Verification of CVS single edge blade = GEM SS Personna?

**vaquer03** · 08-10-2011, 01:00 PM

Was is Walgreen's & CVS today looking at SE blades. Walgreen's had GEM Personnas for $6 a pack & CVS had their brand at $3.40 a pack + 50% off on the 2nd pack. They both look like the same blade to me, can anyone verify? I know this has been discussed before but B&B search engine is not very good.
Thanks

**smalltank** · 08-10-2011, 01:10 PM

try em and compare..you never know what you might find at Walgreens...I have seen the same thing..but cant get myself to get them..I dont think they are coated and like the coated ones much better..if you like em the same if not very similar can be bought in bulk for much cheaper online

**HoosierTrooper** · 08-10-2011, 03:04 PM

I am 99.99% sure the CVS blades are carbon steel, not stainless. The stainless Gems have the words GEM and stainless stamped on the spine, while the Treet, Gem Blue Star and CVS blades just have 009 RD on them, which is the thickness of the blade and Regular Duty. Plus I've seen some dark spots form on the CVS blades after awhile just like the Treet and Blue Stars.

Give them a try, for the price you can't go wrong, and for me they work just as well as the Treet and Blue Stars. Just be sure to dry them thouroghly after each use so they won't rust.

**dilly-b** · 08-10-2011, 03:48 PM

Originally Posted by HoosierTrooper

I am 99.99% sure the CVS blades are carbon steel, not stainless. The stainless Gems have the words GEM and stainless stamped on the spine, while the Treet, Gem Blue Star and CVS blades just have 009 RD on them, which is the thickness of the blade and Regular Duty. Plus I've seen some dark spots form on the CVS blades after awhile just like the Treet and Blue Stars.

Give them a try, for the price you can't go wrong, and for me they work just as well as the Treet and Blue Stars. Just be sure to dry them thouroghly after each use so they won't rust.

"Jean Stropping" with these blades works very well - post-shave it's a great way to get that edge dry, protected. and improved.

**vaquer03** · 08-10-2011, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by HoosierTrooper

I am 99.99% sure the CVS blades are carbon steel, not stainless. The stainless Gems have the words GEM and stainless stamped on the spine, while the Treet, Gem Blue Star and CVS blades just have 009 RD on them, which is the thickness of the blade and Regular Duty. Plus I've seen some dark spots form on the CVS blades after awhile just like the Treet and Blue Stars.

Tom, my fellow Hoosier, I know you like the Treets, but I can't get them to perform. Maybe I got a bad batch? I'm sticking with the SS coated GEMS. Thanks for your expertise.
Cheers, John

Give them a try, for the price you can't go wrong, and for me they work just as well as the Treet and Blue Stars. Just be sure to dry them thouroghly after each use so they won't rust.

........

**vaquer03** · 08-10-2011, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by dilly-b

"Jean Stropping" with these blades works very well - post-shave it's a great way to get that edge dry, protected. and improved.

Tom, my fellow Hoosier, I know you like the Treets but I can't get them to perform. I've even considered throwing them away. I'll try one more blade & if they don't work I'll be round filing them. Maybe I got a bad batch? I'm sticking to the SS coated GEMS. Thanks for your expertise.
Cheers,
John

**HoosierTrooper** · 08-10-2011, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by vaquer03

Tom, my fellow Hoosier, I know you like the Treets but I can't get them to perform. I've even considered throwing them away. I'll try one more blade & if they don't work I'll be round filing them. Maybe I got a bad batch? I'm sticking to the SS coated GEMS. Thanks for your expertise.
Cheers,
John

Yeah, you might've gotten some duds, or maybe they just don't work for you. Since you like the stainless you might consider orderering some from www.razorbladesandmore.com
Quite a bit cheaper than Walgreens.

**cdrross** · 08-10-2011, 08:01 PM

I just received today GEMS from West Coast. I previously used the bargain CVS blades and I was not thrilled with how CVS performed. I was getting a lot of tugging. To be fair it was my first attempt at the SE game (received my grandfathers GEM a few weeks back) and who's to say my technique was not good.
I plan on trying the GEMS this weekend and will post back.

**bvance554** · 08-10-2011, 10:07 PM

It has probably been since 6 months since I bought CVS blades, but those were definitely carbon steel blades, and not the stainless steel GEMS from Walgreens. But I still prefer the CVS carbon blades.

**bassmanlarry** · 08-11-2011, 12:42 PM

I've got one last SS GEM blade left from my original 10 pack I bought at Walgreens. I can usually get 6 shaves per blade. I picked up a couple of pack of GEM Blue Star blades at a local independent drugstore while getting some injector blades. Since the Blue Star blades are carbon steel, can I expect them to last as long as the SS blades from Walgreens?

**HoosierTrooper** · 08-11-2011, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by bassmanlarry

I've got one last SS GEM blade left from my original 10 pack I bought at Walgreens. I can usually get 6 shaves per blade. I picked up a couple of pack of GEM Blue Star blades at a local independent drugstore while getting some injector blades. Since the Blue Star blades are carbon steel, can I expect them to last as long as the SS blades from Walgreens?

Maybe, but probably not. Just dry them thoroughly and store in a dry place between uses to keep them from rusting.