Vintage Personna 74 blades and related prices

Jody, I may be wrong but it sounds like you have been trying out old carbon blades. That would explain your dissatisfaction with NOS blades. The only ones that equal or surpass current production blades are the NOS stainless steel blades that were produced by Gillette, Schick, Wilkinson, or Personna in the '60s and into the '80s. It is a pretty solid consensus on the shaving forums that those blades are quite good.

 

I haven't tried these yet, but I did buy a pack today for $35 shipped. Of course, they are throwing in a 54 TV Superspeed and a pack of Gillette Super Stainless as a bonus.

 

The Personna 74 was the best Injector blade I've ever used. It was given to me by Martin (Shavingidiotsavant) who lives near me. We met for lunch one day and he lent me a bunch of great stuff-including a Fat Boy Toggle. Much as I loved that blade, I couldn't imagine paying more than $1/blade-even that seems excessive. I have a bunch of vintage blades that have come with the various razors I've purchased. None of them have blown me away. I have them in a big see thru container that just looks nice with all of other crap. I think they may be more valuable to me for show than for shaving. The only modern Injector blade I've liked is the Ted Pella-even that doesn't blow me away. The Injector experience is nice for a change of pace once in a while, but that's about it. I certainly understand YMMV and some here love the Injectors.
I'm still hoping my wife brings home a huge stash of Personna 74's one day. She runs Estate Sales and often brings home shaving goodies.

 

Holy hell, Rodd! What a deal!

 

Crackpot input

When tungsten is alloyed in small quantities with steel, it greatly increases its hardness and forms tungsten steel that is stable at high temperatures. Modern razor blades dull not from the edge getting bent but from oxidation. Tungsten Steel!!...was a marketing gimick.

 

Thanks! I only bought it for the razor. I bought a case recently and it came with the wrong date code razor. I have been looking for a razor to put in the case, put a low bid in on this, and "accidentally" won. Didn't even notice the Tungsten blades until I got the email saying I won.

 

Can these really be worth $50 to $100 ?

I have never bought a vintage blade but have a drawer full of freebies, like these packed with a razor a bought from ebay maybe a couple years ago. They are nos. I thought about trying one but didn't want to break open the package.



But I agree with Slivovitz. Using a vintage blade is more about the experience and not finding a better blade. That's why I keep sharpening my Kampfe Bros. wedge blades. I'm not there yet but maybe soon.

Len