Personna Question

What is the general consensus on the Personna Paltinums?

I think these are made in Israel but are not the same as the red pack or red wrapper Personnas. I think I bought a whole tuck of these pictured thinking they were the same as the red pack blades but my shaves with these weren't as smooth as the red pack. Personally, they are still good blades for me but not on my want to repurchase list.

If I may ask a clarifying question - are "Personna Supers" (with that printed on the blade) and "Personna Lab Blues" (with no writing on the blade) - the same blade? If not, would love your perspective on how they are different. I got the former with a Blackland razor and the latter from WCS. Thanks for your help!

Personna May be the most confusing blade on this planet!  Lab Blue was not a name Personna ever used.  They just came in a blue wrapper and were sold through medical supply houses for “lab” use.  We shavers repurposed them.  The packet with the arrows were sometimes called barber blades and a very nice.  Today they are sold in a blue box labeled comfort coated, white wrapper, no glue dots, printed personna super.  These Are the same as lab blues.  Printing on the blade looks like a kindergartener did the printing.  As for “no printing” look closer and see if the name is not etched lightly on the blade.  I have several hundred bulk, blue wrapped, etched lab blues and I swear they are sharper and longer lasting than the old lab blues.

I agree.  Those etched blades seem better performance and higher quality than other lab blues I have used in the past!

In the original post, there are two specific characteristics that identify the blades as what the shaving community call Personna Lab Blues.

First of all, the packaging indicates that the blades are "Comfort Coated". This is a rather thick coating that makes the blades very smooth on the first shave, but also somewhat "dull" if you happen to have a tough beard. As this coating wears off, the blades become less smooth and much sharper.

Second, the blades are marked "Made in USA". The only razor blade manufacturer left in the USA is Accu Tech Blades in Verona VA. This facility began its life as American Safety Razor and was once the Personna  industrial blade division. When Edgewell purchased Personna, the industrial blade division was spun off  as Accu Tech Blades, but it retained the rights to produce blades for laboratory, medical, and industrial use using the Personna name. These blades are used in laboratories, hospitals, taylor shops, carpet shops, etc. Accu Tech Blades also produces GEM single edge blades and a variety of blades for scrapers, razor knives, hobby knives, hair shapers, scapels, etc.  

Until a year of so ago, Personna blades were also manufactured in Israeli. These were fondly known as Israeli Reds, but they were sold in blue packaging in the UK and sometimes under generic store brands. These blades were labeled both as Personna Platinum and Personna Platinum Chrome. Although you might still find some of the Israeli blades for sale, they are now being manufactured in Germany, probably in the Edgewell factory that also produces Wilkinson Sword Classic blades. I have used some of the newer German made blades and find them to be essentially identical to those made in Israel. These blades do not have the thick "comfort coating" used on the Lab Blues. I find that they start sharp and stay sharp, but they are not as smooth on the first shave. Because I have a tough beard, I prefer the Platinum Chrome blades to the Lab Blues, at least for the 1st shave.  

There is also a DE blade called Crystal Platinum Super+ that was formerly made in Israel. They are sometimes called Israeli Personnas. The design dates back to a USA patent issued in 1963, so it is one of the earliest coated stainless designs. The Israeli blades are still being sold, but I do not know if production has been moved to Germany or whether they have been discontinued. I have not read anything about them in quite some time.

Personna Blues have been my main blades since like 2014. Nice and sharp, but smooth, and no glue dots. I've bought them from Amazon and Ebay.

I’ve noticed there’s the Personna X-series. Did anyone try those? The backside of the box shows they are made in Israel.

What is the general consensus on the Personna Paltinums?

I think these are made in Israel but are not the same as the red pack or red wrapper Personnas. I think I bought a whole tuck of these pictured thinking they were the same as the red pack blades but my shaves with these weren't as smooth as the red pack. Personally, they are still good blades for me but not on my want to repurchase list.

I don’t want to discount anyone’s experience and no disrespect intended, buy my understanding of the general consensus is that 5 blade red tuck and the 10 blade platinum tuck are the same blade. Different packaging for different markets, retailers seem to confirm this.

I purchased the 10 pack years ago and liked them. I later purchased a 100 pack of the red tucks. They seem the same to me but I didn’t do a direct comparison. I’ll speak to the reds and say that they’re good smooth blades but not as sharp as Feathers or Wizamets. I believe that’s in line with the general consensus opinion, but blade preference seems pretty subjective.

The Personna brand is especially confusing though, check out this statement on WCS lol:
Clarification on origin and labeling: The labeling states "Product produced, assembled and packaged with blades made by American Safety Razor Company - Since 1875. Staunton VA 24482, USA." The packaging is made and assembled in Mexico. Additionally, it states "Imported and distributed Personna International de Mexico." The blades are made in Israel, imported to Mexico where they do the final packaging.

Zen Shaver I think you are pretty spot on with this post.