Quote Originally Posted by niftyshaving View Post
NOT a dumb question.

The answer depends on your face, your whiskers,
your shave prep, the blade, the razor
holding the blade and your personal
preference.

If you have a safe place to keep it remove the
blade in question and shave with a new one.
Then put it back for a shave the next day.
Compare and contrast. Pay attention to
the top side when you put it back.

Some folk get more than a week some
a couple of days. I do not get five good shaves
from any brand. Some brands only two.

Some blades shave harshly on the first day and
then give a number of smooth shave to "dull". Some
shave smooth from day one to "dull". Some just
go downhill to dull and never are marvelous.

FWIW: This is one of the interesting and difficult topics for str8 razor shavers
that hone their own edges. With an open blade razor (straight/ str8)
the quality of the edge is in your hands and skill is an important
component. DE razors are much more consistent in a single
production lot which is why some folk buy +100 when they
find a good run.

Do not overlook the DE blades at the likes of Wallmart and Target.
Try a single package and if it is good empty the shelf the next day.
Do the math... shaves per blade , blades per package, price per......

To obtain the most shaves from a DE remember to rinse well
under hot water so it drys quickly. There are other tricks
but rinsing the razor clean is the important one.
I'd say this is the best response in this thread, and I agree with a lot of you that 3 shaves is enough from one blade. I used my 1930's New today with a vintage Gillette Thin Blade, and while BBS, my skin feels irritated...but I can't remember if it was my 3rd or 4th shave...

-Steve