Red Personna Platinum Blades, a Review

[Squire]

These blades are sourced from different factories around the World. The ones being reviewed are from Israel, the same factory that makes the Crystals.

Description: These blades present in a red cardboard box without a means of disposing of the used blades. Standard, stainless blades, they come double wrapped and when I opened the one in the picture it had a fingerprint on it. First time that's happened to me.







Characteristics: From packaging to appearance these are value price daily use blades for the consumer rather than the connoisseur. They appear to be a cheaper version of the Crystals as there are some similar tooling marks and the grind angle and hone lines appear from the photos to be exactly the same.

Use: I wasn't expecting much from these blades and wasn't disappointed. Oh, they give a decent shave, they're actually pretty sharp, they just require more passes than should be necessary to achieve a top shave. Rated 6.25

[bernards66]

Well, FWIW, I didn't like them nearly so well as the white and blue wrapped variety. Some folks insist that they do though.
Regards,
Gordon

[Squire]

Gordon, I don't think these are the same as the white/blue wrapped. What I suspect is those are coated and the ones I tested are not.

[GA Russell]

Squire, I've already decided to use my third one of these starting tomorrow.

I'll keep in mind your comment that the number of passes is greater than should be necessary.

[Squire]

GA, you using the red Personnas?

[GA Russell]

GA, you using the red Personnas?

Yes, and I've had much better luck with them than I have had with the Crystals. My one perfect shave was with the IP red. I couldn't feel the blade, but it was cutting the whiskers!

I can't tell whether I like these or the Derby Extras better. I've just finished a week with the Derby, so now I'm going to use the IP red again for a direct comparison.

[bernards66]

Squire, Yes, I suspected that as well. I certainly could tell a significent difference, experiantially, between the two. It's probable that the Tescos are also basically the same blade, but with a different, and even better, coating process. At least that would be my guess.
Regards,
Gordon

[gagarin]

I'm one of those who consider this blade to be top-tier. Until I tried the 7 O'Clock SharpEdge, the Red was the only blade that I had tried that was still going strong on the seventh (full head and face) shave. The Swede and NOS LB Wilks I have tried are a bit smoother on the first shave, but begin to falter as the Red hits its stride.

I tried the Blue and White against the Red over several weeks, alternating daily, and found the Red to be much smoother, sharper, and longer lasting.

I wish it did take a better picture, though.

[mission of burma shave]

I think this blade is a very smooth blade. not as good as a swede or the vintage Wilks, but a good blade for me, up there with the crystal.

[fish]

What's the difference between this one and the Personna Double Edge Platinum Chrome you find in Wal Mart

[jvan]

I've had good luck with these also and switch between them and the Derby's.

[lux]

Good afternoon fellow wet shavers,

The Red Personnas are smooth and get you 1-2 good shaves but last not as long as Derby Extras, not to mention Merkurs, the latter IMHO one of the best available but somewhat pricey.

Kind regards,

lux

[Pauldog]

What's the difference between this one and the Personna Double Edge Platinum Chrome you find in Wal Mart

The ones at Wal-Mart and other American stores are made where it says on the package (several different places).

If a blade pack looks like Personna but says "Made in Korea," it's Dorco, not ASR.

[jk47]

Which Dorco's 300 or 301 ?

[Squire]

JK, the cheaper one, perhaps not even a 300. Dorco makes more than just the two.

[Squire]

Fish, Personna is a brand rather than a specific blade. It can be, and probably is, made in any factory in the World and still labeled Personna.

[Seamaster]

I wasn't expecting much from these blades and wasn't disappointed. Oh, they give a decent shave, they're actually pretty sharp, they just require more passes than should be necessary to achieve a top shave. Rated 6.25

Fair summary.

I tried one of these for the first time today. I'd rate them the high end of average. Not a bad blade, by any means, but not one I'd be rushing to stock up on.

[gotsumoves]

Just tried one of these in my Merkur 38C. The shave was smooth and comfortable but I wish these blades were sharper. Red personnas don't come close to my top three: Feathers, Gillette Swedes, Gillette 7o'clock yellows.

[gman41]

I was told by the Personna salesman I deal with that Crystals...that they market too...are the same as the Israeli ones. Can anyone confirm this. I was going to carry them but they were exspensive and a case had a large number of pieces in it. I was afraid no one would want them.

[scaryshoes]

This may be the winner!

Loaded up a Red Personna yesterday in my Slim Adjustable set at 3. It was the smoothest shave yet, with one nick on the chin (operator error I believe). It was plenty sharp enough for my wiry beard, especially under the chin area. Today was an even better shave with the same blade. I just recently made a bulk purchase of these blades, so looking forward to many more nice shaves, hope they are as nice as this blade has been. Does anyone here who uses this blade find that these blades are consistent?

Tried the IP blades, but somehow they were not as smooth on my face....