Czech In The Mail

Had a couple of tries of the Tatra now and I'm not all that impressed and seems to blunt pretty quickly. They also feel a lot thinner and flimsy than other blades.

I'm late to the party, as always ...

I've had a couple of shaves with the Tatra Platinum and had to let it go at that. Like you, I found it dulled quickly and the second shave in the same razor was pulling by the end of the shave.

I found the first shave to be the better one. I immediately noted that I did not think these blades were up there with other Platinums that I enjoy (generally, I don't seem to like Platinum blades) but thought it certainly as good as any mid to top tier regular Stainless. Akin to say, Big Ben or Ladas. By the second shave, it was pulling and when tested against the hard skin at the top of my thumb (something I do with all blades when I think they're done), it was indeed dull. Regrowth off the first shave was not the best, which no doubt impacted upon my perception of the second shave, which post-shave feels quite irritable.

It's only one blade and only two shaves, but my rating was a lowly 4/10. Curiously, that's exactly where I put Astra SPs (a blade I really don't like) and subsequently find out that the pre-Gillette Astras were made at this factory. Better than Personna Comfort Coated (a blade I've used a good number of and continue to rate lowly at 3/10). Overall, it felt like a Muhle or Merkur blade. Maybe the other blades in the tuck will fair better ... I'll drop one in out of curiosity every now and again.

The razor? Muhle Rocca.

Anything else? Yeah! The laser etched graphics on the blade were cool :cool:
 
pjgh, what version of the Rocca do you have? I only ask as perhaps you were not aware that there are apparently four versions of this troubled model. I remembered reading as such here:


Of course I thought everyone knew that all German shaving implements are designed to extract confessions from prisoners, from the smell of Tabac to forcing people to use the "jackhandle" called the Progress. ;)

On another note, I am going to try the new to me Tiger Superior Stainless (red box) today.

Update: superb 1st shave in my Gamechanger .68 SB. Tomorrow I will use a Tech. I must be livin' right. ;) :D
 
Last edited:
Both V4s @Bogeyman ... one R95 one R96. I used the Tatra twice in the R95. Horrible regrowth today and can't wait to scythe it off with something else this evening.

I could easily be a duff blade. As I said, I've had two shaves off one blade. That's enough for an opinion, but not necessarily a fully informed opinion.
 
I no doubt will ... later on. I've a stack of blades to get through, but will return to these (and the TIger Platinum). One thought at the back of my mind, I do wonder if I just don't like Platinum - looking at my ratings, I'm finding Platinum most often rate (for me) less than "just" Stainless. I do have a couple of Platinum blades that I do like a lot (Treet Platinum & Rapira Platinum Lux), but generally I'm finding I don't like Platinum.

Probably just me, then ...
 
I no doubt will ... later on. I've a stack of blades to get through, but will return to these (and the TIger Platinum). One thought at the back of my mind, I do wonder if I just don't like Platinum - looking at my ratings, I'm finding Platinum most often rate (for me) less than "just" Stainless. I do have a couple of Platinum blades that I do like a lot (Treet Platinum & Rapira Platinum Lux), but generally I'm finding I don't like Platinum.

Probably just me, then ...

Similar here with platinum blades; especially the modern St Petersburg ones
 
I no doubt will ... later on. I've a stack of blades to get through, but will return to these (and the TIger Platinum). One thought at the back of my mind, I do wonder if I just don't like Platinum - looking at my ratings, I'm finding Platinum most often rate (for me) less than "just" Stainless. I do have a couple of Platinum blades that I do like a lot (Treet Platinum & Rapira Platinum Lux), but generally I'm finding I don't like Platinum.

Probably just me, then ...

There was a really good thread on B&B a while back where I guy did where he did some scans and analysis of some blades and some ones with Platinum in the title, contain no platinum in their compound (eg Lord Platinum, Treet Platinum, Supermax Super Platinum), some blades which were advertised without Platinum contain it (eg Gillette Silver Blue)

This is the thread.


I generally prefer the Stainless over their Platinum counterparts, with a few exceptions eg Indian Gillettes which seem to perform differently to Russian Gillettes.

From my experience having used a fair number of different blades, I find there are very few blades which do not suit me at all or are absolute stinkers, the majority of the time some blades suit some razors better than others.
 
That is interesting @donnie_arko because the Treet Platinum certainly feels quite different. That said, I rated the Lord Platinum below all others in the range - I simply did not like it, finding it irritable to shave with, post-shave and scratchy regrowth. That's something I find with many Platinum blades. That said, you mention SuperMax Super Platinum as one of those Platinum but not blades, and I have 50 of those so fingers crossed they're more like the Treet than the Lord.

So, there's Platinums and there's Platinums. Interesting, indeed ...
 
Last edited:
Fellas, the platinum is not in the coating. It is used with chrome to harden the blade edge and that's it. No platinum is touching your skin because the PTFE is vapor coated over the edge. Your symptons are psychosomatic.
 
Fellas, the platinum is not in the coating. It is used with chrome to harden the blade edge and that's it. No platinum is touching your skin because the PTFE is vapor coated over the edge. Your symptons are psychosomatic.

I think this applies to me as well, from habit I have to associate I am more likely to prefer PPI blades of the Stainless variety (eg Perma Sharp, Nacet, Astra Blue) to their Platinum variety which I still like, and the reverse for their Indian blades but I think if I didn't know which was which I'd not favour one over the other, eg if either a Astra Green or Blue was in my Tech of choice and didn't know which was which, I'm fairly sure I wouldn't be able to tell the difference!
 
Just crap blades, then ... :ROFLMAO:

You know, a few years back I went through a spell where my shaves were not as smooth as they once were. After awhile I finally decided I was rushing my prep. I started timing myself and proved as such. I then went back to a more methodical prep. i.e., hot shower with a good facial cleanser and saying the alphabet while I used it. Then a minimum of THREE minutes rinsing off the cleanser with hot water in the shower. I exited, but did not towel off my face, only my body and then went to the shave sink and lathered/shaved. It was then that it all came back and I noticed very little difference, if any, among top tier blades. It's easy to rush ourselves.


LEGAL DISCLAIMER: I am not responsible if some of you have to bring a tutor into the shower with you for help reciting the alphabet.


;) :p
 
My personal ratings retain a ? next to the figure until I've gone through at least a tuck. That's a minimum of 5 blades and 5 shaves, more likely 15 shaves or more, certainly evening out any prep, frame of mind, previous bad shave issues and most importantly, variety of other equipment involved all of which are likely to be entirely different with every shave. At that point, my rating loses the ? and gains the figure proper.

Like you, I do ensure a period of time is spent at each stage - prep and lathering. Shaves are my zen time and the actual shave is always undertaken both purposefully and in a relaxed manner.

It strikes me that the wording used with blades should be taken with a pinch of salt - I did ponder on the phrase "Platinum Class" with the Lord blade, wondering if they were applying an equivalent of the "Gold Standard" and in fact they were just presenting it as their best blade rather than it being an actual Platinum hardened blade. Maybe they adjust the angle of grind to make it appear harder or double strop it for extra smoothness, but those scans do rather suggest that a number of manufacturers are saying "Platinum" when they simply mean "their best".

I wonder if these blades (the Tatra and the Tiger) are in fact Platinum ...

As above, more shaves will show me if I just got a dud first blade. I do take a lot of care to get the blade out of the wrapping without catching the edges.
 
Well, I have to confess that today's shave on a 2 day beard using the Tiger Superior Stainless for the 2nd time was not good. Luxurious shower and Oil Of Olay face scrub combined with a long & pampered lathering with A&E Cuban Highball soap and using a rarely used mint condition Gillette Canadian post-war "Fat Handle" Tech. As you can see I "set the table" well, but the blade gasped & sputtered. :cautious: Into the blade bank it went. To be totally honest I switched out the blade mid-shave for a once used Wilkie Economie that is barely service grade on its best day. Binned it as well after the shave and nursed two nicks to boot!! One of those shaves where the wheels just fell off. :(
 
Back
Top Bottom