I finally decided to do a current blade inventory. I have enough to last me 17.75 years. I just hope I live long enough to use them all! Blades 2-20-2018 (Shaves/Blade)-# Blades/Total Days Shaves Personna Med Prep(7)-82 Blades/574 Shaves Gillette Silver Blue(5)-47 Blades/235 Shaves Gillette Platinum(5)-97 Blades/485 Shaves Gillette 7 O’Clock Green Super Stainless(5)-26 Blades/130 Shaves Gillette 7 O’Clock Blue Super Platinum(7)-63 Blades/441 Shaves Gillette “Spoiler” Super Stainless-1970’s-Vintage(10)-103 Blades/1030 Shaves Gillette Platinum Plus-1970’s-Vintage(20)-30 Blades/600 Shaves Voskhod(5)-5 Blades/25 Shaves Rapira Platinum Lux(5)-74 Blades/370 Shaves Rapira Swedish Supersteel(5)-19 Blades/95 Shaves Viking’s Sword(5)-5 Blades/25 Shaves Asco Super Stainless-Red Box(4)-30 Blades/120 Shaves Personna 74 Tungsten-Vintage(30)-12 Blades/360 Shaves Perma-Sharp Super(7)-84 Blades/588 Shaves Wilkinson Sword 70’s Light Brigade NEW Chromium-Vintage(30)-36 Blades/1080 Shaves Schick Plus Platinum-Vintage(20)-16 Blades/320 Shaves 6478 Shaves/17.75 Years
Nice! Question... Are you still actively buying blades? I took an inventory of my supply and I’m looking at 800 DE blades, 150 SE blades and 100 injector blades. My use of straight razors in the rotation should keep me going with blades for another 20 years.
Below is most of my inventory - I have a few hundred more not shown such as Med Blues and sorted left overs from my initial blade samples. I'm sitting at around 2000 blades total. I change a blade out once a week so assuming I don't buy anymore blades I should run out around the age of 108.
I figure at 7 shaves per blade, I have a 13 year stash of my favorites. Another 4 years of ones that are OK, but not in my rotation. In rotation: Astra Superior Platinum 221 Gillette 7 O'Clock Super Stainless 95 Gillette Nacet 93 Personna Platinum Israeli red or UK pkgd 129 Polsilver Super Iridium 97 Use once in a while: Wizamet Iridium Super 8 Med Preps 9 Feather 4 Ok in a pinch: Derby 5 Rapira Platinum LUX 76 Rapira Swedish Super Steel 23 Voskhod Teflon Coated 35 Wilkinson Sword (German) 69
So I have to ask, with absolutely no judgement, why do all of you guys have sooooo many different types of blades? I've only tried a few. Astras really irritated my face, feathers cut like a dream but left mild irritation , and Kia blades work great for me. I bought 100 but why keep searching? Soaps I understand. Brushes and razors I am beginning to collect. Am I missing the boat with blades?
Different blades work better in different razors. Years ago Personna Labs were my top blade, but I haven’t used one in 4-5 years? As I just finished a 10 day process wringing out my new Timeless Bronze, I find the old Personna’s are just the very best blade for it! My usual favorite Feathers and Polsilvers just weren’t as good. Now I’m glad I still have close too 300 of them around...
That being said, I am sad to report that I am down to a mere 700 of my favorite blades... a sad state of affairs, and one I shall work diligently to rectify! Thank you, gentlemen, for showing me the error of my ways. Such sloth and negligence is embarrassing, but admitting you have a problem is the first step on the road to reform!
I'm down to about 150 Rapira, Astra and Voskhods and around 4 Atra/Trac II blades. I'll be good for quite a while still - 1 blade per week on the DE and around 1 blade per month on the Trac II.
No. Blades don't matter nearly as much as people think, nor is the variance as wide between brands. Blades catch a lot of blame that is rightfully intended for technique deficiency. I don't keep a large variety, and just buy GSB or Voskhod, whatever is a good deal at the time.