Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 11
  1. #1
    Poor Fit
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Posts
    4,562
    Thanked: 1263

    Default Vintage DE Blades

    Well gents, heres a question for ya. We all hear the thoughts on the new blades out there such as feathers etc. Personally I'm happy with the gillettes you can buy almost anywhere. But has anyone tried and what are the thoughts on the old vintage blades you see for sale on fleabay etc.?

  2. #2
    Indisposed
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    6,038
    Thanked: 1195

    Default

    Rob,

    Were you referring to the Wal Mart Gillette blades like these, or the 7 O'Clock variants? If it's the former you will definitely notice a difference with almost any other blade, especially Feather.

    I've never used vintage DE blades but they do have their fans. I think it's thebigspendur who says the old blades would last for 10 or more shaves. But since many old blades were not coated they would be prone to deterioration unless the owner stored them correctly over the decades. Hopefully some vintage blade users will chime in with a more definitive answer.

    BTW - I believe member DeLayne (sp?) is a vintage blade fan, you could try sending him a pm...

  3. #3
    Poor Fit
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Posts
    4,562
    Thanked: 1263

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Ryan82 View Post
    Rob,

    Were you referring to the Wal Mart Gillette blades like these, or the 7 O'Clock variants? If it's the former you will definitely notice a difference with almost any other blade, especially Feather.

    I've never used vintage DE blades but they do have their fans. I think it's thebigspendur who says the old blades would last for 10 or more shaves. But since many old blades were not coated they would be prone to deterioration unless the owner stored them correctly over the decades. Hopefully some vintage blade users will chime in with a more definitive answer.

    BTW - I believe member DeLayne (sp?) is a vintage blade fan, you could try sending him a pm...
    I've actually tried both and to be honest, for me at least I don't notice a huge difference. Ya, I would be worried about the deterioration factor but if they're NOS sealed blades I would think they'd be ok. I bought a Gillette Super Speed the other day and there were a few old blue blades with it and they looked to be in good shape for that amount of time

  4. #4
    Indisposed
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Posts
    6,038
    Thanked: 1195

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Catrentshaving View Post
    I've actually tried both and to be honest, for me at least I don't notice a huge difference. Ya, I would be worried about the deterioration factor but if they're NOS sealed blades I would think they'd be ok. I bought a Gillette Super Speed the other day and there were a few old blue blades with it and they looked to be in good shape for that amount of time
    Well, pop in a blue blade and give it a whirl.... and if I hear you booked out of work for a few days I'll know why

    Did you find the Gillette blades in b&m shops? I know they used to sell them at Wal Mart, but I haven't seen them at any store for the last few years....

  5. #5
    Poor Fit
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Posts
    4,562
    Thanked: 1263

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Ryan82 View Post
    Well, pop in a blue blade and give it a whirl.... and if I hear you booked out of work for a few days I'll know why

    Did you find the Gillette blades in b&m shops? I know they used to sell them at Wal Mart, but I haven't seen them at any store for the last few years....
    You gotta keep your eyes open...check Safeway

  6. #6
    Senior Member WillN's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Lilburn,Ga
    Posts
    286
    Thanked: 94

    Default

    I think the blades today are much better than vintage blades. I started shaving over 40 years ago with a Gillette Slim Adjustable and used whatever blades my dad would give me. Probably the cheapest ones he could find, I am sure, but I know that I didn't like them. Of course I had 0 technique going for me as well.

    I do remember that the Gillette Platinum blade called the "Spoiler" was pretty good I thought, as were the Wilkinson Swords. I have since tried some of the older Blue Blades and the vintage Thin Gillettes and I did make sure that they were not corroded and in good shape. They were moderate to me. The Blue blades felt a little harsh like a Treet carbon blade.

    New Feathers and such today are smoother and sharper. I will stick with them.

    Will N.

  7. #7
    The Hurdy Gurdy Man thebigspendur's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    New Mexico
    Posts
    32,737
    Thanked: 5016
    Blog Entries
    4

    Default

    Reminds me of my first VCR (remember those? har har) it was all metal and weighed about 15 pounds and lasted forever. Newer ones were all plastic and designed to last a few years and then you just pitch em but the newer ones performed better because the electronics inside had improved.

    The older blades were better quality but the sharpening was so-so but you could improve on that until the first stainless blades came out and those Wilkinson's lasted forever. The newer blades perform real good only because of the coatings on them which the old ones didn't have but the blades themselves are inferior.
    No matter how many men you kill you can't kill your successor-Emperor Nero

  8. The Following User Says Thank You to thebigspendur For This Useful Post:

    Catrentshaving (02-27-2012)

  9. #8
    The Assyrian Obie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Milwaukee, WI
    Posts
    11,145
    Thanked: 2755

    Default

    Gentlemen:
    Every vintage DE blade I have tried has given me a rough shave. Indeed, the coating on modern blades, among other considerations, adds the silky sheen to the edge.

  10. #9
    The Hurdy Gurdy Man thebigspendur's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    New Mexico
    Posts
    32,737
    Thanked: 5016
    Blog Entries
    4

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Obie View Post
    Gentlemen:
    Every vintage DE blade I have tried has given me a rough shave. Indeed, the coating on modern blades, among other considerations, adds the silky sheen to the edge.
    Well Obie, that's because you are a vintage person and you know it's like algebra where in signed numbers two of the same cancel each other out.
    No matter how many men you kill you can't kill your successor-Emperor Nero

  11. #10
    The Assyrian Obie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Milwaukee, WI
    Posts
    11,145
    Thanked: 2755

    Default

    My dear thebigspendur:

    Vintage, indeed.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •