I do believe that the Brits figured out quality steel first, but I have an awful hard time believing that 1800's Sheffield steel can compete with todays 1st world quality steel.

I don't think there is a secret they took to their grave, but rather that it was of decent quality and that today it's still decent quality. Todays requirements of cutting steels has put us into the powdered sintered steel era, because there is a need for it. Straight razor makers often attempt (much like knife smiths) to use modern tool steels, but these steels were never designed to be used for shaving... they are designed to cut a variety of materials in the machine shop. Perhaps the Swedish steel used in making DE blades is formulated for such, but I suspect they've just figured out that what they make may be suitable for razor blades.

I just don't see that shaving, and in particular straight razor shaving, justifies the amount of work and formulation, to produce the optimum steel for such use. *I* think (and this is JUST me) that razor manufacturers today simply try to adapt what they can source, to making razors or razor blades. Perhaps Gillette makes enough blades and consumes enough steel to warrant a custom blend of steel.... but I'm thinking nope..... not enough.

Feel free to disagree, because I don't think ANYONE has the true answer....

Regards

Kaptain "What do I know?" Zero