same blade.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121140595949?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121140597160?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281145591524?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Here is another example (the one on the right)

This is what I bought (see below). Made in England, packaged in USA. Does anyone have any idea what it is? Did I just flush my $ down the toilet? Not to worry, I did not pay much.

 

[DrAwkward]

Here is another:

 

[mkiraly]

All three ebay finds are NOS UK-made/US-distributed packs of the same Wilkinson Sword SS blades, discontinued in 2000, when production moved to Germany.
I love this blade, consistently gives me 6-8 smooth shaves!

 

[Early Morning]

I recently purchased a tiny number of UK Wilkinson DE blades. After some research, I remain confused.
Are there different types?

The blade at top left is German, triple coated, current production, I believe. The second blade is the New Chromium Edge blade, an international version of the Light Brigade, first launched in England about 1969. It's at least as good or better than the American repackaged version. Other versions were produced for Brazil, France, Germany, etc.

Next picture: Vintage triple coated blades usually have three diagonal lines printed on the wrapper and blade. If it was packaged in America, it's probably a Sword Master or Premium Chromium. If it is more directly from England, it is probably the Classic.

The blades right underneath those are WS SS blades from maybe the early 1980s. These and the blades you linked to are renditions of the Super Sword Edge--the newer ones would just get the Super Sword Edge stamp on the outer box. Final picture: Light Brigades.

I think you'll enjoy some of those blades.

Also, differences:

The Stainless Steel Wilkinson blades are sharp and very efficient. The Light Brigades are supposedly a little sharper, but I think it's the chromium. The triple coated blades were designed more for comfortable shaves and Wilkinson really emphasized this with some of its advertising.

 

[DrAwkward]

mkiraly and Early Morning:

Thanks for the information.

So far, I like the Super Sword Edge, but the Light Brigade is even better.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...lkinson-Light-Brigade-vs-Personna-74-Tungsten

 

[Early Morning]

mkiraly and Early Morning:

Thanks for the information.

So far, I like the Super Sword Edge, but the Light Brigade is even better.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...lkinson-Light-Brigade-vs-Personna-74-Tungsten

That's an interesting side-by-side comparison. They are both such good blades that I don't think I could objectively compare the two. I would say the Light Brigade is easier to shave with and the blades are more consistent than P74.

Cheers

 

[nemo]

So far, I like the Super Sword Edge, but the Light Brigade is even better.

Nice score, are they still working well for you?

 

[ezmike]

I have both the one on the top right with the black graphics and the Classics, I find them both to be excellent shaves. Somehow I too, like so many others have amassed more blades from the heyday of DE shaving, Gillette Platinum Plus, Schick Krona and Wilkies, then we will use in a lifetime. Well at least at my age.

Mike