Personna Israel vs. USA

Crystal / Super + Platinum are different to Personna Platinum Chrome as they are only PTFE coated. So there are at least two types still made in Nazareth.

Crystal / Super + Platinum are different to Personna Platinum Chrome as they are only PTFE coated. So there are at least two types still made in Nazareth.

They are all coated. All modern blades are coated except for the Treet black carbons. What differentiates blades are different types of coatings, sputtering, hone angle and heat treatment which is all "top secret" proprietary info.

What razors did you try them with?

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I have used them in my mild razors like the Wolfman Guerrilla, pre-war tech and aggressive razors like the Merkur Futur, gillette red tip. Too afraid to try them in the charcoal goods lvl 3 or muhle r-41(both of which I use quite regularly with other blades).

...Some say that the Personna Super (Lab Blue) is just an unsterilized version of the same blade. After all I have read about the matter, I still don’t know if that is the truth or not. I like the Lab Blues a lot, too, but somehow I find the Med Preps to be just a little better....

They are the same, except the sanitization (not sterilization). They told me this a few years back in an e-mail inquiry. As well, many have done SxS objective testing and noted no difference. Nor could I.

This is what I’ve also heard/read. Sometimes I still wonder if there are two machines with the same specs feeding blades on two different lines, as the sterilized ones just feel better to me. Or else it’s just a psychological thing.

...This is what I’ve also heard/read. Sometimes I still wonder if there are two machines with the same specs feeding blades on two different lines, as the sterilized ones just feel better to me. Or else it’s just a psychological thing.

At one time I believe they were making the Med Preps at a factory in TN and the normal Blues in VA, albeit to the same specs. Don't quote me on that.

At one time I believe they were making the Med Preps at a factory in TN and the normal Blues in VA, albeit to the same specs. Don't quote me on that.  

Maybe it’s time to book a factory tour!

(On a more serious note, I just remembered seeing a fairly in-depth article or post from maybe a couple of years back about the different Personna manufacturing facilities, but don’t have the time right now to go searching for it. If I recall correctly, the details were somewhat complicated.)

Israel is better for me

Well gents, I got my order of Reds but they are very different from the old blues/preps. The preps really seem like exactly what I used to use. I found the comfort coated blues in a new packaging I'm hoping are the same USA made ones I used to get.

I should note these are going into a vintage razor and the razor head really changes blade performance/characteristics and can't be compared to the ubiquitous EJ89 where sharper Feathers/Voshkods work better for me. The Gillette Aristocrats are a varyingly more aggressive and the personna blues "just worked" for that razor head (for me).

I like the Reds more than the Blues. The Reds are smoother and longer lasting for me. The lab blue seemed like a middle of the road performer.

What razor are you using them with? I found Voskhod worked best for my DE89 but when I got a vintage razor with a more aggressive head I switched down to Personnas. I would rate sharpness as: Astra < Personna Blue < 7 O'clock Yellows < Voskhod < Feather