Full disclosure: I have more than a lifetime supply of blades (approximately $350 worth), so I'm one of the worst offenders 'round these parts. If it's any consolation, I enjoy giving blades and other stuff to new shavers, and I've even made arrangements to bequeath all my shave gear to someone that will use it (or keep giving it away/no re-selling allowed) when the time comes. Initially, I purchased more and more blades thinking that I'd find a blade that performed better than the ones I had. (Never did. They all worked the same.) I typically purchase consumable items in quantity to get a better unit cost, so that thought process contributed to my blade inventory build as well. And there was always the assumption (likely in error) that cheap blades from foreign countries would eventually be hard/impossible to get (or more expensive). Without consulting my psychiatrist, that's my blade story. A bigger question might be...why do a large majority of shaving enthusiasts tend to hoard everything, including razors, brushes, blades, soaps, creams, etc.? I'm guilty here as well. I can understand the collector aspect of the hobby, or even someone that enjoys all different kinds of foo-foo scents. However, if someone is just looking for gear to get a fantastic shave, most any single set up will work once you learn how to use it.
I guess the reason we buy more than is necessary (though some say this is impossible) is out of curiosity. How would this blade/razor/soap/AS/etc. perform (i.e. is it better or does it perform the same but a a better price). Or a certain product may look amazingly beautiful, or strike a chord with you (made close by, made by someone special, made in the middle of nowhere by some hermit, made of a special material, you name it). Simply said: we are like a kid in a candy shop, holding our dime in our little fist, pondering over what we should buy, the dime burning to be spent.
while i'm not a true collector per se,i have always had a collection of something since i was a young child.it started with lego's,then hockey cards in the 70's,model kits in the 80's,etc.zippo lighters,magazines,tools as well.once i get interested in something i like to get really involved...when i stopped working on cars professionally i saw gillette razors as a new hobby.thank the internet for that one.usually the sale of previous collections funds the next,for the most part.a bit of escapism maybe?these hobbies have connected me with others with similar interests as well,improving the enjoyment that much more.i guess i'm a hobbyist then..i do try to specialize certain aspects of current hobbies,ie brit gillette razors,instead of shaving implements in general,for model kits it was drag racing cars of the 50's and 60's,and so on.shave soaps are selected for scents mainly,with an occasional soap base pic.brushes have to catch my eye,a certain shape,not a famous brand or type.most of all it has to be affordable and usable.my snap -on tool collection cost me near 100k,but made me 30 years of good wages.you get the drift.. blades? why,the shavepocalypse of course..
It's hard to claim a "hobby," if you don't have multiple somethings. I could get by with just a Gillette Tech, a boar brush, and a soap. But shaving would no longer be a hobby at that point, for me. As for the hoarding aspect, I suspect it's because most of us have been around long enough to see good stuff get discontinued. As a conservative bunch, we don't react well to that sort of thing, and tend to overcompensate wildly in response. For example, I ordered 200 Astra SP's within hours of Russian tanks rolling over the border into Ukraine. I didn't exactly need more, and I suspected they would be available for years to come. Still bought them anyways.
For me personally, I usually only horde the blades. I'm kicking myself now that I didn't do that early on with the Personna Platinum israeli reds, however, I was able to get some recently. Just wish I had bought more. As far as soaps go, I'm stocked up on those, but with some of them being seasonal, I stocked up on the spring and summer scents. I've only added one razor recently. Don't plan on getting more anytime soon. I sometimes find a particular blade won't work in one razor, but it works great in another. Sent from my SM-A516U using Tapatalk
i just added 50 bolzano blades to my stash.close to 4000 now with the tigers,tatras and others,but many get passed along to friends on a regular basis.i only really hoard my spoilers..
Being a "Brit", you really should look into hoarding the Wilkinson Sword " Super Sword Edge" and "Light Brigade" blades. Every bit as good as the spoilers. I too have collected as many of the "Spoilers" as possible, as well as hundreds of the vintage Wilkies. Fantastic era for blade manufacturing.
I'm trying to figure out the difference in shave quality and number of shaves per blade when it comes to the different Personna Platinum Blades. As it has been mentioned here or elsewhere, the Personna's Blades are confusing due to the difference in packaging. There are the ones originally made in Israel. Then there are those that are made in Germany. I've seen two other packaging designs and am trying to figure out how those compare to the original Personna Platinum Blades made in Israel. I realize, of course, that opinions on Blades are subjective, but was just wondering about others experience with the two Personna blades pictured compared to the original Personna Israeli Reds. Thank You. Korey Smith Sent from my SM-A516U using Tapatalk
I plan on living as long as I can. In 2010 I had a cardiac arrest, being dead, well that ain't no fun. So I splurge on razors, basketball shoes & Harley T-shirts. Got get my kicks someway.
