ugh (A.K.A. why no more "swedes")

**uberculture** · 03-29-2009, 01:49 PM

I got my sampler pack a little while ago, and worked my way through. Included were the Gillette "Swedes" that were so highly recommended. I found out that they weren't making the same blades anymore, so told myself I wouldn't even try them. Well, curiosity got the best of me today, and I tried one. Sonofawhoozawathzit, it is the best blade I've used. Now, I've got one shave on one blade, and only four more left.

This is more a rant than an appeal for advice... why did I open Pandora's box and find a great blade I can't get any more of.

VR6ofpain · 03-29-2009, 04:03 PM

I think they suck, but I am part of a minority on this. The second blade in my 5 blade dispenser cracked after tightening down the TTO mechanism. The last 3 in the dispenser will likely never be used.

**SavantStrike** · 03-29-2009, 04:08 PM

For this very reason I'm reluctant to try things that are discontinued... It just causes so much heartache.

It's just not fair when good things are no more.

**al7jj** · 03-29-2009, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by VR6ofpain

I think they suck, but I am part of a minority on this. The second blade in my 5 blade dispenser cracked after tightening down the TTO mechanism. The last 3 in the dispenser will likely never be used.

I think they're OK, but no better than half a dozen others. But then my favorites are Merkurs, so I'm REALLY a minority in this group :-)f

**Seamaster** · 03-30-2009, 01:19 AM

Ben on ShaveMyFace can still hook you up with Swedes. He's not a dealer, just a member who's been hoovering up all the unsold stock in London. He's still got plenty left, apparently.

http://www.shavemyface.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=36361

**Sullybob** · 03-30-2009, 06:17 AM

Originally Posted by al7jj

I think they're OK, but no better than half a dozen others. But then my favorites are Merkurs, so I'm REALLY a minority in this group :-)f

The first Merkur that I tried was really great, it came with my razor. The Merkur's that came in my sample pack were terrible. I wonder if its a quality control issue?

**Hawkeye5** · 03-30-2009, 09:06 AM

I've more than likely enough Swedes stockpiled for the next 5 years or more. All depends if I can continue to use a straight 80% of the time. They are, and have been, my favorite for some time now.
It is odd how many really great shaving items leave the market. I guess there is just not sufficent demand, or regulation changes mandate changes in the case of some of the English soaps.

**RILEY** · 03-30-2009, 01:37 PM

YMMV but if you liked the Swedes you might like the 7 O'Clocks just as well, maybe better. Similar performing blade IMO

**Trius** · 03-30-2009, 01:59 PM

Not that you can get them easily here, but the Gillette Bleue Extra (France) are as good, IMO. My review.

I haven't tried the 7 O'clocks yet, but I do like Astra Superior for their smoothness. Feather is still king in my world.

**jrcrow79** · 03-30-2009, 02:07 PM

SWEDES went to Russia..plentyof blades that are like em though..I found Astras to be comparable but now am thinking bout going to GEM Se hardware

**LondonCalling** · 04-01-2009, 12:20 AM

Originally Posted by uberculture

This is more a rant than an appeal for advice... why did I open Pandora's box and find a great blade I can't get any more of.

If you want to get really paranoid about this you might wonder why the leading manufacturer of the ghastly but profitable N-blade systems would throw a spanner in the renaissance of DE shaving...

**al7jj** · 04-03-2009, 06:31 AM

[QUOTE=Trius;1092147]Not that you can get them easily here, but the Gillette Bleue Extra (France) are as good, IMO. My review.

The blues are made in China (or at least the ones I buy here in China say they are). I bought them the day I used my last "Swede" and they seem to be just as good (they last me about twice as long as the Indian black Gillettes). As always, YMMV.

**Stubblefield** · 04-03-2009, 06:40 AM

Does anyone have an online source for these? Have not found one yet.

**mmack66** · 04-03-2009, 06:45 AM

Originally Posted by Stubblefield

Does anyone have an online source for these? Have not found one yet.

If you are referring to the Gillette Bleue Extra, I think they are available at one of the websites that must not be named.

**uberculture** · 04-03-2009, 07:38 AM

website that must not be named...

I totally respect the impulse to not name websites the moderators don't want to, but it is really frustrating. Its kind of like somebody saying "I found a great store that has everything that I ever buy, and everything's 75% off every day. And the staff are very nice, and they give you complimentary massages. But I can't tell you where this store is, or its name.

Would it work if somebody who knows this ineffable website PM'd me the name of it?

**Audiolab** · 04-03-2009, 07:51 AM

I managed to get a few Swedes before they started getting scarce, if you look hard enough you will still find them. I really like this blade and even though I have quite a few I use them sparingly.

Have also heard good things about Ben over at shavemyface, he still has some of them if youre quick.

**Rufust445** · 04-03-2009, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by uberculture

website that must not be named...

I totally respect the impulse to not name websites the moderators don't want to, but it is really frustrating. Its kind of like somebody saying "I found a great store that has everything that I ever buy, and everything's 75% off every day. And the staff are very nice, and they give you complimentary massages. But I can't tell you where this store is, or its name.

Would it work if somebody who knows this ineffable website PM'd me the name of it?

The PM's get edited too.

**uberculture** · 04-03-2009, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by Rufust445

The PM's get edited too.

*sigh*. I guess I'll have to get my lazy self onto Google. Silly that that extra five minutes of work seems like such a chore to me.

**Milkbone** · 04-03-2009, 09:22 AM

I really like the Swedes too, they are my favorite blade I have used thus far. It is a shame about them being discontinued.

I have to think that there are still cases of them out there somewhere, we probably just haven't found where they are selling them yet.

**Audiolab** · 04-03-2009, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by Seamaster

Ben on ShaveMyFace can still hook you up with Swedes. He's not a dealer, just a member who's been hoovering up all the unsold stock in London. He's still got plenty left, apparently.

http://www.shavemyface.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=36361

I personally know of someone who got a bundle on the above site from Ben, if you are scared of just PayPal'ing another guy some money he will put an auction up for you (but obviously costs slightly more with fees) and he ships anywhere.