RayClem's Blade Evaluations

Today’s Shave: Gilllete Platinum made in Russia

There are several versions of the Gillette Platinum blade. The version I have is from several years ago. The package is printed in dark blue and the blade has black printing on the blade. I understand that some more recent versions have a lighter blue printing on the package and laser etching on the blade. Do not confuse the blue color with the light blue packaging of the Gillette Silver Blue blades. I understand that some Gillette Platinum blades are manufactured in China, but mine specifically state they are made by PPI in St. Petersburg.

I started the shave with the Astra Super Stainless blade in the razor. After a few strokes, I replace the blade with a Gillette Platinum. The Astra remained very sharp and very smooth on its 2nd use. The Gillette Platinum blade did exhibit some blade resistance. I was hoping that the blade would become sharper during the shave, but there was still resistance during my XTG and ATG passes. Even with the clean-up pass using buffing strokes, I could not achieve a near-BBS shave. A DFS was the best I could do.

After my shave, I applied witch hazel. There was moderate feedback, indicating there was some irritation during the shave.

I rated the blades as 4 sharpness and 4 smoothness making them a mid-sharp blade similar to quite a few other blades I evaluated. I know that Gillette Platinum is a favorite blade of many shavers. I suspect those that have an average beard and average skin sensitivity would find shaving daily with this blade to be enjoyable. For my two-day beard and sensitive skin, the blade is neither sharp enough or smooth enough. It might work well for me in a more aggressive razor.

As the Gillette Platinum blades are no longer being manufactured in Russia, the price of remaining stock is rising. The current price is $24/100 blades. Thus, unless these blades are ideal for your beard, skin and razor, you can find better value elsewhere.

If anyone has used Gillette Platinum blades made in China, feel free to comment on their performance.

The evaluation spreadsheet has been updated. You can find it here:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/71ttt15wy...qo8eb&dl=0

Next up is the 7 O’Clock SharpEdge (yellow). I usually find this platinum coated blade to be super smooth, so it is my blade of choice on those rare occasions when I try to shave with my Muhle R41. The blades I typically use in less aggressive razors are too sharp for use in the R41.

There are still several blades left in my current list to be evaluated. However, I have enjoyed this adventure and have decided to continue it into the new year. I have ordered a brass Karve C plate to use in my brass razor that currently uses a D plate. That will give me a Karve C plate stainless and a Karve C plate brass that I can use for "face offs" between two blades. For example, I want to do that when I compare the AccuThrive Med Preps to some older Personna Lab Blues. Having two razors with similar heads will be ideal.

I have also ordered a few more razor blades for evaluation. They include: 7 O'Clock Super Stainless green (I could not find my old ones) , Tiger platinum (I evaluated Tiger stainless previously), and Topaz platinum (by the Malhotra Shaving that produces Laser Ultra). I purchased a couple of tucks of Tatara to see if I get the same experience as with the previous samples. I also ordered some Facon Platinum razor blades made from Japanese steel and some Jaguar R1 razor blades; I know very little about either of these blades.

You’ll see about them jaguars,supposedly the 8094 are the same as the 8095’…I just shaved a fourth time with the rex-R1 blade,used clubman shave cream which is a gell-lotion nonfoaming goop…perfectly smooth shave,burn free,I swear after the shave I was thinking this blade would be smooth without any cream!maybe some spit as lubricant.edit:the Rex envoy is exactly inbetween a Karve sb C plate and D open comb.

I know almost nothing about the Jaguars, but I will find out one way or the other. The Jaguar web site lists only one blade. 

Non-lathering creams are a non-starter for me. I can use them with a cartridge razor to achieve a socially acceptable shave, but not for anything closer.  I am using high quality shave soaps like Grooming Dept Kairos SE, Zingari Man Sego, Barrister and Mann Omnibus, Ethos, F Base, Murphy & McNeil Kodiak, Genleman's Nod C4 and Ariana and Evans K2e. If I use lesser soaps, I can not get an irritation free shave with any blade.

You may want to try Treet Classic. I tested treet platınum, durasharp ,.... and for me the Treet Classıc was very sharp and smooth(ymmv).

You may want to try Treet Classic. I tested treet platınum, durasharp ,.... and for me the Treet Classıc was very sharp and smooth(ymmv).

How does the Treet Classic perform relative to the Treet Platinum and other blades like Personna Platinum?  How many shaves can you get from the Treet Classics?

I rated the Treet Platinum blades as 4 sharpness, 4.5 smoothness. At only $8 per 100 blades, they are a superb value.

My concern with the Classic blades is that they are carbon steel. The great thing about carbon steel is that is CAN be sharpened to a superb edge. The bad thing about carbon steel is that is is subject to rusting which can make the edge uncomfortable if you try to use it for multiple shaves. I have straight razors made of carbon steel. They can provide a wonderful shave, but they have to be carefully cleaned and dried after ever shave to avoid rusting and they are stropped immediately before the shave to remove any oxidation. With DE razors, I typically leave the blade in the razor. 

Several years ago, the Refined Shave web site tested a number of blades using the Bess Sharpness Tester as well as shave testing. Although the Treet Classic was not one of the blades tested, but they did test the Treet Black Beauty, which is a carbon steel blade with a coating. It was one of the worst blades tested, neither sharp nor smooth. 

The Amazon reviews on the Classic average 3.6 out of 5 with some customers saying they are the worst blades they ever used and quality control is inconsistent.  Even the Treet Black Beauty rated a 4.0.

I look forward to your reply. I reviewed some of the posts you have made and find that you tend to like some of the same blades that I do. Thus, your comments will be invaluable.

Today's shave- Gillette 7 O'Clock SharpEdge (yellow)

Gillette purchased their competitor 7 O'Clock nearly 100 years ago. In my opinion, at least, two of the best Gillette blades are sold under the 7 O'Clock brand. They are the super-sharp Gillette 7 O'Clock Super Platinum (black) made in India and the mid-sharp, but smooth 7 O'Clock SharpEdge (yellow) blade made in Russia. There are two more blades in the 7 O'Clock line-up including the Super Stainless (green) and the Permasharp (green). I will evaluate the Super Stainless blades in the next couple of weeks.

I started today's shave with the Gillette Platinum blade in the razor. After a few strokes, I replaced the blade with a SharpEdge. There were two immediate observations. One is that the SharpEdge blade was not as sharp as the Platinum. While there was significant blade resistance with my two-day beard,  there was no tugging. Second is that the SharpEdge was significantly smoother than the Platinum. I was able to complete the shave including my clean-up pass with buffing strokes without incident. Unfortunately, I did not quite achieve a near-BBS shave as the blade was not quite sharp enough, but it was quite close. When I applied witch hazel to my face, there was no feedback indicating no irritation from the shave.

Based on the results of the shave, I am rating the sharpness 3.5. That makes it sharper than Astra SP and less sharp than Gillette Platinum. It is similar in sharpness to the Gillette branded Wilkinson Sword blades. I rated the smoothness as 5. 

I consider this to be a great starter blade for new shavers since it is very smooth and not overly sharp. For those currently using Astra SP blades, this blade is slightly sharper and significantly smoother, so it is a definite upgrade.

For those who use aggressive razors, the SharpEdge blade is one way to "tame the beast". I keep these blades in my blade arsenal for those times when I decide to pull out the Muhle R41. This very smooth, less sharp blades enables me to get a comfortable shave without fear of cuts or irritation.

The updated results have been posted to the table.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/71ttt15wy...qo8eb&dl=0

Wednesday's shave will be with the Gillette Silver Blue which is a favorite of many shavers.

It is my personal test and find treet classic  sharp and very smooth and i can get 4 shave without noticable decrease in its quality. Also it didn't rust at all if you dry it with a towel or tissue paper. For me it is in place after personna red, 7 oc'lock super platinum, gillette platinum.
 But because of its very reasonable price you can get 1-2 shave and throw away it.
Also i gave it to some of my friends and all of them were of the same opinion as me regarding sharpness and being smooth. (Ymmv)
It worth testing believe me️


Also 7 O'clock super platinum has a blue color version that made in russia and comparing india made ones i found it a little sharper and more confortable. Hopefully some month ago i found 500 of them at ebay and bought them.

I know almost nothing about the Jaguars, but I will find out one way or the other. The Jaguar web site lists only one blade. 

Non-lathering creams are a non-starter for me. I can use them with a cartridge razor to achieve a socially acceptable shave, but not for anything closer.  I am using high quality shave soaps like Grooming Dept Kairos SE, Zingari Man Sego, Barrister and Mann Omnibus, Ethos, F Base, Murphy & McNeil Kodiak, Genleman's Nod C4 and Ariana and Evans K2e. If I use lesser soaps, I can not get an irritation free shave with any blade.

If we were in the same country I would send you a blade,but sending sharp objects across the border is not recommended…I was given a free jar of the slippery clubman,stuff works great,also after a purchase a wahl shave cream which is pretty good,one time a new cutter for my peanut clipper which after 14 years is still sharp.Mitchels fat,tabac,speik,hoxton,tobs and now stirling soaps,,the secret to the fat is to add some hot tap water say 2 tbs take a good long poop,then take out all the water out of your brush,very dry,load the brush for 20 ceconds and apply to face,keep dipping brush lightly in hot water and build up the foam,gets very slippery.
5th shave today and that Rex is a Karve OC- D plate.

It is my personal test and find treet classic  sharp and very smooth and i can get 4 shave without noticable decrease in its quality. Also it didn't rust at all if you dry it with a towel or tissue paper. For me it is in place after personna red, 7 oc'lock super platinum, gillette platinum.
 But because of its very reasonable price you can get 1-2 shave and throw away it.
Also i gave it to some of my friends and all of them were of the same opinion as me regarding sharpness and being smooth. (Ymmv)
It worth testing believe me️


Also 7 O'clock super platinum has a blue color version that made in russia and comparing india made ones i found it a little sharper and more confortable. Hopefully some month ago i found 500 of them at ebay and bought them.

Thanks for the feedback. 

I find 7 O'Clock Super Platinum to be super sharp (4.75/5) at least after they have been used a pass or two.  Personna Platinum are very sharp (4.5/5) and both Gillette Platinum and Treet Platinum are only moderately sharp (4/5). While I can use blades like Gillette Platinum that are moderately sharp (4/5) I really prefer blades that are even sharper (4.5 and higher).

As you indicated, the Treet Classic blades are inexpensive, so if I purchase some and do not like them, it won't be a big deal. 

As for the 7 O'Clock Super Platinum blue from Russia, I do not think they have been made for many years. I have heard rumours that they are the same as Gillette Silver Blue, but Silver Blue blades do not have a platinum coating. Neither the Gillette Silver Blues nor the Gillette Platinums come close to the Super Platinum blacks in sharpness. The Russian PPI blades that are similar in sharpness to Super Platinum blacks are Nacets and Minoras and PermaSharp Supers, but they none are platinum coated, at least not in recent years.