To distinguish the Chinese Gillette Wilkinson Sword from the Indian one simply look at the different type of package, the Indian ones generally have the writing "Saloon Pack".
I was surprised how good these blades are after I got a tuck with a razor I purchased a while back. Very smooth and sharp enough to get a decent shave. I ordered 100 from Maggards a while back and I believe they are made in China (the Indian saloon ones are not nearly as nice). I get a week out of them flipping them after every shave.
From my information read on other shaving forums, the Indian Wilkinson Sword was purchased by Gillette several years ago.
I couldn't figure out the year.
In fact from your photos on the label even if it is Wilkinson Sword it says Gillette India Ltd. which should be the owner of the Indian Wilkinson Sword brand, this is what I had read in another shaving forum.
I don't know if this is actually the case.
Perhaps there are still some blades made by Gillette and named Wilkinson Sword for the Brazilian and Australian markets.
The Wilkinson Swords in the last photo should be the Chinese made Gillette Wilkinson Swords from the packaging.
Second shave with Gillette Wilkinson Sword on Fatip Gentile razor, my prerasatura was Prep cream and I Coloniali mango oil shaving soap , I can definitely say that shave at least was acceptable.
Blade glided smoothly across face and cut everything leaving no residue, no sign of irritation or red point.
I cannot explain why on the EJ 316 this blade did not work.
I think the consensus is that they are just packaging differences.What are the differences if any between regular Indian GWS and the Saloon Pack?
Same blade different packaging and number of blades inside?
The saloon packs are generally intended as wholesale packs at a slight discounted price or include an extra blade. There are no differences otherwise as far as I know.What are the differences if any between regular Indian GWS and the Saloon Pack?
Same blade different packaging and number of blades inside?
The address mentioned in the saloon pack is different from the non-saloon one but i don't think the address of the saloon pack refers to the factory address.So even though they are the same razor blade the Saloon Pack should be a barbershop and salon pack.
@Life Is A Dream Are the GWS razor blade in the Saloon Pack found more in India?
In India, at least in my state, the saloon pack version is far more common. I don't know if that is the case in all states in India.