Mini-Blindfold Test - Gillette Bleue Extra(GBE) vs. Gillette Siver Blue

**cfender** · 02-29-2012, 06:11 AM

A generous B&B'r PIF'd these blades which I've never tried. I need to qualify my results today by noting that I just came off of (3) very good - but not GREAT - shaves with a Perma-sharp Super blade but I performed those shaves on a sun burned face that I got skieing over the weekend. I point that out because today was the first day since then that my skin and facial hair felt "normal" again.

I'll run with each blade for (2) shaves before having my son make the secret change. As usual, I'm using a 2011 R41 Razor, Bigelow cream, & Clubman AS.

First shave with the #1 blade this morning was Excellent. Very sharp andefficient on my easy WTG strokes with no skipping, dragging, or tugging. ATG passes were also without dragging or tugging and the blade worked great on the areas of my face and neck that often challenge lower quality blades.

I got a few weepers but all disapeared with a cold water splash. My Clubman splash produced mild to medium sting/burn and a litte lingering irritation that is now gone 2.5 hrs after my shave.

The results are better than my previous (3) shaves with the Perma-sharp. I only hesitate saying it's better or sharper than Perma-sharp because of the sunburn variable I was working with on the previous shaves. Otherwise I woud say it's a distinctly sharper blade.

**man00ver** · 02-29-2012, 06:53 AM

Popcorn is popped.

<sets up folding lawn chair>

**raisindot** · 02-29-2012, 08:51 AM

One thing I've found is difficult about doing such a blind test with an R41 is that just about every blade I've tried--even the ones I don't like as much--tend to do a great job. I find that doing such tests with my Fatboy or Slims helps me identify the differences between blades much more easily.

**cfender** · 02-29-2012, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by raisindot

One thing I've found is difficult about doing such a blind test with an R41 is that just about every blade I've tried--even the ones I don't like as much--tend to do a great job. I find that doing such tests with my Fatboy or Slims helps me identify the differences between blades much more easily.

A milder razor probably would shine more of a light on a less sharp blade but since I converted to the R41 my Fatboy dialed to 9 just feels frustratingly too mild. I would probably tear up my face trying to get the R41 closeness.

**jwilock** · 02-29-2012, 10:24 AM

How close was this first shave compared to your recent others?

**cfender** · 02-29-2012, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by jwilock

How close was this first shave compared to your recent others?

I believe it was closer than the Perma-sharp, Super Iridium, Gillette Black, and Personna Med/Labs that I recently used. Probably rivaling the Feather performance. This blade took real good care of the stuborn stubble on my chin, jaw line, neck, and upper lip. These are the areas where the "value" blades tend to struggle with ATG strokes and either just leave a lot of stubble and/or produce irritation.

**jwilock** · 02-29-2012, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by cfender

I believe it was closer than the Perma-sharp, Super Iridium, Gillette Black, and Personna Med/Labs that I recently used. Probably rivaling the Feather performance. This blade took real good care of the stuborn stubble on my chin, jaw line, neck, and upper lip. These are the areas where the "value" blades tend to struggle with ATG strokes and either just leave a lot of stubble and/or produce irritation.

Wow. Good start then. Interested to see if it's repeated on subsequent shaves!

**smalltank** · 02-29-2012, 01:56 PM

I like the Gillette Bleue blade..nice n stiff like an SE blade ;-)

**Chester** · 02-29-2012, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by raisindot

One thing I've found is difficult about doing such a blind test with an R41 is that just about every blade I've tried--even the ones I don't like as much--tend to do a great job. I find that doing such tests with my Fatboy or Slims helps me identify the differences between blades much more easily.

Bingo. It is for this reason that I only evaluate new blades with a slim, set to 4.
-- Chet

**MichiganRob** · 02-29-2012, 04:08 PM

I really like both of these blades. To me the GBE is not as sharp as the Silver Blue, but is smoother. Those Silver Blue's are EXTREMELY sharp blades. Oh, and my experience is that the GBE last quite a bit longer than the Silver Blue. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

**cfender** · 03-01-2012, 06:25 AM

Originally Posted by cfender

A generous B&B'r PIF'd these blades which I've never tried. I need to qualify my results today by noting that I just came off of (3) very good - but not GREAT - shaves with a Perma-sharp Super blade but I performed those shaves on a sun burned face that I got skieing over the weekend. I point that out because today was the first day since then that my skin and facial hair felt "normal" again.

I'll run with each blade for (2) shaves before having my son make the secret change. As usual, I'm using a 2011 R41 Razor, Bigelow cream, & Clubman AS.

First shave with the #1 blade this morning was Excellent. Very sharp andefficient on my easy WTG strokes with no skipping, dragging, or tugging. ATG passes were also without dragging or tugging and the blade worked great on the areas of my face and neck that often challenge lower quality blades.

I got a few weepers but all disapeared with a cold water splash. My Clubman splash produced mild to medium sting/burn and a litte lingering irritation that is now gone 2.5 hrs after my shave.

The results are better than my previous (3) shaves with the Perma-sharp. I only hesitate saying it's better or sharper than Perma-sharp because of the sunburn variable I was working with on the previous shaves. Otherwise I woud say it's a distinctly sharper blade.

Second shave today with the #1 Mystery blade. Still very efficient stubble removal and another great close shave across all of my facial and neck area. None of the minor lingering irriatation today. (Perhaps because my face has recovered from my recent sunburn.) Again, mild to medium sting/burn from my Clubman splash.

I didn't perceive any loss of sharpness from the first shave and I would be entirely comfortable going a 3rd shave with the blade but I'm going to pull it for the sake of this blindfold test. The sharpness of the blade rivals or surpasses everything I've used recently except maybe the Feather. I'd have to test it head to head with a Feather though to state that with absolute confidence. I'm hoping this blade is the Gillette Silver Blue since it's still in production. Whatever it is, my #2 blade is going to have a hard time beating it in sharpness.

**Dalejr** · 03-01-2012, 08:00 AM

After recently trying Iridiums, one of those two blades gives me a nearly identical shave...

**cfender** · 03-01-2012, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by Dalejr

After recently trying Iridiums, one of those two blades gives me a nearly identical shave...

The blade that I used for the last (2) days I would say is distinctly sharper than an Iridium. The Perma-sharp Super I recently used also felt sharper than the Iridium but NOT sharper than the mystery blade.

**jwilock** · 03-01-2012, 09:49 AM

Having used both, I have a thought on this. But let's see your reaction to the other blade.

**Mitsimonsta** · 03-01-2012, 09:52 PM

I also have both these blades, and I have commented on both widely.

Personally, I prefer the GBE but if I have a 3-day growth, the Silver Blue is my go-to blade.

**cfender** · 03-02-2012, 06:17 AM

Originally Posted by cfender

Second shave today with the #1 Mystery blade. Still very efficient stubble removal and another great close shave across all of my facial and neck area. None of the minor lingering irriatation today. (Perhaps because my face has recovered from my recent sunburn.) Again, mild to medium sting/burn from my Clubman splash.

I didn't perceive any loss of sharpness from the first shave and I would be entirely comfortable going a 3rd shave with the blade but I'm going to pull it for the sake of this blindfold test. The sharpness of the blade rivals or surpasses everything I've used recently except maybe the Feather. I'd have to test it head to head with a Feather though to state that with absolute confidence. I'm hoping this blade is the Gillette Silver Blue since it's still in production. Whatever it is, my #2 blade is going to have a hard time beating it in sharpness.

Switched to the #2 Blade today. If I didn't know that the blade was switched (I presume that my son didn't trick me and leave the first blade in the razor.) I would probably have thought it was the same blade as the #1 but since I KNEW it was different I was trying hard to identify any differences.

Like the #1 blade, #2 handled both my easy shaving cheek areas and the more challenging areas like a premium blade should. Now 2 hrs. after the shave I feel a small patch of micro-stubble on my chin strap area that I missed but I think that is not because of poor blade performance. The rest of my troubling areas are BBS.

My Clubman splash, however, produced very mild sting/burn, milder than with the #1 blade, so I would probably have to give the nod to the #2 blade in the category of "sharpness/smoothness balance" but I'm really trying hard to distinguish these (2) blades.

Both of the blades so far have proved to be top quality and worthy of inclusion in on my all-star team. This is good news because I may opt for a purchase of Silver Blues if I can find a vendor with a price that is competitive with Feathers.

**rxonmymind** · 03-02-2012, 07:16 AM

Silver Blue are excellent blades. Those along with G7Blue, and Personna all provide the same balance of smooth.&sharpness. Enjoyed the review. Thank you.

**cfender** · 03-03-2012, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by cfender

Switched to the #2 Blade today. If I didn't know that the blade was switched (I presume that my son didn't trick me and leave the first blade in the razor.) I would probably have thought it was the same blade as the #1 but since I KNEW it was different I was trying hard to identify any differences.

Like the #1 blade, #2 handled both my easy shaving cheek areas and the more challenging areas like a premium blade should. Now 2 hrs. after the shave I feel a small patch of micro-stubble on my chin strap area that I missed but I think that is not because of poor blade performance. The rest of my troubling areas are BBS.

My Clubman splash, however, produced very mild sting/burn, milder than with the #1 blade, so I would probably have to give the nod to the #2 blade in the category of "sharpness/smoothness balance" but I'm really trying hard to distinguish these (2) blades.

Both of the blades so far have proved to be top quality and worthy of inclusion in on my all-star team. This is good news because I may opt for a purchase of Silver Blues if I can find a vendor with a price that is competitive with Feathers.

Second day with the #2 blade today. Shave was even better than the last and the best out of all 4 shaves with the 2 mystery blades. Effortless strokes with no tugging, pulling, or skipping and a BBS shave on every part including my difficult neck, jawline, and chin. Also the least amount of sting/burn from my Clubman splash. Only a mild sting.

I did get a minor nick that wouldn't heal with my cold water splash but an application of Alum Block cured it entirely.

After thise review I'll pull the blade and expose the identities. I'm hoping blade #2 is the Silver Blue sinces it's still in production but both blades were excellent and worthy of making it to the first string of my DE blade team.

**cfender** · 03-03-2012, 02:55 PM

Just pulled the blade. #1 Blade is the Gillette Silver Blue. #2 Blade is the Gillette Bleue Extra.

Again, the #2 blade performed better but they were both great. Unfortunately the GBE is no longer in production but I still will probably look to find some quantity on the Silver Blue.