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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    SoCal
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    135

    Default Found a blade I love.... and that's the problem.

    So I've been diligently going through my "letterk" sample pack that I bought a bit after I got into DE shaving (Thanks B&B!).

    After studiously writing down my impressions of the blades so I'd remember when I got to the end of the set... I've decided I like the Gillette blades. I went online to order more only to realize these are the "swede" blades that are now discontinued!

    The only blades I haven't tried yet are the Feathers. Can you guys recommend which blade is the closest replacement for the wonderful swedes and if they're hard to find - a reliable US source?

    Many thanks as always, B&B.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Far Far north suburbs of Chicago
    Posts
    29,196

    Default

    Try the Feathers. Great blade.
    Phil
    ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Lund, Sweden
    Posts
    1,119

    Default

    Try Super Iridiums or Gillette 7 o'clock SharpEdge (yellow)
    John

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Bloomfield Township, Michigan
    Posts
    3,035
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    31

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Sobriquet View Post
    The only blades I haven't tried yet are the Feathers. Can you guys recommend which blade is the closest replacement for the wonderful swedes and if they're hard to find - a reliable US source?
    I'm afraid you'll have to check your notes.

    - Chris

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    SoCal
    Posts
    135
    Thread Starter

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by 82R100 View Post
    I'm afraid you'll have to check your notes.

    - Chris
    Tried a Crystal Israeli again this morning. It really irritated the heck out of me and didn't give me nearly the shave the Swede did. I guess tomorrow I'll try the Feathers and reassess. I don't think the Israelis will work for me.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Brunswick, Maine
    Posts
    2,229
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    7

    Default

    That's the problem with the genuine Swedes: once you try them most other blades just don't measure up to their shave.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Central Maryland, USA
    Posts
    2,315

    Default

    Feathers - they're awesome.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    SoCal
    Posts
    135
    Thread Starter

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by redbike View Post
    That's the problem with the genuine Swedes: once you try them most other blades just don't measure up to their shave.
    So what are you going to now that they're gone?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Between Macon and Muscle Shoals
    Posts
    1,863

    Default

    Don't own any Swedes but the Russian Green Gillettes and Lord Super Stainless work just peachy swell for me
    Wp
    Bull Mastiff NEW and Williams Mug Shaving Soap.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    North of the Golden Gate
    Posts
    6,792
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    41

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Sobriquet View Post
    The only blades I haven't tried yet are the Feathers. Can you guys recommend which blade is the closest replacement for the wonderful swedes and if they're hard to find - a reliable US source?
    Well, they do pop up on eBay now and then so keep your eyes peeled. Another blade to try is the NOS Gillette Super Stainless, they and the Platinum Plus are the predecessor to the Swede.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Montréal, Canada
    Posts
    32,928

    Default

    Feather, Kai, Supermax, Astra Superior Platinum, Derby, Crystal, Israeli, ... You still need to experiment!!
    Cheers, Luc - My Gear(Wiki) - Have a question, PM a mod. That's why we're here!

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    1,274

    Default

    +1 on Kai
    [B]Hugh[/B]

    [URL="http://badgerandblade.com/vb/group.php?groupid=25"][B][SIZE="3"][FONT="Arial Black"][COLOR="SeaGreen"]Great [/color][COLOR="#FFFC33"]Southern [/color][COLOR="SeaGreen"]Land[/color][/font][/size][/b][/url]

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Charm City, MD
    Posts
    310

    Default

    I'm hooked on the Shark Stainless... also, Bluebird blades work very well for me too. Why not give those a try...
    Anthony | twitter: @dashingmaverick | 3017: Tabac, Park Avenue Classic, GFT Oxford Blue

  14. #14
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Southern California
    Posts
    3,905

    Default

    I suggest trying the Gillette 7 O'Clock sharp edge (yellows). You can try a 5 pack at westcoastshaving.com.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Brunswick, Maine
    Posts
    2,229
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    7

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Sobriquet View Post
    So what are you going to now that they're gone?
    I still have 70 of them and 70 of the Gillette Bleu blades, which are very similar if not identical. I have good success with RIP's, Gillette Sharpedge (yellow package) Derbys and Feathers in some razors, so I have a blade rotation of sorts.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    Posts
    1,153

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Sobriquet View Post
    Can you guys recommend which blade is the closest replacement for the wonderful swedes and if they're hard to find - a reliable US source?
    Iridium Super.

    I don't know about a US source as I order them from the UK.
    Jan Pieter

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    SoCal
    Posts
    135
    Thread Starter

    Default

    I tried the Feathers this morning for the first time. No cuts or nicks, but my skin is a little irritated. I felt more dragging than with the Swedes. Maybe I just had an off morning - it seemed like I was doing more touch ups.

    I'll give it another go. My problem right now is that there are a few brands I want to try, but no one vendor seems to sell all of them. I'd like to try the Bluebirds, Kai (can't find these at all), Shark, Israeli Personas (tried the Israeli Crystals with horrible results), Gillette 7o'clocks, and the Irdiums. The one I most want to try from the recommendations is the Bluebirds, but West Coast doesn't carry them. He has a few of the others, though.

    I'm thinking about making an eBay account just to order some of the Blues. It looks like this is going to be a drawn out process.

  18. #18

    Default

    Iridiums by all the ways!!

  19. #19

    Default

    Red Pack Personna, can't believe no one's mentioned them yet. Much smoother than Feathers for me and just as close a shave.
    B]If you have interacted with me on the BST and do not see your name on [URL="http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/index.php/User:Emmett"]my wiki[/URL], please PM so I can add it![/B]

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    [URL="http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=130934"]One[/URL], [URL="http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=130933"]Two[/URL], [URL="http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=130932"]Three[/URL]


    "You can't do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth."[/CENTER]

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Austin, TX
    Posts
    187

    Default

    I'm using my last Swedish Gillette blade and I will definitely be sad when it's gone because of its balance of sharpness and smoothness.

    I'll be going to the 7 O'Clocks because they're close. I find that the 7 O'Clocks start out a little rough/sharp, then hit a sort of peak performance that is comperable to the Swedes, but then don't last as long.

    If you're having this much trouble, maybe work on your technique - perhaps with a month of using just one blade (maybe Derbys?) then try the samplers again and see what you think. I mention this because the Isreali Personnas are considered by many to be pretty forgiving and shouldn't be causing you much irritation. Feathers "dragging" also doesn't sound right...

 

 

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