These are the fabled Lab Blue Personna?

Thank you. I wonder why there in a plain box and not in a box that says personna.

I think the bulk pack blades are generally sold for use is laboratories (hence the name Lab Blue). Not much need for consumer branding in that market.

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Any chance one of you fine gents could post a link to the blades?  I spose I need to try these etched blades.

6 pack
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=...3673452158

250 bulk box
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=...3978806469

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Yep.  That's the one.

I have tried most of the variants of these blades and I did not enjoy them, in the slightest.
I am glad to see some of you do enjoy them.

Wizamet are hard to find my friend.  Pol Silver will have to do for me.

I have tried most of the variants of these blades and I did not enjoy them, in the slightest.
I am glad to see some of you do enjoy them.

Wizamet are hard to find my friend.  Pol Silver will have to do for me.

Have you seen this thread?  


https://damnfineshave.com/thread-wizamets-on-the-bay

In 2015 Personna (actually Edgewell Personal Care Brands) applied for a patent that is interesting:

It is known from the art, for instance from U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,743,551 and 3,838,512, that the shaving properties of a razor blade can be improved by applying a polymer outer surface coating (e.g., polytetrafluoroethylene—“PTFE”). Typically, polymer coatings of this type are applied to create a relatively thin layer (e.g., equal to or less than 500 nm) on at least the tip of the blade. The layer can be applied using a variety of different techniques; e.g., spray application, bath dipping, etc. Since no application process will apply a perfectly uniform layer thickness across the entire desired surface, the thickness of the initially applied layer is typically chosen to ensure adequate layer thickness given an expected thickness variation. Although this “relatively” thin layer ensures adequate layer thickness, it is not optimum for shaving; e.g., it is too thick. During the first few strokes of use of a new coated blade, a portion of the polymer coating (if left at the initial thickness) will be removed from the tip during the shaving process by the user of the blade. This process of moving the surface coating by the user of the blade via contact is sometimes referred to as “push back” or “peel back” of the coating. After the excess polymer coating is “pushed back” by the user, a much thinner layer of polymer coating (a layer that can be one polymer molecule thick) typically remains on the blade edge throughout the useful life of the blade. Until the initial thickness of the polymer coating is “pushed back,” however, the user can experience some amount of discomfort. 

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,985,459 and 7,247,249 disclose treating a razor blade cutting edge having an adherent polyfluorocarbon coating with a solvent to partially remove some of the coating, apparently to potentially avoid the aforesaid discomfort associated with the excessively thick coating. Using a solvent can significantly add to the manufacturing cost, and in some instances add additional manufacturing steps. For example, the '459 Patent discloses that in some instances a post-solvent treatment step can be used to remove any excess solvent...

https://patents.justia.com/patent/9943879

In essence, they are via technology doing for a DE blade what the first shave actually did, i.e., breaking it in. Is it worth it? Not to me. YMMV.

I often strop blades on a folded paper towel.  I grab GEM blades at the middle of the spine and pull them from right to left, twirling the spine to alternate sides.  DE blades can be grabbed from either side (side=where the tabs are, not the edge) and held in place between the jaws of a mitten scissor clamp, which is a kind of a forceps. The blade will flex and can be and stropped back and forth. 

Three or four trips per edge seems to work, and it is quicker to strop them than it is to describe the process. I expect the stropping breaks them in.

Well, just got back from a week long Tripp and used the etched Personna lab blue.  Expected a bit of tugging today but didn't get it!  Butter smooth and seemingly ever-sharp.  Most blades are three to five uses for me so this blade has impressed.  We will see what the week brings but as it stands, this one is not a dog.

The darn thing won't die!  Great shave again today.  That makes, figuring its first week at 1/2 shave as it was head to head with the poorly printed lab blue, 5 sweet shaves on this blade and it has more to give.  Pretty impressed?  Or am I just lucky and got the "Angel" box of blades.  Picked up another 250 based on the test.  

Belated SOTD Nostalgic November 11th


Stirling Mentholated Pre-Shave Soap
Gillette red tip
Personna Super (lab blue)

Grizzly Bay Wraith (26mm TnS Tip knot)
Stirling Autumn Glory soap
Fine Platinum AS

Had my first shave with one of these yesterday. Very sharp and a little rough on the first pass but it smoothed out nicely after that. I never liked Lab Blue's the previous times I had tried them but these seem different. We'll see how this blade progresses through the week.

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It's not luck; LBs are solid and somewhat underrated. Good combination of smoothness, sharpness, and longevity. And they're made in the USA which is a cherry on top. This is why I chose them to be included with every Blackland razor.