Had to try a Personna 74

**Danricgro** · 06-18-2012, 10:41 PM

I bought five Personna 74's off of eBay just to see what all the fanfare was about. I'll be honest, I was prepared to be disappointed. It would be pretty tough to live up to all the hype.

I loaded one up in my Slim Adjustable, set it on 7 and took it for a spin. Three passes, WTG, XTG, ATG, and a little touch up. It was ok, a little irritation and a DFS. Nothing special. Did another shave the next day with the Slim with the same results. Ok, I was a bit disappointed. It was ok but not at all what I have been reading.

Third shave I switched the blade to my R41. Same three pass with touch up. Hmmm, this was a very nice shave, mostly BBS and very little irritation. I was starting to get happy! Well, to make a long boring story shorter I just finished my 9th shave with this blade and it was BBS with almost no irritation. This blade seems to have gotten better. I am going to ride it out to see how long it lasts but I think I am starting to see the light.

**xraygun** · 06-18-2012, 11:59 PM

report back around shave 12.

**whavens** · 06-19-2012, 06:46 AM

Great blades, I have a bunch of 74 injector blades, haven't worn the first one out yet, but I don't use my injectors that much.

**poppi** · 06-19-2012, 08:06 AM

A fella on another board reported that he got over 40+ nice shaves out 1 blade. If true, utterly amazing. Keep going and let us know how you do

**Nova316** · 06-19-2012, 09:38 AM

I'm on shave 24 right now and still going strong and smooth in my EJ89
It seems to get better after the first 2 shaves for me anyways, I think the first and second were just way to sharp and caused irritation

**Danricgro** · 06-24-2012, 04:26 PM

Just completed shave 14 with this first blade. No sign of slowing down at all. Still sharp and smooth.

**fcdiscus** · 06-24-2012, 05:31 PM

Hmm- if they really last say 30 shaves and most of todays blades last say 4 shaves- how much are they really worth? Amazing!

**brother cavefish** · 06-24-2012, 08:04 PM

i have a personna SE ( not 74) in a straight it lasted well over a year, just for back of the neck

**Danricgro** · 06-24-2012, 09:23 PM

It's hard to believe how well this blade is holding up. I really didn't expect it to be nearly as good as all that has been written about them. Blades are probably the thing that YMMV applies to the most so I have become very suspicious of the hyperbole surrounding them. When I first started I read all the glowing praise of Feather blades so I bought some. Can't stand the damn things. Can't get a decent shave out of one to save my life. But so far these Personna 74's are living up to the hype. I am going to keep going and see how far it goes.

**Nova316** · 06-25-2012, 06:31 AM

Definitely,
Same blade in my EJ89 for a month now haha has to be some kind of record haha
Still no tugging or pulling yet

**byscott** · 07-04-2012, 10:22 AM

I use 74s pretty regularly now ... the first few shaves on a new blade require a little extra caution, then it seems like they settle down and deliver a month or so of great shaves.

**mctmatt** · 07-04-2012, 03:40 PM

I have an unopened package box of 74 Titanium that I plan on trying out this evening. I just need to decide which razor to try them in. Gillette super speed, fatboy, knack, tech, or Muhle 41.

**man00ver** · 07-04-2012, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by mctmatt

I have an unopened package box of 74 Titanium that I plan on trying out this evening. I just need to decide which razor to try them in. Gillette super speed, fatboy, knack, tech, or Muhle 41.

Tom, if you're looking for advice here, I'd suggest starting it in one of your mild razors. It's going to be wickedly sharp for the first several shaves.
Or you could be crazy-brave and put it in the new-style R41, just be sure to let us know how it worked out for you (and remember you were warned)!

**mctmatt** · 07-04-2012, 05:58 PM

I just finished my shave and I used the Personna 74 Tungsten in my Gillette Knack using Williams Shave soap as part of the July 4th Patriotic shave. I was not sure if I would even be able to use the blades because I could not get them out of the dispenser. I had to pry open the top and the pry the blades apart. They looked shiny and new, but they were all stuck together and it just looked like one long blade. I had to work to get them apart. The blades performed though to the level that so many have talked about. Smooth and sharp without a tug or a pull on any part of my whiskers. Now I just need to get back to the little antique store to see if they have anymore.

**tootootni** · 07-04-2012, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by mctmatt

I just finished my shave and I used the Personna 74 Tungsten in my Gillette Knack using Williams Shave soap as part of the July 4th Patriotic shave. I was not sure if I would even be able to use the blades because I could not get them out of the dispenser. I had to pry open the top and the pry the blades apart. They looked shiny and new, but they were all stuck together and it just looked like one long blade. I had to work to get them apart. The blades performed though to the level that so many have talked about. Smooth and sharp without a tug or a pull on any part of my whiskers. Now I just need to get back to the little antique store to see if they have anymore.

I believe when you buy your next pack, and you likely will be getting another, soaking in alcohol will let you eject the blades as designed. Best wishes, David.

**Danricgro** · 07-04-2012, 10:42 PM

Did shave number 20 with the blade yesterday. It's still good but starting to slow down. I'm thinking one or two more shaves left in it. Using it in a r41 mostly.