SIXTH ANNUAL "One Blade in February" Challenge

whosaidpigeon said:

I've decided to go all in. One blade, one razor, one brush, one soap & one aftershave.

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That's just crazy. I'm doing one razor, one blade, and one soap, but I've got to vary something! If I don't change up my aftershave, I'll go insane!

Hi,

400 passes? I think I just fainted......

Stan

1. goby - Astra
2. Kevdogg329 - Gillette Wilkinson Sword (China)
3. MuhleShaver - Gillette 7 O'Clock Black (Super Platinum)
4. Hellboy - Merkur Super
5. Cosmos Mariner - GEM Stainless Steel PTFE Coated
6. Dr. Awkward - Vintage English Wilkinson Sword chromium edge (Light Brigade)
7. T.Orso - Feather.
8. Executive Contour - Vintage English Wilkinson "Super Sword-Edge"
9. Calhoun1 - Lord Platinum
10. Guru17 - 7 O'clock Sharp Edge (Yellow)
11. Galaktus- Treet Black Beauty
12. Atos - Wilkinson sword
13. TheVez2 - Personna Platinum Chrome (Military Exchange rebrand)
14. talibeard - Captain (red), carbonsteel blade made by Lord
15. 5Savages - vintage UK Wilkinson
16. showard - Game Time Decision
17. Billy Goatee - Personna platimun chrome
18. JimK - Astra
19. coolcanuc - English Wilkinson Sword, Super Sword-Edge
20. SanKaloon - Gillette Nacet Stainless
21. poikkeus - English Wilkinson Sword, Super Sword-Edge
22. whosaidpigeon - Polsilver SI
23. Gig103 - Gillette Platinum (dark blue pack)
24. eventi - Gillette Silver Blue or Chinese Schick Injector

Over Christmas my dad and I were talking shaving, and he said he really likes injectors, but he can't get the blades anymore. I asked where he got the ones he uses now, and he said "I still use the blades I bought in college" He graduated in 1969

Granted he kept a beard most of my life, but always shaves his neck. I'm still kinda blown away.

eventi said:

Over Christmas my dad and I were talking shaving, and he said he really likes injectors, but he can't get the blades anymore. I asked where he got the ones he uses now, and he said "I still use the blades I bought in college" He graduated in 1969

Granted he kept a beard most of my life, but always shaves his neck. I'm still kinda blown away.

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Let's hope he bought 100 in 1969 and not 5

BTW, I know what your Father's Day gift should be...

I may give this a try. I know I can get a couple of weeks at least from my Gillette Silver Blues shaving 5-7 days a week. I have 6 (I think) in the current blade. I will finalize my decision as we get closer to the end of the week....

bosseb said:

I still think this Derby run is quite an achievement, as I told you in last years thread. 83 shaves on a Derby is IMHO at least comparable to Micks 100+ (4 pass) shaves on the Personna 74. The reputation of the Derby isn't the best around here, to say the least...

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Not to nit-pick, but Mick's epic 100 shave odyssey was with a UK Wilkinson Sword Classic ...
I have several of that same blade. If anyone wants to try the challenge with one, PM me and I'll PIF one to you.

DrAwkward said:

Not to nit-pick, but Mick's epic 100 shave odyssey was with a UK Wilkinson Sword Classic ...
I have several of that same blade. If anyone wants to try the challenge with one, PM me and I'll PIF one to you.

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But of course you are right! I'm as noobish with blades as I am with razors. I am on shave #83 with this old blade:



Well played with the PIF!

whosaidpigeon said:

I've decided to go all in. One blade, one razor, one brush, one soap & one aftershave.

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TheVez2 said:

That's just crazy. I'm doing one razor, one blade, and one soap, but I've got to vary something! If I don't change up my aftershave, I'll go insane!

Click to expand...

I agree with The Vez2, I am 3017ing my soap/cream stock, using one blade for the month, I gotta have SOME variety.

1. goby - Astra
2. Kevdogg329 - Gillette Wilkinson Sword (China)
3. MuhleShaver - Gillette 7 O'Clock Black (Super Platinum)
4. Hellboy - Merkur Super
5. Cosmos Mariner - GEM Stainless Steel PTFE Coated
6. Dr. Awkward - Vintage English Wilkinson Sword chromium edge (Light Brigade)
7. T.Orso - Feather.
8. Executive Contour - Vintage English Wilkinson "Super Sword-Edge"
9. Calhoun1 - Lord Platinum
10. Guru17 - 7 O'clock Sharp Edge (Yellow)
11. Galaktus- Treet Black Beauty
12. Atos - Wilkinson sword
13. TheVez2 - Personna Platinum Chrome (Military Exchange rebrand)
14. talibeard - Captain (red), carbonsteel blade made by Lord
15. 5Savages - vintage UK Wilkinson
16. showard - Game Time Decision
17. Billy Goatee - Personna platimun chrome
18. JimK - Astra
19. coolcanuc - English Wilkinson Sword, Super Sword-Edge
20. SanKaloon - Gillette Nacet Stainless
21. poikkeus - English Wilkinson Sword, Super Sword-Edge
22. whosaidpigeon - Polsilver SI
23. Gig103 - Gillette Platinum (dark blue pack)
24. eventi - Gillette Silver Blue or Chinese Schick Injector
25. Ahmaq - Gillette 7 O Clock Black Super Platinum

Hi,

Ok. How'd I get kicked out?

1. goby - Astra
2. Kevdogg329 - Gillette Wilkinson Sword (China)
3. MuhleShaver - Gillette 7 O'Clock Black (Super Platinum)
4. Hellboy - Merkur Super
5. Cosmos Mariner - GEM Stainless Steel PTFE Coated
6. Dr. Awkward - Vintage English Wilkinson Sword chromium edge (Light Brigade)
7. T.Orso - Feather.
8. Executive Contour - Vintage English Wilkinson "Super Sword-Edge"
9. Calhoun1 - Lord Platinum
10. Guru17 - 7 O'clock Sharp Edge (Yellow)
11. Galaktus- Treet Black Beauty
12. Atos - Wilkinson sword
13. TheVez2 - Personna Platinum Chrome (Military Exchange rebrand)
14. talibeard - Captain (red), carbonsteel blade made by Lord
15. 5Savages - vintage UK Wilkinson
16. showard - Game Time Decision
17. Billy Goatee - Personna platimun chrome
18. JimK - Astra
19. coolcanuc - English Wilkinson Sword, Super Sword-Edge
20. SanKaloon - Gillette Nacet Stainless
21. poikkeus - English Wilkinson Sword, Super Sword-Edge
22. whosaidpigeon - Polsilver SI
23. Gig103 - Gillette Platinum (dark blue pack)
24. eventi - Gillette Silver Blue or Chinese Schick Injector
25. Ahmaq - Gillette 7 O Clock Black Super Platinum
26. KQY61 - Personna 74

Stan

Hi,

I see where a couple others got lost as well. I think I have everyone on this list....


1. goby - Astra
2. Kevdogg329 - Gillette Wilkinson Sword (China)
3. MuhleShaver - Gillette 7 O'Clock Black (Super Platinum)
4. Hellboy - Merkur Super
5. Cosmos Mariner - GEM Stainless Steel PTFE Coated
6. Dr. Awkward - Vintage English Wilkinson Sword chromium edge (Light Brigade)
7. T.Orso - Feather.
8. Executive Contour - Vintage English Wilkinson "Super Sword-Edge"
9. Calhoun1 - Lord Platinum
10. Guru17 - 7 O'clock Sharp Edge (Yellow)
11. Galaktus- Treet Black Beauty
12. Atos - Wilkinson sword
13. TheVez2 - Personna Platinum Chrome (Military Exchange rebrand)
14. talibeard - Captain (red), carbonsteel blade made by Lord
15. 5Savages - vintage UK Wilkinson
16. showard - Game Time Decision
17. Billy Goatee - Personna platimun chrome
18. JimK - Astra
19. coolcanuc - English Wilkinson Sword, Super Sword-Edge
20. SanKaloon - Gillette Nacet Stainless
21. poikkeus - English Wilkinson Sword, Super Sword-Edge
22. whosaidpigeon - Polsilver SI
23. Gig103 - Gillette Platinum (dark blue pack)
24. eventi - Gillette Silver Blue or Chinese Schick Injector
25. Ahmaq - Gillette 7 O Clock Black Super Platinum
26. KQY61 - Personna 74
27. TexLaw - Personna 74
28. Steve in Shalimar - Derby

I did not bother to reinsert those I spotted as missing into our original slots. I just tacked us back onto the end.

Stan

Edit: I think everyone needs to double check....

1. goby - Astra
2. Kevdogg329 - Gillette Wilkinson Sword (China)
3. MuhleShaver - Gillette 7 O'Clock Black (Super Platinum)
4. Hellboy - Merkur Super
5. Cosmos Mariner - GEM Stainless Steel PTFE Coated
6. Dr. Awkward - Vintage English Wilkinson Sword chromium edge (Light Brigade)
7. T.Orso - Feather.
8. Executive Contour - Vintage English Wilkinson "Super Sword-Edge"
9. Calhoun1 - Lord Platinum
10. Guru17 - 7 O'clock Sharp Edge (Yellow)
11. Galaktus- Treet Black Beauty
12. Atos - Wilkinson sword
13. TheVez2 - Personna Platinum Chrome (Military Exchange rebrand)
14. talibeard - Captain (red), carbonsteel blade made by Lord
15. 5Savages - vintage UK Wilkinson
16. showard - Game Time Decision
17. Billy Goatee - Personna platimun chrome
18. JimK - Astra
19. coolcanuc - English Wilkinson Sword, Super Sword-Edge
20. SanKaloon - Gillette Nacet Stainless
21. poikkeus - English Wilkinson Sword, Super Sword-Edge
22. whosaidpigeon - Polsilver SI
23. Gig103 - Gillette Platinum (dark blue pack)
24. eventi - Gillette Silver Blue or Chinese Schick Injector
25. Ahmaq - Gillette 7 O Clock Black Super Platinum
26. KQY61 - Personna 74
27. TexLaw - Personna 74
28. Steve in Shalimar - Derby
29. Penknight - Polsilver Super Iridium


Added myself, if that is alright with everyone.

KQY61 said:

Hi,

I see where a couple others got lost as well. I think I have everyone on this list....

Edit: I think everyone needs to double check....

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Thanks! I'm happy to slide in wherever it makes sense!

Actually I've got a couple of soaps I want to try, so I figure if I stick with 1 through February it gives me a good excuse to go into crazy rotation mode afterwards Besides, February is the shortest month so it may as well be now.

bosseb said:

... I am on shave #83 with this old blade:

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Bosse, the English Wilkinson Super Sword Edge is a mighty fine blade, but how did you get 83 shaves out of one???!
I think it must be synergy between the blade and your beautiful English razors!

DrAwkward said:

Bosse, the English Wilkinson Super Sword Edge is a mighty fine blade, but how did you get 83 shaves out of one???!
I think it must be synergy between the blade and your beautiful English razors!

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I must confess that I'm quite surprised by this myself.

I have some inside info about the making of the blade and this info made me curious to try one out. The steel used in this blade was the pride of Swedish steel manufacture and specifically made to outlast the best Gillette blades. It contains a mixture of metals and the production line was tweaked to very tight tolerances as the machinery was renewed.

This blade certainly does not look like a winner and contains no buzz words, unlike the ones made for the US market, but it does deliver! The problem is getting an unopened pack, with the factory sealing and hoping that it has been stored correctly in the British harsh wet climate...

Today was shave 5 with a Treet Black Beauty. Uncharted territory for me, never went past 4. Still had a smooth shave with very little AS burn, and I used Clubman today. No nicks, weepers, etc. After shaving, I rinse the blade in hot water, and pat dry with a microfiber towel. Then it goes into an alcohol dip, air dried, then 10x each side on linen and leather.
Yes, it seems like a lot of work, but it is a carbon blade. If I can make it to the end of the month, which will give it 9 shaves, then I will start the challenge with a fresh Black Beauty. if not, then a Personna Blue.

Galaktus said:

Yes, it seems like a lot of work, but it is a carbon blade. If I can make it to the end of the month, which will give it 9 shaves, then I will start the challenge with a fresh Black Beauty. if not, then a Personna Blue.

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Respect for this.

My skin still hurts at the thought of trying to use a carbon blade... My then go to razor, a stainless Feather, had tea stains that took a lot of work to get rid of! The blade had the longevity of a politician's promise a week before the election.

I get a surprisingly great shave with Treet BB. Aftershave burn is almost non-existent. I can get a super-smooth shave with a stainless blade, too, but I always feel something from the after shave.

Galaktus said:

Today was shave 5 with a Treet Black Beauty. Uncharted territory for me, never went past 4. Still had a smooth shave with very little AS burn, and I used Clubman today. No nicks, weepers, etc. After shaving, I rinse the blade in hot water, and pat dry with a microfiber towel. Then it goes into an alcohol dip, air dried, then 10x each side on linen and leather.
Yes, it seems like a lot of work, but it is a carbon blade. If I can make it to the end of the month, which will give it 9 shaves, then I will start the challenge with a fresh Black Beauty. if not, then a Personna Blue.

Click to expand...

I've also been testing the Treet Black Beauty this week to see if I can give it a go for the challenge. Started a new one on Sunday so today was shave 3, and it was still going fine. I'm trying a different approach to keep this blade alive. I'm rinsing with water after the shave, drying it well, wiping the blade edges with grapeseed oil, and then into the freezer it goes (cause corrosion should stop below freezing). Also, I'm using a shallow angle (I prefer steep) because I think a shallow angle may be better for blade life. And I'm flipping it every shave, odd numbers up on odd days, even on even days . If I can make it through Saturday, then I will grab a new one for the challenge.