Blade Sharpness Research Project

[helicopter]

This one is an October 2023 AccuTec Personna Comfort Coated Lab Blue blade. I don't have pictures of the package, but maybe @WVShaver can provide them because it is one of the more interesting American Personnas tested. It is most similar to the 2022 blade I got from Sally's; the wear curve is similar, and the sharpness is similar. This one is a little bit sharper. which makes it the second sharpest blade I have tested. It is laser engraved with "Super" and "Made in USA," but there isn't a date code on the blade itself. It has a different grind from the others as well. The bevel transitions on this one are closer to the edge than the others, and the tertiary bevel is quite short.

Coating and Grind
Coating Thickness	Thin
Coating Evenness	Even
Bevel Coating Coverage	100%
Entire Bevel to Edge, mm	0.405
Primary Bevel Scratch Size	0.004
Primary Bevel Scratch Consistency	Typical
Primary Bevel Proximal Transition	Even
Blade Thickness, mm	0.100
Secondary Bevel Transition to Edge, mm	0.068
Secondary Bevel Scratch Size	0.003
Secondary Bevel Scratch Consistency	Typical
Secondary Bevel Transition Line	Typical
Tertiary Bevel Transition to Edge, mm	0.028
Tertiary Bevel Scratch Size	Polish
Tertiary Bevel Scratch Consistency	Polish
Tertiary Bevel Scratch Transition Line	Typical

Like the others, it is great steel that barely changes visibly during the test.

Sharp, durable, and consistent for such a sharp blade; it is an example of an excellent blade.

Date	30-08-2024
Blade	Fromm	Personna	Comfort Coated	United States	03-10-2023
Wear on Edge	0	3	6	9	12
Edges Measured	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top
Measurement Medium	Stren 6 .22	Stren 6 .22	Stren 6 .22	Stren 6 .22	Stren 6 .22
Dulling Substrate	New	Paper	Paper	Paper	Paper
Measurements	20	20	20	20	20
Adj. Std. Dev.	5	3	4	4	7
Median F (g)	44	41	44	44	46.5
Mean F (g) Top	43	40	42	44	46
Mean F (g) Bottom	44	42	45	44	48
Mean F (g)	44	41	44	44	47
BESS Adj. Factor	1.22	1.22	1.22	1.22	1.22
Avg. Adj. F (g) Top	53	48	51	54	56
Avg. Adj. F (g) Bottom	54	51	55	54	58
Median Adj. F (g)	54	50	54	54	57
Mean Adj. F (g)	53	50	53	54	57

Blade Sharpness Test Index

 

[NorthernSoul]

2023 Comfort Coated package was similar to this photo:

I have those with laser etched Personna Super, cost was $13.50 at a barber supply store. A good deal.

 

[helicopter]

Here's the last one, an American AccuTec Personna Comfort Coated Lab Blue blade from April 24, 2024. It is just four months old. It comes in the same box as the January 2024 one I tested.

The box is a little beat up. I wonder if the blades were damaged slightly at the same time. That would explain why this one isn't as exceptionally sharp as most of the other AccuTec blades tested.

The grind and coating look the same as the January, 2024 blade. The secondary bevel height lies between the 2023 blade and the January 2024 blade. I wonder if it is just batch variation. I am not sure how important the height of that bevel actually is as long as the other transitions and corresponding angles are correct.

Coating and Grind
Coating Thickness	Light
Coating Evenness	Even
Bevel Coating Coverage	100%
Entire Bevel to Edge, mm	0.399
Primary Bevel Scratch Size	0.003
Primary Bevel Scratch Consistency	Even
Primary Bevel Proximal Transition	Even
Blade Thickness, mm	0.100
Secondary Bevel Transition to Edge, mm	0.102
Secondary Bevel Scratch Size	0.001
Secondary Bevel Scratch Consistency	Even
Secondary Bevel Transition Line	Even
Tertiary Bevel Transition to Edge, mm	0.033
Tertiary Bevel Scratch Size	Polish
Tertiary Bevel Scratch Consistency	Even
Tertiary Bevel Scratch Transition Line	Even

There is a small amount of tiny chipping after the test. The steel is outstanding.

I didn't believe my eyes when I saw that the consistency of this blade was perfect. I went back and checked the data, and formulas to be sure, but yes, the durability and consistency of this blade was perfect.

Blade	Fromm	Personna	Comfort Coated	United States	24-04-2024
Wear on Edge	0	3	6	9	12
Edges Measured	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top
Measurement Medium	Stren 6 .22	Stren 6 .22	Stren 6 .22	Stren 6 .22	Stren 6 .22
Dulling Substrate	New	Paper	Paper	Paper	Paper
Measurements	20	20	20	20	20
Adj. Std. Dev.	6	6	11	7	11
Median F (g)	48.5	49	47.5	48	47
Mean F (g) Top	46	49	49	48	48
Mean F (g) Bottom	53	49	49	50	51
Mean F (g)	49	49	49	49	49
BESS Adj. Factor	1.22	1.22	1.22	1.22	1.22
Avg. Adj. F (g) Top	56	60	60	59	58
Avg. Adj. F (g) Bottom	64	60	60	61	62
Median Adj. F (g)	59	60	58	59	57
Mean Adj. F (g)	60	60	60	60	60

These current AccuTec Personna blades in the 100 pack are really outstanding in performance, and I find them very nice to shave with as well. It does seem that the handling of the blades during shipping is very important to the performance of the blade for the end user. This packaging and the blades are fragile. If you are going to buy them, try to find a vendor who isn't too far away and has a reputation for packing things with care.

If you want a premium blade, they are a good value at the street price around $17/100.

Blade Sharpness Test Index

 

[helicopter]

This is Edgewell's Tomy London Fine Platinum blade, which was produced in their Personna Nazareth Israel plant before it closed around 2019. This is another blade that was generously provided by @WVShaver

You can still get this blade from The Razor Company, but it costs $3.79 per tuck before the 11% discount for the sale they have going on.

It has their standard white plastic tuck of ten blades with foil printed cards and plain heavy white paper.

The blade doesn't have any printing on it, which we see with a lot of Personna blades. This one is drenched in fingerprint oil, which I would consider to be a good thing.

The coating is quite heavy. It is much thicker than the current American AccuTec Personna blades. The grind is very similar to the platinum chrome super stainless blue white silver blade that was also made for the UK market, presumably in the same facility. This one has a heavier coating over the full bevel, while that one has a lighter distal coating. I suspect those blades do indeed come from the Nazareth plant, and that the steel is the same.

Coating and Grind
Coating Thickness	Heavy
Coating Evenness	Even
Bevel Coating Coverage	100%
Entire Bevel to Edge, mm	0.391
Primary Bevel Scratch Size	0.004
Primary Bevel Scratch Consistency	Even
Primary Bevel Proximal Transition	Even
Blade Thickness, mm	0.100
Secondary Bevel Transition to Edge, mm	0.162
Secondary Bevel Scratch Size	0.002
Secondary Bevel Scratch Consistency	Even
Secondary Bevel Transition Line	Even
Tertiary Bevel Transition to Edge, mm	0.045
Tertiary Bevel Scratch Size	Polish
Tertiary Bevel Scratch Consistency	Even
Tertiary Bevel Scratch Transition Line	Even

After testing, there is some medium chipping along the edge. The sharpness was consistent through the first two cut tests, 6 sheets of paper, but it started showing signs of failure with the third and fourth cut tests. It is probably good for 3-7 shaves, but this isn't a blade I would want to use longer than that.

The wear curve also resembles the Platinum Chrome Super Stainless Blue White Silver UK market blade, though this blade is a bit sharper.

It is quite sharp, with good durability and consistency.

It is unfortunate that these blades are no longer in production and are scarce and expensive. Fortunately, the AccuTec Personnas are fairly similar, and readily available at reasonable prices.

Blade Sharpness Test Index

 

[Dimitri]

@WVShaver sent me four more American Personna Comfort Coated Lab Blue blades to test. I measured all of them, but I will put them up individually to stay close to the usual format, skipping some parts to avoid redundancy.

I am starting with the oldest one, which is an Energizer blade from 2015. It seems to be of the same grind as the 2013 Energizer Personna that @Dimitri sent before. This one is sharper and wears much differently, so I think the coating is different.

@WVShaver took some nice pictures of the box.

View attachment 1903248

View attachment 1903249

Here are the eight four blades as I received them. They are numbered chronologically based on production date and the tests will be posted in the same order. This one is number ".8"
View attachment 1903229

Here are the backs of the blades. 8 is on the upper left, 9 below it, is also an Energizer blade. 10 is on the upper right, and 11, lower right. I really liked the laser engraved production dates on the 2022 and 2023 AccuTec blades I tested. It seems AccuTec may have moved away from this good practice.
View attachment 1903238

The grind looks like the 2013 blade tested previously. The coating is lighter.
View attachment 1903239

The Personna CC's have to be the absolute most confounding blade to understand, with an aura of mystery surrounding it akin to who shot JFK. The biggest question we all have, or at least that I have, is whether or not these are the same blades as the former Lab Blues/Med Preps, and the current AccuForge/Accuthrive offerings from AccuTec. Based on your test results thus far, it seems the commercially available blades (Personna CC's) have tested sharper than the AccuForge blades. Unless I missed it, I don't think you have had opportunity to test an AccuThrive blade yet. Hopefully someone will send you one soon.

That said, I reached out to Accutec via email for clarification. I'm not sure what to make of the response to my email. Not sure if it clarified things, or made them even more confusing. What do you make of their response to my email? I will copy and paste my email and their response below.

My email:

Hello, and to whom it may concern.

I'm just a retail customer and have a general question. I'm a user of the Personna Comfort Coated blades and was just wondering what difference, if any, there is between the the Personna Comfort Coated blades and your Accutec branded blades, such as the Accutrhrive and Accuforge? It might interest you to know that there is a big wet shaving community, and that the differences between your blades is hotly debated on various YouTube channels and wet-shaving forums. Was hoping someone could provide clarity as many believe that the Accuthrive or Accuforge blades are the same as the Personna Comfort Coated, but differ in their prep from the factory depending on whether the blades are slated for the health and beauty market, or medical and lab research. Any clarity you can provide to help settle the debate would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you,

Their Response:

Good Afternoon,
Thank you for your question! Here at Accutec we have noticed the community and appreciate the passion and concern many people have regarding our brand! Interestingly enough, if the specifications of the blades match, they are the same blade. Personna is often questioned because of the rebrand from PERSONNA to ACCUTEC we had a while ago. All we did was change the packaging, however many people online claim to feel a difference!

Interesting how much of a difference marketing can make, isn't it?

Please let me know if there is anything else I can do for you
Regards,

AccuTec Client Success Services Team

How do you all interpret the response? Are they all one and the same blade?

 

[wldecker]

The Personna CC's have to be the absolute most confounding blade to understand, with an aura of mystery surrounding it akin to who shot JFK. The biggest question we all have, or at least that I have, is whether or not these are the same blades as the former Lab Blues/Med Preps, and the current AccuForge/Accuthrive offerings from AccuTec. Based on your test results thus far, it seems the commercially available blades (Personna CC's) have tested sharper than the AccuForge blades. Unless I missed it, I don't think you have had opportunity to test an AccuThrive blade yet. Hopefully someone will send you one soon.

That said, I reached out to Accutec via email for clarification. I'm not sure what to make of the response to my email. Not sure if it clarified things, or made them even more confusing. What do you make of their response to my email? I will copy and paste my email and their response below.

My email:

Hello, and to whom it may concern.

I'm just a retail customer and have a general question. I'm a user of the Personna Comfort Coated blades and was just wondering what difference, if any, there is between the the Personna Comfort Coated blades and your Accutec branded blades, such as the Accutrhrive and Accuforge? It might interest you to know that there is a big wet shaving community, and that the differences between your blades is hotly debated on various YouTube channels and wet-shaving forums. Was hoping someone could provide clarity as many believe that the Accuthrive or Accuforge blades are the same as the Personna Comfort Coated, but differ in their prep from the factory depending on whether the blades are slated for the health and beauty market, or medical and lab research. Any clarity you can provide to help settle the debate would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you,

Their Response:

Good Afternoon,
Thank you for your question! Here at Accutec we have noticed the community and appreciate the passion and concern many people have regarding our brand! Interestingly enough, if the specifications of the blades match, they are the same blade. Personna is often questioned because of the rebrand from PERSONNA to ACCUTEC we had a while ago. All we did was change the packaging, however many people online claim to feel a difference!

Interesting how much of a difference marketing can make, isn't it?

Please let me know if there is anything else I can do for you
Regards,

AccuTec Client Success Services Team

How do you all interpret the response? Are they all one and the same blade?

IMO, they're all the same blade. At least the newer ones. Differences in this testing is likely due to damage during shipping. @helicopter mentions this is some of the write ups. Especially when the blades visually look the same, I'd assume they are the same. Most of the other differences are just standard variation in the production of blades.

 

[Dimitri]

IMO, they're all the same blade. At least the newer ones. Differences in this testing is likely due to damage during shipping. @helicopter mentions this is some of the write ups. Especially when the blades visually look the same, I'd assume they are the same. Most of the other differences are just standard variation in the production of blades.

I believe so as well. It makes sense. The ones marketed for medical use (Accuthrive)are probably sterilized/sanitized. Accuforge, same blade marketed for lab use, which probably doesn't need to be sanitized, and then the Personna's, re-packaged for health and beauty industry. Based on @helicopter 's results on Current U.S. made Personna blades and the Accuforge he tested, the evidence seems to point that way.

 

[helicopter]

I tested this Eddison stainless blade, which is made by Edgewell Personna for the Israeli market. It seems to be the same blade as the Tomy.

The grind and coating are similar to the Tomy

Coating and Grind
Coating Thickness	Moderate
Coating Evenness	Even
Bevel Coating Coverage	100%
Entire Bevel to Edge, mm	0.368
Primary Bevel Scratch Size	0.004
Primary Bevel Scratch Consistency	Even
Primary Bevel Proximal Transition	Even
Blade Thickness, mm	0.102
Secondary Bevel Transition to Edge, mm	0.216
Secondary Bevel Scratch Size	0.002
Secondary Bevel Scratch Consistency	Even
Secondary Bevel Transition Line	Typical
Tertiary Bevel Transition to Edge, mm	0.094
Tertiary Bevel Scratch Size	Polish
Tertiary Bevel Scratch Consistency	Even
Tertiary Bevel Scratch Transition Line	Typical

The steel remains in good condition after the test, with some small chipping along the edge.

Date	30-08-2024
Blade	Edgewell	Eddison	Stainless	Israel	27-09-2021
Wear on Edge	0	3	6	9	12
Edges Measured	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top
Measurement Medium	Stren 6 .22	Stren 6 .22	Stren 6 .22	Stren 6 .22	Stren 6 .22
Dulling Substrate	New	Paper	Paper	Paper	Paper
Measurements	20	20	20	20	20
Adj. Std. Dev.	9	8	10	19	30
Median F (g)	54	50	48	51	51
Mean F (g) Top	48	49	49	63	71
Mean F (g) Bottom	57	52	54	49	50
Mean F (g)	52	50	51	56	61
BESS Adj. Factor	1.22	1.22	1.22	1.22	1.22
Avg. Adj. F (g) Top	59	60	60	76	87
Avg. Adj. F (g) Bottom	69	63	65	60	61
Median Adj. F (g)	66	60	59	62	62
Mean Adj. F (g)	64	61	63	68	74

The wear curve is very similar to the Tomy. I suspect they are made to the same specifications.

It is interesting the Edgewell discusses plans to close the Personna Israel company in their 2018 annual report. They said the closure was announced October, 2018 and transferring production was expected to take 12-18 months. The 2019-2021 annual reports mention an Israeli Personna subsidiary, but they don't discuss it. It is no longer listed in 2022 and 2023. The existence of a legal entity does not mean they had an active production facility.

This Eddison is clearly a 2021 blade for the Israeli market, so either the plans in the 2018 annual report were not executed, or this is a German blade that doesn't say so; the latter seems more likely. I can see how Israeli-branded German-made blade might sell better in Israel without a country of origin on the packaging. Of course the Tomy doesn't say anything about when it was made, and the 2019 UK market blades also don't say. I think the Eddison is very probably made in the same plant as Tomy, and the UK market 2019 Personna probably is, too, despite a different coating. If Edgewell did move production of these blades from Israel to Germany, they don't seem to want consumers to know.

All of these unknown blades are sharper than any of the known German Personna Platinum and German reds tested so far. However, Edgewell's current German Schick and Wilkinson Sword blades are sharper than these unknown blades. We just haven't tested any known German blades that closely resemble these unknown blades.

From the analysis, it seems very unlikely that any of these blades of unknown origin are American.

The Energizer demerger was completed in July, 2015, so the 2016 US Personna, while built to the same specification as the 2015 one, is technically an Edgewell blade.

There are more Personna blades to test, so perhaps we can sort it out eventually.

Blade Sharpness Test Index

 

[helicopter]

I believe so as well. It makes sense. The ones marketed for medical use (Accuthrive)are probably sterilized/sanitized. Accuforge, same blade marketed for lab use, which probably doesn't need to be sanitized, and then the Personna's, re-packaged for health and beauty industry. Based on @helicopter 's results on Current U.S. made Personna blades and the Accuforge he tested, the evidence seems to point that way.

Possibly there is one without a coating, but I haven't seen it. RBC has the AccuThrive, so I will get it from there eventually and see.

 

[WhiskerLess]

Personna is often questioned because of the rebrand from PERSONNA to ACCUTEC we had a while ago. All we did was change the packaging, however many people online claim to feel a difference!

Interesting how much of a difference marketing can make, isn't it?

Finally a proper and clear response from maker itself. This should settle the ever long debate.

 

[helicopter]

Finally a proper and clear response from maker itself. This should settle the ever long debate.

Indeed. People are feeling a difference, though. If you get AccuForge from Razor Emporium, it isn't just the packaging that is different, the shipping and handling are also different.

 

[helicopter]

I tested the Edgewell Personna Viking's Sword Super Stainless Polymer Coated blade. This is an April 2019 blade that appears to be a cousin of the other blades of unknown Israeli or German origin. Like the others, this was generously provided by @WVShaver

It comes in the same white plastic tuck. The printing is like the Eddison.

It looks like the same grind and coating as the Eddison and Tomy.

Coating and Grind
Coating Thickness	Moderate
Coating Evenness	Even
Bevel Coating Coverage	100%
Entire Bevel to Edge, mm	0.346
Primary Bevel Scratch Size	0.003
Primary Bevel Scratch Consistency	Even
Primary Bevel Proximal Transition	Even
Blade Thickness, mm	0.100
Secondary Bevel Transition to Edge, mm	0.175
Secondary Bevel Scratch Size	0.002
Secondary Bevel Scratch Consistency	Even
Secondary Bevel Transition Line	Typical
Tertiary Bevel Transition to Edge, mm	0.068
Tertiary Bevel Scratch Size	Polish
Tertiary Bevel Scratch Consistency	Even
Tertiary Bevel Scratch Transition Line	Typical

After the test, there is some small chipping along the edge, typical of razor steel.

Date	30-08-2024
Blade	Edgewell	Viking's Sword	Polymer Super	Israel	15-04-2019
Wear on Edge	0	3	6	9	12
Edges Measured	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top
Measurement Medium	Stren 6 .22	Stren 6 .22	Stren 6 .22	Stren 6 .22	Stren 6 .22
Dulling Substrate	New	Paper	Paper	Paper	Paper
Measurements	20	20	20	20	20
Adj. Std. Dev.	7	9	9	6	10
Median F (g)	57	53	53.5	52	56.5
Mean F (g) Top	53	53	54	50	60
Mean F (g) Bottom	60	55	56	55	54
Mean F (g)	57	54	55	53	57
BESS Adj. Factor	1.22	1.22	1.22	1.22	1.22
Avg. Adj. F (g) Top	65	65	65	61	73
Avg. Adj. F (g) Bottom	73	67	68	67	66
Median Adj. F (g)	70	64	65	63	69
Mean Adj. F (g)	69	66	67	64	70

The wear curve is unique, with a durable coating. It is fairly similar to the Eddison and Tomy, if you account for it being a bit less sharp and fragile. I think they are probably all the same blade.

Blade Sharpness Test Index

 

[Flanders]

The wear curve is unique, with a durable coating. It is fairly similar to the Eddison and Tomy, if you account for it being a bit less sharp and fragile. I think they are probably all the same blade.

I think this shows clearly that the blades became sharper when they were moved to Germany. These are not as sharp, even at their sharpest point, and that points to a different origin even if they managed to keep similar grind settings. Plus the different wear curve as you mentioned. I don't think coating alone can account for all this and this was likely the last year of production in Isreal.

 

[helicopter]

I think this shows clearly that the blades became sharper when they were moved to Germany. These are not as sharp, even at their sharpest point, and that points to a different origin even if they managed to keep similar grind settings. Plus the different wear curve as you mentioned. I don't think coating alone can account for all this and this was likely the last year of production in Isreal.

At some point they definitely switch. It is probably in 2019, and almost certainly before 2021.

Edgewell is clearly happy putting one blade in several packages for different brands. I wonder how many German blades there actually are, both before and after coating.

The two bevel Schick is not related to these Personna Israel legacy products, but the Wilkinson Sword probably is.

It could be that all of the legacy products are now just Wilkinson Swords with one or two additional coatings. That would explain increased sharpness.

Some more testing will give us a better idea.

 

[helicopter]

We have another blade from @WVShaver This is a known Israeli blade from Edgewell's defunct Nazareth plant. This one is referred to as the Personna Crystal by Razor Blades Club, but the package and blade just indicate it is an Israeli made blade with a platinum coating. I understand there exist some blades that are marked as Crystals as well. It is the standard white plastic tuck for these blades.

The wrappers have some nice blue printing,and the blades are marked with arrows for spring loaded dispenser banks.

Funny, that printing is relic, a 1963 patent on applying PTFE to razor blade edges.

The grind is essentially the same as all of these other Israeli and legacy Israeli blades, and the coating looks similar to the full coating on Tomy and Viking's Sword.

Coating and Grind
Coating Thickness	Light
Coating Evenness	Even
Bevel Coating Coverage	100%
Entire Bevel to Edge, mm	0.405
Primary Bevel Scratch Size	0.007
Primary Bevel Scratch Consistency	Typical
Primary Bevel Proximal Transition	Typical
Blade Thickness, mm	0.100
Secondary Bevel Transition to Edge, mm	0.177
Secondary Bevel Scratch Size	0.004
Secondary Bevel Scratch Consistency	Even
Secondary Bevel Transition Line	Even
Tertiary Bevel Transition to Edge, mm	0.063
Tertiary Bevel Scratch Size	Polish
Tertiary Bevel Scratch Consistency	Even
Tertiary Bevel Scratch Transition Line	Even

It looks almost unchanged after testing, just some wear on the coating and the tertiary bevel isn't as clean as it was. There is lots of very fine chipping along the apex as well. It must be a finely grained and relatively tough steel.

Both edges drop cutting force with the third set of paper cutting. I think it is a statistical phenomenon where 5-10% of the edged had dulled significantly, and I happened to sample those spots on both edges at the same point in the test. That happens fairly often, but most of the time, it is corrected in the other samples due to regression to the mean. Since I am only taking 100 measurements for the test, we will see this sort of thing occasionally. It is possible there is something physical happening with the coating breaking up with the third paper cut, but I doubt it.

Date	31-08-2024
Blade	Edgewell	Personna Crystal	Super Platinum	Israel	01-01-2018
Wear on Edge	0	3	6	9	12
Edges Measured	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top
Measurement Medium	Stren 6 .22	Stren 6 .22	Stren 6 .22	Stren 6 .22	Stren 6 .22
Dulling Substrate	New	Paper	Paper	Paper	Paper
Measurements	20	20	20	20	20
Adj. Std. Dev.	8	7	6	9	6
Median F (g)	53	53	56	51	53
Mean F (g) Top	48	51	54	53	52
Mean F (g) Bottom	58	56	59	55	57
Mean F (g)	53	54	56	54	55
BESS Adj. Factor	1.22	1.22	1.22	1.22	1.22
Avg. Adj. F (g) Top	59	62	66	64	64
Avg. Adj. F (g) Bottom	71	68	72	67	70
Median Adj. F (g)	65	65	68	62	65
Mean Adj. F (g)	65	65	69	66	67

The sharpness is fairly moderate, and durability and consistency are excellent. It appears to be most similar to the Viking's Sword blade. Performance is also very similar to the UK Market Platinum Chrome Personna blade.

Blade Sharpness Test Index

 

[Jay21]

Edgewell is clearly happy putting one blade in several packages for different brands. I wonder how many German blades there actually are, both before and after coating.

The two bevel Schick is not related to these Personna Israel legacy products, but the Wilkinson Sword probably is.

Would you say the German Personna red is a different blade than the Schick?

 

[helicopter]

Would you say the German Personna red is a different blade than the Schick?

Yes. The coating is thinner on the red, the grind had a taller secondary bevel on the red, and steel was soft and dented on the red. The Schicks steel is harder, more durable, and the failure mode is chipping rather than denting. Which is more a standard razor steel while red is a classic German or European style steel.

Even at twice the price, I would get the Schick over either German Personna, but the Accutec Personna in the 100 pack is really the one to get.

 

[Jay21]

Yes. The coating is thinner on the red, the grind had a taller secondary bevel on the red, and steel was soft and dented on the red. The Schicks steel is harder, more durable, and the failure mode is chipping rather than denting. Which is more a standard razor steel while red is a classic German or European style steel.

Even at twice the price, I would get the Schick over either German Personna, but the Accutec Personna in the 100 pack is really the one to get.

I tried a Schick this morning and liked it. Thanks for the info about the red.

 

[helicopter]

I tested the Personna X-Series, which is another Israeli blade that was generously offered for testing by @WVShaver I think this is the last Israeli blade I have here, since it has beed a few years since Edgewell closed down the Nazareth Personna plant. The Crystals are still available from Razor Blades Club. RBC also has Tomy and Eddison blades, but I suspect those ones may have been produced in Germany after the closure. While some of these Israeli blades are of good quality, there aren't any that I am going to miss. I am much more sad about the supply of Russian blades.

This one came in a 100-pack like the AccuTec Personnas.

It has the cool printed blade wrappers like some of the other blades from the teens.

Nice printing on the blade.

They used high quality abrasives that result in a very even scratch pattern on all of the bevels and even transitions. The coating appears to be light or moderate, but it definitely changes the performance.

Coating and Grind
Coating Thickness	Light
Coating Evenness	Even
Bevel Coating Coverage	100%
Entire Bevel to Edge, mm	0.400
Primary Bevel Scratch Size	0.005
Primary Bevel Scratch Consistency	Even
Primary Bevel Proximal Transition	Even
Blade Thickness, mm	0.102
Secondary Bevel Transition to Edge, mm	0.148
Secondary Bevel Scratch Size	0.004
Secondary Bevel Scratch Consistency	Even
Secondary Bevel Transition Line	Typical
Tertiary Bevel Transition to Edge, mm	0.048
Tertiary Bevel Scratch Size	Polish
Tertiary Bevel Scratch Consistency	Even
Tertiary Bevel Scratch Transition Line	Even

After the test, the bevels have smoothed a lot and the coating is gone. The edge remains in excellent condition.

It is not a sharp blade. I shaved with one today and I could tell how dull it started out. It couldn't cut my beard, so I ended up doing about 6 passes, WTG, XTG, ATG, WTG, XTG, ATG, because it didn't really cut well on the initial passes. With that smooth edge, it wasn't as uncomfortable as other dull blades, but it also wasn't nice. Even at the end of the shave, it was only sharp in the middle; the corners that had less action still didn't really cut yet. A better design would have used a coating that doesn't reduce sharpness so much. I measured the shave blade, but only the sharper middle half. I checked the corners for sanity, and they were as dull as the test blade. I measure the middle half of shaving blades because that is the part that matters the most to the shave experience. But normally, the issue when there is a variance along the edge is that that middle part is too dull for shaving, not the other way around. I am used to being able to get in my nostrils and persistent stubble spots with the sharper corners, but this blade is backwards until it has been used for a while.

Date	31-08-2024
Blade	Edgewell	Personna	X-Series	Israel	06-10-2017
Wear on Edge	0	3	6	9	12	1
Edges Measured	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top
Measurement Medium	Stren 6 .22	Stren 6 .22	Stren 6 .22	Stren 6 .22	Stren 6 .22	Stren 6 .22
Dulling Substrate	New	Paper	Paper	Paper	Paper	Face
Measurements	20	20	20	20	20	20
Adj. Std. Dev.	15	18	19	17	19	8
Median F (g)	62.5	59	57.5	57	62	47
Mean F (g) Top	62	69	65	63	70	46
Mean F (g) Bottom	71	57	58	61	64	50
Mean F (g)	67	63	62	62	67	48
BESS Adj. Factor	1.22	1.22	1.22	1.22	1.22	1.22
Avg. Adj. F (g) Top	76	85	79	77	85	56
Avg. Adj. F (g) Bottom	87	69	71	74	78	61
Median Adj. F (g)	76	72	70	70	76	57
Mean Adj. F (g)	81	77	75	76	81	59

Similar to the Viking's Sword, the coating hold out until the end of the test when the steel dulling starts to catch up with it, but this one was not as sharp as the Viking's Sword.

It is more very mild than bad or dull. The steel is fairly good in terms of durability and consistency, and the coating lasts a long time. In any case, I do prefer sharper blades than this one.

Blade Sharpness Test Index

 

[Frito Ray]

I tested the Personna X-Series

Darn it, I could have had some of those for cheap when they cam out But let myself be dissuaded by the reviews.

I’ve been trying different blades recently and discovered that I’m a ”far right shaver” according to your graph . I love the Tiger Platinum and Derby Extras.

They are the only blades with which I can get easy consequence free BBS shaves. They do require a third pass though, but also give the opportunity to go ATG…which is usually difficult for one with hair growing almost parallel to skin.

I still enjoy sharp blades like the KCG Russia and the Feather, but with those I have to settle for DFS, two passes only and no ATG passes. Consequently they are quicker though, so all have their place.