Today I decided to try a vintage Wilkinson Sword blade in my 62 Slim Adjustable at #4 and ended up with a very smooth shave. I'm not sure of the blades age, but the packaging is a plastic dispensor with a black background label. The blades were smoother than a Derby, but not as sharp as a Feathers or Gillette 7'Oclocks. I will use it for the next few days to see how the edge lasts. Does anyone else have knowledge of these blades?
Vintage Wilkinson Sword Blades
- Thread starter danover321
- Start date
They are some of the best DE blades ever made. Wilkinson introduced the stainless steel blade to the US and knocked the wind out of Gillette who then scrambled to develop stainless blades of their own. Schick and Personna got into the act and the blade wars were on. This period in the 60s and 70s resulted in some of the greatest blade improvements ever made and the blades produced during this golden age are considered by many to be the best ever available. Use them in good health.
- Thread starter
- #3
Thanks for the info, my step father used them in the day and speaks very highly of them. They are stainless steel with a Made in England stamp. The inner packaging consists of white paper with the Wilkinson trademark in black.
I only have five more so I'm going to savor them for special occasions.
I only have five more so I'm going to savor them for special occasions.
Those blades can achieve 5-7 days worth of shaves, tho you should expect some dullness around day 7. My experience anyway.
NOS Wilks are some of my favorite blades. The particular blade you describe is one of the better ones that Wilkinson made. Enjoy them. They last a bit longer than the blades that Wilkinson made in the mid-90's.
- Thread starter
- #5
Just an update, the blades are stamped:
Made in England
Super Sword Edge
(reverse side)
Stainless
Super Sword Edge
Made in England
Super Sword Edge
(reverse side)
Stainless
Super Sword Edge
Yep...those are some very nice blades indeed.
I've always liked Wilkinson blades; they're what I started out with back in the 70's.
THAT is what I have always thought however on ASR's website it claims that Personna invented the Stainless Steel blade in 1963
Which is correct?? I have always heard it was Wilkinson NOT Personna.
Wp
I find that Wilkinson's don't get as much love here as they deserve.
I like Feathers, and find them the sharpest thing around BUT my first 2 shaves with a new Feather always results in irritation to my neck.
Wilkinsons give me 5 great shaves per blade, and cost less than the Feathers to boot.
Wilkinson's are currently my go-to blade (have been for the past 6 months).
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alan
I like Feathers, and find them the sharpest thing around BUT my first 2 shaves with a new Feather always results in irritation to my neck.
Wilkinsons give me 5 great shaves per blade, and cost less than the Feathers to boot.
Wilkinson's are currently my go-to blade (have been for the past 6 months).
---------------
alan
My rough understanding of the Stainless era-
Gillette had a stainless blade around 1928-32 that was a flop.
Wilkinson brought out a stainless blade in USA in 1962.
When it got to America, then Schick started selling its own made in Sweden version, but also soon opened a US plant (the first US made blades) in 1963.
ASR sourced Personna DEs from Scotland from 1963 until around 1968
PAL Stainless injector blades were made in USA starting in 1963.
Gillette entered in late 1963.
By 1965, 80% of shavers are using stainless blades
http://books.google.com/books?id=2T...ades#v=onepage&q=pal stainless blades&f=false
Gillette had a stainless blade around 1928-32 that was a flop.
Wilkinson brought out a stainless blade in USA in 1962.
When it got to America, then Schick started selling its own made in Sweden version, but also soon opened a US plant (the first US made blades) in 1963.
ASR sourced Personna DEs from Scotland from 1963 until around 1968
PAL Stainless injector blades were made in USA starting in 1963.
Gillette entered in late 1963.
By 1965, 80% of shavers are using stainless blades
http://books.google.com/books?id=2T...ades#v=onepage&q=pal stainless blades&f=false
I know, its an old thread, but I needed to give a shout out to haiti222 for this google books link, it's a fascinating book all about global manufacturing and marketing of all kinds of products that we all grew up with from the 50's on up, and partly explains why the US no longer "makes" anything.
Sooo, THANK YOU!!
I have heard about these legendary blades. Must find some.
I know, its an old thread, but I needed to give a shout out to haiti222 for this google books link, it's a fascinating book all about global manufacturing and marketing of all kinds of products that we all grew up with from the 50's on up, and partly explains why the US no longer "makes" anything.
Sooo, THANK YOU!!
Thanks so much!
The mention about Wilkinson not giving a cookie about razor blades but rather using them as publicity for their tools? That explain why there is small cartons like the one bellow in each dispenser that I own. There is scissors, pliers & other stuff like that.
That is so cool! I have only seen boring "You have one blade left" reminder cards from WS, sometimes written in a cheeky style.
OK, I admit it: I've been on a tear recently! Heck, that's how I found this old thread...
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if one can find any Wilkinson Sword blades that are made in England is it safe to assume they will be the awesome vintage blades we rave over?
Also what about vintage Boots blades? I think Boots was a store ( or pharmacy?) in the UK. Would they be vintage Wilkinsons as well?, rebranded?
Also what about vintage Boots blades? I think Boots was a store ( or pharmacy?) in the UK. Would they be vintage Wilkinsons as well?, rebranded?
I think a good rule of thumb with vintage Wilkinson is that is long as the blades are new enough to be stainless, the older the art/packaging looks, the better they shave 
I have good luck with the 'chromium' and the 'super sword edge', regardless of packaging, but the 'stainless' in newest packaging I've read meh things about but have not tried
I have good luck with the 'chromium' and the 'super sword edge', regardless of packaging, but the 'stainless' in newest packaging I've read meh things about but have not tried
I think even the last made in England WS ones are above average. There were other blade makers in the U.K., so you can't be sure about private label ones, but trying them is half the fun to me, if not too expensive.
Boots still is a store actually. They still sell razor blades but now they're rebranded Personna blades. I have heard talk that the old ones were the rebranded English Winkinsons though.
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