Consistantly mild blades?

[Rancho Unicorno]

I was talking to some friends of ours last night, and the topic of wetshaving came up. Their son had been given his grandfathers old razor and had tried it once. He bled himself silly and went back to his Fusion.

I was thinking about passing along one of my Dorco ST300s, which I find to be mild to the point of absurdity (I have to set my FB to nothing less than 7 to get something approaching acceptable). Is this my best option, or is there something more mild that I could hunt down?

I know I should have asked what kind of razor, but I didn't want them to have to dig it out (he wasn't there). Nevertheless, I figure I'll keep my eye out for a blue tip for $5 or so, clean it up, and pass that along (right now, the local antique shops are outrageously priced - gold fat handled tech was $24).

[El Judio Bravo]

Dorco are like steel wool pot-scrubbing pads for me. Smoother, milder blades are out there. Israeli Blue and either Shark variety spring to mind. Others will report shortly, depend on it!

[Nobody]

I've had some remarkable repeated good results from the ST300 in a Slim set @9. The ATG passes with them have been smoother than about anything I have tried. Either my mileage has varied into the twilight zone or the stars were really in alignment on the day they were made! I'm actually considering going back to that store to pick up the rest of the brick.

[man00ver]

The blade that seems to me most universally praised for smoothness and mild results is the Red Pack Israeli Personna. It sure ain't the Dorcos... although personally I find them pretty smooth and mild. As Michael said, Sharks are pretty great, and the Blue IP/Crystal blades also garner a lot of good opinion.

[ThurstonHowellIII]

I think it has more to do with technique and gaining shaving skills. Even a mild blade in a mild shaver can cause harm if not used properly. Its not unusual that a first time shaver with a DE razor will experience cuts and it serves a purpose of developing respect for the blade.

I would guess that the grandfather's razor is probably a Gillette Superspeed and the blade used was something available at a local drug store. He probably used his normal shaving cream from a can. Good prep, the use of a brush with a good soap/cream and experience/practice will improve things. Maybe suggest he watch some the good youtube videos that are out there on wetshaving and invite him to join B+B.

[El Judio Bravo]

In a field with very little universal agreement, Shark and Is. Blue are generally held to be smooth, sharp, and at the least, acceptable to many of us.

I also like the St. Petersburg-made varieties I've tried so far, but Gillette Yellows, for example, are nasty to many and "greasy kid stuff" to others.

Samplers!