Question about blades?

I started out shaving with a D/E when I was 14 or 15. I lost that razor some time after boot camp, and switched to disposables, with a short dalliance with electric razors. Until recently I had not shaved with a D/E in a long time.
When I was using the D/E (35 years ago) I used Wilkinson Sword blades. All I can get locally are dollar store blades and other generic ones from different drugstores, etc.
So I'm contemplating ordering a large quantity online.
My question is, for those of you who have used them for a very long time, are the present Wilkinson comparable in quality to the ones I used 35 years ago?
I know someone's going to chime in with"Get a sample pack of various brands and try them". I'll pass. If I do that I could end up not liking half of them. I'd rather stick to something I'm familiar with.
If it matters they'll be going in this razor.
Attachment 160170
Yeah, that's a Lady Gillette.
If the Wilkinsons are not what they used to be, recommendations are welcome. Even the sample packs.

Sorry wasn't around then, but I have used and still use Wilkinson sword ss blades from walgreens and I like them a lot. Smooth, not too sharp, and no irritation at all. I keep the in a dop bag for when I'm at the girlfriend's for a few days at a time.

I started to use a DE with Wilkinson blades and then got a sampler pack later on. Most everyone in the sampler pack was better to me. I ended up liking Personas the best and then got a large number of them. I would give a small sample pack a try since after 35 years what your face likes could have changed. Good luck!

Marc

When Wilkinson started selling the blades they were the first stainless DE blades on the market and they gave Gillette a run for the money. They were very high quality and you could get 10+ shaves with them and could sharpen them if you had a mind to. Sadly the ones being made now bear no resemblance. I suspect the original company does not even exist anymore and they are just a name. I've used the modern blades and they are far from the best out there these days. There are 2 versions. Some are made in germany and some in the east somewhere. The German ones are better but still nothing great.

My mom had one just like that. Wish I had it today.

I'd pass on the Wilkinsons. Mediocre at best, horrible at worst. Which is too bad since they were a reputable brand for decades.

As for what's better, that's a loaded question. You'll get dozens of replies and you still won't know until you try them yourself. If you want a solid dependable brand I think Astra or Personna would fit that description nicely. However, considering you want to order in bulk, and I would hate to recommend a blade that your face and razor doesn't like, it would be wise to order the aforementioned sample pack. I know that's not what you wanted to hear but there it is lol.

BTW, if others chime in with blade suggestions try to get a sampler that contains the brands most listed in this thread....

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,get a sampler pack,,,,,,,,,,,

&


the ones you don't like send to me,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Thanks for all the replies. I guess I'll look at samplers and get some recommendations.
Please keep in mind that I'm looking for blades available from SR Designs. This will go with a larger order from them.

I used to use Wilkinson's when I started shaving with a DE about 8 years ago. I used them rarely after I tried other brands, and I tried them again last year for nostalgic reasons. The Wilkinson's are OK blades at best. I can get them locally at the supermarket or Walmart. However, I noticed that the ones sold at my supermarket shave better than the ones sold in Walmart.

I'd say forget the Wilkinson's and get a sampler pack.

The Wilkinsons that are made in Germany are my favorites. Feather are my second choice. So far I've concluded that like everything on the forum, YMMV.

That is a very mild razor and in my experience, sharper blades work best in the mild razors. From what I understand, the wilkinson swords available at Walmart and such are not the good ones. The good ones are in the European markets. That said, the Personna Labs or Med Preps are american made and are sharp and smooth for a lot of people. I preferred feathers.

On recent study done on another forum, the feathers have a higher carbon content than all others on the market. Not that that means a whole lot.

That said, blades respond differently for different people and in different razors. Slant 37c and late 50's Aristocrat are great with feathers, where Gillette old types and open comb razors work best with Swedish Rapira blades. These are my experiences and may not be yours.

Get a sampler and find out for yourself.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hillbillypick

That is a very mild razor and in my experience, sharper blades work best in the mild razors. From what I understand, the wilkinson swords available at Walmart and such are not the good ones. The good ones are in the European markets. That said, the Personna Labs or Med Preps are american made and are sharp and smooth for a lot of people. I preferred feathers.

On recent study done on another forum, the feathers have a higher carbon content than all others on the market. Not that that means a whole lot.

That said, blades respond differently for different people and in different razors. Slant 37c and late 50's Aristocrat are great with feathers, where Gillette old types and open comb razors work best with Swedish Rapira blades. These are my experiences and may not be yours.

Get a sampler and find out for yourself.

---

The carbon content has a lot to do with hardness, which might mean they retain their edge longer.
And yeah, the razor is very mild, which I prefer. But I will probably try the Feathers soon, as I think you are right.

If you want PM me and I will send you some feathers to try.

I know a seller on e-Bay that was selling Wilkinson and had is auction pulled by e-Bay. He had a pile to sell and not sure if they were vintage or not. I bought some Dubl Duck blades from him which are very nice blades but you would have to have the money Bill Gates does to use them regularly :<0) If you want to chat with the seller send me a PM.