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Wilkinson Sword Blades from India, a Review

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 4:37 pm
by Squire
These blades are made in India under license from Gillette and are currently in production.

Description: These blades present in a cardboard box without a means of disposing the used blades. Double wrapped and double glued, they take a bit of care to unwrap. The box states their origin and includes the phrase "Better Shave Every Time". I know, I know, it's just marketing, but the red-white-blue box with crossed swords, quirky saying and dated look is very appealing in a look back in the window to a slower paced time sort of way.

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Characteristics: A stainless steel blade that proudly states it's made of imported steel. Probably an indication of quality, or perhaps a suggestion. This blade is sharpened with one grind from the table and a short hone to the edge. The grind lines are not even, as the photo shows, and the overall impression is that of a grade blade made to sell at a price point.

Use: Again, appearances are deceiving. This is a good blade that out performs some that cost a lot more. It's sharp enough to cut easily and the coating causes it to glide smoothly. An unprepossing blade that gives a surprisingly good shave with little effort. It's not on the top shelf but is measurably better than the middle grades. Rated 6.85

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 4:51 pm
by GA Russell
Squire, it never occurred to me to pick up a pack of these, but Giovanni included a sample with my order this week. So I'll keep your review in mind when I get to it.

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 7:34 pm
by D.Irving79
i have never seen these before :-k

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 7:53 pm
by Straight Arrow
I've used and enjoyed these in my rotation for over a year. Nice to see a confirmation by Squire of a very good blade. Also good to find out that Giovanni now stocks them.

Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 8:15 pm
by bernards66
Rich, Yes, I've kept your previous remarks on this blade in the back of my mind. For a number of reasons, this is one 'odd ball' blade that I might have some interest in trying if the situation presented itself. After your posts, I double checked a couple of Indian groceries around here, but it was no go.
Regards,
Gordon

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 8:49 am
by gagarin
Rich brought these to my attention a while back. I get very nice shaves from them, and through about 3-4 shaves, they are hard to beat.

I'd agree with Squire's assessment at this point. They a very nice blades, maybe a step below the very best.

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 12:06 pm
by Pauldog
bernards66 wrote:I double checked a couple of Indian groceries around here, but it was no go.
Gordon, I bet you could get an Indian store to get them, either to stock them or get them for you on special order.

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 12:34 pm
by Squire
I tried that Paul with my local Indian stores and it was a no go.

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 1:19 pm
by GA Russell
Pauldog wrote:
bernards66 wrote:I double checked a couple of Indian groceries around here, but it was no go.
Gordon, I bet you could get an Indian store to get them, either to stock them or get them for you on special order.
No need, Paul. Giovanni sells them in packs of five with four of these and one Gillette 7 O'Clock black Super Platinum for only $1.50.

Strangely, he doesn't list a price for 100 blades.

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 1:33 pm
by Aztecface
Why not just order them from Giovanni?

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 1:41 pm
by bernards66
Jani. Why pay the shipping if you can avoid it? I detest having to mail order something as basic as razor blades. I do it when I have to, but I do resent it. And when I do, I do it in some bulk so that I don't have to do it again for some time.
Regards,
Gordon

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 1:53 pm
by Squire
Oh Hell G, I'll send you some.

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 5:58 pm
by Straight Arrow
Squire wrote:Oh Hell G, I'll send you some.
I already took care of that.

Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2008 8:22 pm
by bernards66
Squire, Indeed he did. Must be something to it...you're the third person to offer to send me some ( chuckle ). Well, I do appreciate it, and I'll probably add my 2 cents when I've had an opportunity to try them.
Regards,
Gordon

Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:34 am
by Pauldog
Gordon, play your cards right and you'll get free shaves for life... :D

Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:44 pm
by GA Russell
bernards66 wrote:Jani. Why pay the shipping if you can avoid it?
Interesting that you should say that, Gordon. I find my shipping costs to be less than the price of gas for a round trip to the nearest mall with a C&E and B&BW.

Here in Raleigh, I don't think anybody sells the good DE blades anyway.

Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:10 pm
by bernards66
GA, They don't here either, but if the Indian groceries in Tampa carried these blades ( and if they worked well for me, of course ), then I could just pick up a couple of packs on my way out to my office any time. And that's pretty much what a few gents here can do, where they live, apparently. Personally, I'm not that big on mail order, and would prefer to buy most of this stuff in person locally if I could. But, most of it, I can't. So, shave creams especially ( given the current situation ), I almost always buy on trips to NYC. Ditto for A/S and cologne usually. And I buy some from forum members also. As for blades.....well.....as blabber mouth Paul noted, I have...a....more varied....umm....'resources'. It's actually been a long time since I've had to officially mail order any DE blades ( chuckle ). But when, or if, that becomes a necessity, I'll just order 100 Swedes and be done with it for awhile. It really does piss me off that I can't even get a quality razor blade in a metropolitan area of a couple of million people.
Regards,
Gordon

Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 10:24 am
by bernards66
Well, in due time, the Indian Wilkinson blades from Rich arrived. My initial take, after the first shave with them, is that they're pretty good blades. They certainly cut effectively and didn't seem excessively harsh. But when I splashed on the Pink A/S, and afterwards, there were the subtle hints that this is not as refined a blade as say the old Light Brigade Wilkinsons, or the current Swedes. I would say that it's a good blade, sort of on the level with the NOS Wilkinsons that blademail.com sells, or the Israeli Personnas, but not top of the tree. I'll see how it goes over the next couple of days though.
Regards,
Gordon

Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 7:49 am
by Slickster514
Regarding these blades, from what I have read elsewhere, currently Wilkinson Sword on produced blades from their German factory. No more from the UK or other locations. Whatever is on the market now not made in Germany is just remaining stock.

Any truth to this?

And how good id the Wilkinson Classic currently made in Germany?

Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 11:30 am
by suffolksupplies
Yes the current Wilkinsons, made by Wilkinson Sword are made in Solingen, Germany. I find that most people who like the English version, don't like these, but they are quite popular & I like them. I find they work well in a super adjustable.

The Indian & South American Wilkinsons are actually Gillette blades, so are different. There are still UK blades available but these are NOS.


Best regards,

Paul