Polsilver Blade First Impression

[Altair]

I tried to take a nice picture for you guys, I hope you like it.

As many of you know Iridium Supers are very popular, sadly they where discontinued not so long ago. I was lucky enough to of been able to purchase 100 pack before they where all gone, many of us have been looking for a replacement ever since.

I have no Idea what ever happened to the Iridium Super Brand and why it's no longer produced, but I suspect it just has to do with brand renewal rights but no one really seems to know.

I have been reading may posts that Polsilver's are very good and many speculate that it's the same blade but many of us had been unable to try them because you simply can't find them. If you compare the Super Iridium and the Polsilver blade there are several similarities, it leads me to believe that they are manufactured by the same company under the same standards, for all we know they may very well be the same blade.

Polsilver's state "Stainless" and Iridium Supers "Extra Stainless" Now does that mean they are made out of different steel ? or just a different coating that prevents staining.

Either way Polsilver's behave EXACTLY the same. Most likely it's the same edge grind. I could not tell the difference. Today was my first shave with one and it was very sharp and smooth just as our beloved Iridium Supers. I used my trusty Futur for initial testing just because last time I shaved with an Iridium (last week) I used the Futur, Settings where 3 and 2.5 I only had to do 2 passes, 1 AXTG followed by 1 XTG and touch ups.




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look at the W

[Chester]

Darn it. Now I'm gonna have to buy a hundred.
-- Chet

[Sledgehammer39]

Interesting observations. I noticed that Dave at Razorbladesandmore now carries the Polsilver blade, might have to give it a try.

[echotron]

Photos are superb. First photo is really nice composition and lighting. Second photo does its job of comparison; the razor boxes do look strikingly related!

RE: Stainless & Extra Stainless ... are there degrees of stainless, I mean it is or it isn't right?

Thanks for the info about the POLSILVER blades.

[kiwichris]

Great photo!

I don't know if all the hype over these blades being the 'new' Super Iridiums has gotten out of control, but the price for a hundred of these blades at RB&M sure is high for a Russian-sourced blade.

Anyone else feel the same way?

[rm71]

Great photo!

I don't know if all the hype over these blades being the 'new' Super Iridiums has gotten out of control, but the price for a hundred of these blades at RB&M sure is high for a Russian-sourced blade.

Anyone else feel the same way?

Yep, I'd like to buy some, but at that price...

[Altair]

Great photo!

I don't know if all the hype over these blades being the 'new' Super Iridiums has gotten out of control, but the price for a hundred of these blades at RB&M sure is high for a Russian-sourced blade.

Anyone else feel the same way?

It's a high end blade probably made by Gillette, Just like the Iridiums. If you look at pricing for quality blades they are always on the high side. look at the going rate for feathers I think they're 40 usd for a 100 pack. Plus it all depends on how many hoops vendors have to jump to source them. I remember Iridiums went for 35 bucks before they vanished and that was like 2 years ago. so I don't think they are out of line.

[Dalejr]

It's a high end blade probably made by Gillette, Just like the Iridiums. If you look at pricing for quality blades they are always on the high side. look at the going rate for feathers I think they're 40 usd for a 100 pack. Plus it all depends on how many hoops vendors have to jump to source them. I remember Iridiums went for 35 bucks before they vanished and that was like 2 years ago. so I don't think they are out of line.

+1

[MichiganRob]

Yeah, knowing that the Iridium and the Polsilver are related, I am going to lay in a stock of the Polsilver now that they are available. Many congratulations to Razor Blades & More for becoming the U.S. distributor of these blades!

[memoryleak]

It's a high end blade probably made by Gillette, Just like the Iridiums.

Beg pardon?.

[iamdarkangel2005]

Hi Memoryleak,

Yes it is correct. All polsilver and super iridiums are made by the St. Pitsburg plan commissioned by Gillette P&G.

Hope that clears his a bit.

David

[melyus]

Super iridium and Polsilvers are excellent blades , maybe same blades different packages.
i bought from Spain (Thanks to Patraix) 0.70 Euro Per 10 Blades(1 pack in spain) Calculator of the www.Correos.es under the 500gr cost me 10.5 Euro.(sign for shipping) aproximately 400 polsilver blades makes 500 gr so i paid 38.5 Euro total to Turkey (0.07 euro x 400 blades 28 Euro plus 10.5 shipping) Btw i cant find any online seller from the spain. i hope this helps.
Regards.

[infabo]

look at the W

The "W" was the logo of the original producer of these blades. "Wizamet" was taken over by Gillette in 1992 (this was when Gillette entered the polish market). IRIDIUM SUPER was a blade by Wizamet too - that's why both blades have this logo on it. Later in the 2000-years the production plant in poland was closed and production moved to St. Petersburg.

[cfender]

I guess I'll have to try the ONE Super Iridium that a B&Ber PIF'd me to see if I want to splurge on the Polsilver.

The Feather is my standard bearer and they can be found in 100 qty's under $30 shipped from B&B vendors so the Super Iridium/Polsiver will need to make a BIG impression @ $40 + shipping costs. Of course, if the legends of the Iridium blade lasting for 7+ shaves are accurate, then cost per shave honors would go to the Polsilver/Iridium.

What develops here could be fun.

[TallyShave]

Of course, if the legends of the Iridium blade lasting for 7+ shaves are accurate, then cost per shave honors would go to the Polsilver/Iridium.

I really like Iridiums (I have several hundred), but the 7+ shave idea is (as you say) more legend than anything else. I think it really depends on the beard, # of passes, etc, just like every other blade. You can read about people getting 7, 8, 10, 15, etc shaves out of all sorts of blades. I normally get 4 out of the Iridium, maybe 5. By comparison I get about the same from Perma-Sharps and about 2-3 from a Feather and 3-4 from an Astra SP.

[Altair]

The "W" was the logo of the original producer of these blades. "Wizamet" was taken over by Gillette in 1992 (this was when Gillette entered the polish market). IRIDIUM SUPER was a blade by Wizamet too - that's why both blades have this logo on it. Later in the 2000-years the production plant in poland was closed and production moved to St. Petersburg.

Interesting information thanks for helping out with the mistery and history of the blade.

[IridiumMourner]

Very interesting indeed! I'll definitely need to give these a try.

[TallyShave]

Hi Memoryleak,

Yes it is correct. All polsilver and super iridiums are made by the St. Pitsburg plan commissioned by Gillette P&G.

Hope that clears his a bit.

David

David,

I am curious as to the information you are getting as a vendor. On your site you say that these are "fresh out of the factory" so these are obviously current production blades. It appears that Wizamet branded blades are still being produced in the St Petersburg factory. Are they telling you anything about production (or lack thereof) of the Iridium Supers?

[infabo]

I believe the "IRDIUM super extra stainless" blades are still in production under the "polsilver iridium super" label. Look here: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...r-Razor-Blades

[iamdarkangel2005]

As far as I know, they no longer make the super iridiums. Gillette pull them off the market completely. I tried getting them but they said that item was discontinued.