Numbers on the DE Blade

This page is part of the Interactive Guide to DE Razor Shaving.

Every Safety Razor user saw those mysterious numbers on the corner of their DE blades at one stage or another. Many users already asked the question[1] and many more will.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18]

Most of us are always asking themselves, what are they? Why do the manufacture print them? Is there a message, instructions or a guide for the user to put those numbers to good use? [19]

This is a query that is frequently asked on the forum and the majority of answers point to Quality Control when the company manufacture the Safety Razor blade. Those numbers are sometimes Roman numbering and other time, plain numbers. The numbers could appear like on the Merkur Blade as 'I', 'II', 'III' and 'IV' or, like on the Sharp Stainless as '1', '2', '3' and '4'.

Some would also say they indicate edges have been honed. Again, this would be a reference for the manufacturer.[20]

Not all companies use numbers for their quality control. Those companies are doing their tests differently.

There are no real message or instructions for the user on how those should be used at home. Disregard the numbers and use the blade as you wish. The numbers do not influence the shave and do not distinguish a "top side" versus a "bottom side"[21] [22]. There are no right or wrong way to use them with the shave. As long as your blade is securely and properly installed in the razor, there won't be any issues.

1. ^Numbers on blades http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/9364
2. ^Blade Numbers? http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/248965
3. ^Numbers on razor blades http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/242966
4. ^Hey does anyone know what those numbers on the blades mean? http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/210597
5. ^Numbers on Astra blades http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/195551
6. ^Blade Numbers http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/189787
7. ^Numbers on blades http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/178966
8. ^Numbers on a Gillette Blade http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/105263
9. ^ What do the little numbers signify? http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/172452
10. ^What are the numbers for? http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/164618
11. ^Blade markings http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/104341
12. ^Probably a very STUPID question ... (Note, there are no stupid questions) http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/118966
13. ^Question about the Derby blades http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/100371
14. ^What do the numbers on the blade mean? http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/94126
15. ^what do the number on Derby blades mead? http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/80591
16. ^Derby Factoids http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/26124
17. ^The little numbers on the end of the blades http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/189771
18. ^Gillette Platinum blades http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/4682
19. ^Please S'plain.... http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/160842
20. ^Question? Purpose of numbers 1, 2, 3, & 4 on Blades http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/242808
21. ^DE blades: top or bottom? http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/14283
22. ^Flipping a DE blade to reuse? http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/194781