Best and Worst DE Blade

Even the French couldn’t hang on to their razor blade factories. Although when Gillette closed the factory in Annecy and moved production to Russia there were big protests and a diplomatic row. I think Gillette made a promise they would maintain branding, quality and prices. Which is why until recently you could still buy Bleue Extras and Super Silvers in any French supermarket. Whereas when the market for DE razor blades began to pick up in the UK Gillette actually stopped selling Gillette Platinums (Swedes) here.
 
Best:
Gillette 7o'clock black,
Gillette winner platinum
Voskhod

Worst:
Qshave (managed a 3 pass shave but it was starting to struggle with ATG)
Merkur (didn't even last one pass for me - terribly tugging even atg)


Still got plenty of blades to try! there's been few other good ones and bad ones too, but these definitely stood out for me.
 
I honestly believe that once a shaver gets their technique & prep down pat as well as settles on a few select DE razors then there is relatively very little noticeable difference among the top tier blades. It becomes more of a case of "magician over the wand".
 

I know what you mean but everyone has their own view on the "top tier blades". Fo instance I think Derby Extra is a very good blade but I know many will diasgree.
 

Testing at the Wilkinson Sword Factory at Cramlington:



Every day at the factory of the Wilkinson Sword Company in Cramlington, outside Newcastle, 270 men who make the razor blades shave on duty as part of the production. From the many used blades a number are taken for examination in the laboratory. This is not all. A study is made when someone complains about a poor shave. Here the physiological background is studied. Sometimes the man is not feeling well, other times he might have been having a few late nights, or even a row with his wife. All these things add up to skin condition and whether they get a good shave or not, our picture Shows: Nearest the camera George Moffatt, next Robert Martin, Gordon Watson and Frank McAlroy. 6th March 1967. (Photo by Freddie Reed/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)
 
Please forgive me for my geeky interest in our lost razor blade factories (also if it's irrelevant to this thread, though for me NOS blades are my favourites) and especially as I'm a newbie, but from the LA Times:

Gillette Plant Issue : U.S.-French Ties Take on a Hard Edge​

By RONE TEMPEST
NOV. 29, 1988 12 AM PT
TIMES STAFF WRITER
ANNECY, France —
When the 400 workers of the Gillette razor blade factory in this picturesque lakeside city heard rumors early this fall that their American parent corporation planned to close the plant, they launched an energetic counterattack.
They dipped into union funds to take out full-page advertisements in Paris newspapers charging that Gillette planned to “shave” France of an important employer. They staged a highly publicized “reverse strike” in which they posed before television cameras toiling “harder, longer and better” than ever before.
Finally, on the eve of a crucial meeting between Gillette management and the French minister for industry in Paris, four plant workers climbed to the summit of nearby 15,771-foot Mt. Blanc, Western Europe’s highest peak, to unfurl a banner protesting any closing of the plant. Television crews filmed the event from hovering helicopters.

Didn't stop Gillette moving production to Russia though. And although the best Russian made blades are very good I don't think they're as good as the blades once made in Annecy?
 
Best:

Gillette Platinum
Gillette 7 Black
Personna Lab Blue
Gillette Swedes

Worst:

Derby
Astra Green
Gillette 7 Yellow
Lord Anything

I used this razor and that, vintage stuff and modern stainless but always come back to my trusty Merkur 34c as it just works effortlessly and this razor is what my blade choices are based upon.
 
Corps. have but one purpose: to make money for their shareholders. They aren't running a Catholic charity. Unfortunately, the cruel reality of mercantilism is a double edged sword as what's good for profits isn't necessarily good for the 1st World as relates to jobs as those were exported abroad as we all know all too well. This is the downside to having cheap Third World production. We made our bed. We have met the enemy and he is the man in the mirror.
 
Last edited:
That is fascinating, and what a brilliant way to do your r and d!
 
Awesome idea, nice to read through other people's lists as well.

Best
- gillette nacet
- gillette 7 o'clock super stainless green
- gillette wilkinson sword saloon pack (I think they're the Indian ones, not Chinese.

Worst
- feathers (mostly because of my terrible technique I expect, they feel like my everest)
- shark super chrome
- Derby

The last 2 I feel like I have to do far too much to get anywhere near close and end up with some irritation.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register