Blade Sharpness Research Project

[helicopter]

This is the Tiger Platinum, which is made by Czech Blades S. R. O in their Jevíčko Czechia plant. This firm produces most of the white label blades for European brands, so this and their Tatras are important OEM blades. They are less expensive than the private label versions, so they are the only blades marked "made in EU," "made in Europe," "made in cz," or "made in Czech Republic" that should ever be considered for trial or purchase. We tested this blade previously in July, 2024. At that time, there was some concern that it may not have been a good representation of the specification due to poor performance. Unfortunately, this one, which is from a different purchase lot, shares very similar poor performance to the other, including poor balance, durability, and consistency, along with a mild and primitive grind. At least we have some confirmation, and the addition of scalable micrographs and other measurements.

The polymer and metallic coatings are visible. The grind is rough, and the performance of the steel is poor, with lots of large chipping after the test.

What does it say about a manufacturer when they produce two blades to the same specification, and both are very similar, including poor balance of sharpness from one edge to the other? I am sure there are still sharper and duller ones out there, but I don't think any of the mild stainless Tiger spec blades are worth purchasing.

Performance of the better top edge is similar to the overall performance of the Razolution blade, so I suspect that Razolution remains a better representation of this same nominal specification.

Date	9-Feb-2025	Mass, mg	512	Thickness, microns	90
Blade	Czech Blades SRO	Tiger	Platinum	Czechia	1-Jan-2024
Wear on Edge	0	3	6	9	12
Edges Measured	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top
Measurement Medium	Stren 4 .21	Stren 4 .21	Stren 4 .21	Stren 4 .21	Stren 4 .21
Dulling Substrate	New	Paper	Paper	Paper	Paper
Measurements	20	20	20	20	20
Adj. Std. Dev.	25	19	22	11	16
Median F (g)	63.5	72	81	106	109.5
Mean F (g) Top	55	65	73	100	96
Mean F (g) Bottom	81	82	99	106	109
Mean F (g)	68	74	86	103	102
BESS Adj. Factor	1.39	1.39	1.39	1.39	1.39
Avg. Adj. F (g) Top	77	90	101	139	133
Avg. Adj. F (g) Bottom	113	114	137	147	151
Median Adj. F (g)	88	100	113	147	152
Mean Adj. F (g)	95	102	119	143	142

Blade Sharpness Test Index

 

[LRod]

I mentioned this yesterday on another thread (can't remember which one), I yet to try a Czech blade that's any good!

 

[Frito Ray]

…Unfortunately, this one, which is from a different purchase lot, shares very similar poor performance…

I mentioned this yesterday on another thread (can't remember which one), I yet to try a Czech blade that's any good!

I still like them…my beard must be like 2 lbs test line.

 

[AndyPanda]

I bought some Tatra Platinum blades in 2022 and at the time people were saying Tiger Pt and Tatra Pt were identical blades in different packages. The Tatra PT I have shave exactly how your testing shows these Tiger Pt blades. I see in the testing chart that the Tatra Pt (and the rebranded ones for Tatara) you tested are on the sharp end of the chart -- but the Tatra Pt I have would fit right in the area of your chart where the Tiger Pt are.

 

[helicopter]

This is the GBS Super Platinum blade, which is a private label blade produced by Xirui in Jiangxi, China for the Rhode Island marketing company Gents Barber Shop and Spa Fine Grooming Products. It is the mildest Xirui blade I have tested, with good balance, and fair durability and consistency. It has a platinum driven metallic coating.

The dies used to cut the paper, tucks, along with the inks, fonts, papers, and shrink wrapping, all match other Xirui flat packs of the same configuration, such as Flydear Super Platinum.

Short secondary and tertiary bevels indicate an intentionally mild grind. There is a visible metallic coating, and in the second picture, we see that the failure mode of the steel was a combination of medium chipping and denting. Steels like this tend to have subpar durability and a subjective feeling of smoothness.

Performance is fairly similar to the red Matgicol Super Platinum and the tall A77 Rhinoceros XR blades. There is a platinum driven metallic coating, but the edge is not particularly durable. These are $9.49/100 on Amazon, which is twice as much as Flydears, and also more than Matgicol SS or Rhinoceros XR on AliX. It is another overpriced private label blade to avoid when you can get the same thing in a more authentic and transparent OEM package at better prices.

Date	9-Feb-2025	Mass, mg	549	Thickness, microns	100
Blade	Jiangxi Xirui	Gents Barber Shop	Super Platinum	China	1-Jan-2025
Wear on Edge	0	3	6	9	12
Edges Measured	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top
Measurement Medium	Stren 4 .21	Stren 4 .21	Stren 4 .21	Stren 4 .21	Stren 4 .21
Dulling Substrate	New	Paper	Paper	Paper	Paper
Measurements	20	20	20	20	20
Adj. Std. Dev.	7	11	13	18	22
Median F (g)	57	55	58.5	60	60.5
Mean F (g) Top	57	61	68	66	68
Mean F (g) Bottom	54	49	55	58	63
Mean F (g)	55	55	61	62	65
BESS Adj. Factor	1.39	1.39	1.39	1.39	1.39
Avg. Adj. F (g) Top	79	85	95	92	94
Avg. Adj. F (g) Bottom	75	68	76	81	88
Median Adj. F (g)	79	76	81	83	84
Mean Adj. F (g)	77	77	85	86	91

Blade Sharpness Test Index

 

[helicopter]

I can shave with blades like the Tigers, but I definitely prefer something sharper, and find sharper blades to be more versatile. As for batch inconsistencies, I don't see any reason it wouldn't be worse than balance for any manufacturer, and the balance of Czech Blades products is generally poor. If you cant get two edges on the same piece of steel to perform similarly on a consistent basis, how can you be expected to make two blades of similar performance on different days?

$11/10 for Bokers and $33/100 for Rex blades are an insult to consumers. Even OEM branded Tatras are not competitive in quality compared to other blades in the <$10/100 price range. They are not even competitive with the quality of blades at half that price.

 

[helicopter]

This is the Ma Ant Stainless super sharp high quality blade with ultra hard nanosized nitrogen alloy film from Shenzhen Ant Xin TCL. This company is listed as manufacturer, printer, and trading company for various metal products including various tools. I think it is unlikely they manufactured these blades themselves, but that they may have handled part or all of the packaging. The outer box and tucks have a nice satin plasticized finish. The tuck cardboard cutting die doesn't match Cloud or Xirui, but performance is similar to the Facón blades manufactured by Cloud. It is a 100 micron blade with good balance, excellent durability, and after the coating is broken in, very good consistency. It is quite mild in sharpness, with a crude and blunt grind, but the coatings and steel perform very well.

There is a picture of an ant on the packaging, and a motto "BORN EXTRAORDINARY, BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF ANTS." I am willing to pay a slight premium for this sort of thing.

The bevel is significantly shorter than Cloud Facón Super Platinum, and the grind is more crude, with coarse and uneven scratches and errant stria. In the second photo, taken after the test, we see that the failure mode of the steel was some fine chipping typical of high-quality razor blade steels.

I don't doubt this blade has an advanced coating as sharpness increases with both of the first two paper cuts. Mingshi, Weishi, Snowy Mountain Wolf, Cloud Facón, Klasik+, and Cloud Gentleman Jon all have high performance coatings of similar performance, making it difficult to narrow down the manufacturer. Perhaps it is a Cloud blade with some batch variation from the belts.

These blades were $3.84/50 on Ali Express. I don't think many will like it, but if you happen to like a mild traditional grind, durable coating, and ant-centered marketing material, this one could be right up your alley.

Date	9-Feb-2025	Mass, mg	543	Thickness, microns	99
Blade	Ant Xin	Ma Ant	Ant Xin	China	1-Jan-2025
Wear on Edge	0	3	6	9	12
Edges Measured	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top
Measurement Medium	Stren 4 .21	Stren 4 .21	Stren 4 .21	Stren 4 .21	Stren 4 .21
Dulling Substrate	New	Paper	Paper	Paper	Paper
Measurements	20	20	20	20	20
Adj. Std. Dev.	9	8	6	8	5
Median F (g)	69	62	60	63	62
Mean F (g) Top	64	63	63	68	63
Mean F (g) Bottom	74	60	59	60	62
Mean F (g)	69	61	61	64	62
BESS Adj. Factor	1.39	1.39	1.39	1.39	1.39
Avg. Adj. F (g) Top	89	88	87	95	87
Avg. Adj. F (g) Bottom	103	83	82	84	87
Median Adj. F (g)	96	86	83	88	86
Mean Adj. F (g)	96	85	84	89	87

Blade Sharpness Test Index

 

[Mammutlesto]

These blades were $3.84/50 on Ali Express. I don't think many will like it, but if you happen to like a mild traditional grind, durable coating, and ant-centered marketing material, this one could be right up your alley.

Too bad I can't find these on AliX... plenty of Ma Ant products but no blades. Maybe they don't ship the blades to my country

EDIT: Found!

 

[helicopter]

In case anyone else wants to believe (in the power of ants)

 

[om2000]

This is the Tiger Platinum, which is made by Czech Blades S. R. O in their Jevíčko Czechia plant. This firm produces most of the white label blades for European brands, so this and their Tatras are important OEM blades. They are less expensive than the private label versions, so they are the only blades marked "made in EU," "made in Europe," "made in cz," or "made in Czech Republic" that should ever be considered for trial or purchase. We tested this blade previously in July, 2024. At that time, there was some concern that it may not have been a good representation of the specification due to poor performance. Unfortunately, this one, which is from a different purchase lot, shares very similar poor performance to the other, including poor balance, durability, and consistency, along with a mild and primitive grind. At least we have some confirmation, and the addition of scalable micrographs and other measurements.

View attachment 1992631 View attachment 1992632

The polymer and metallic coatings are visible. The grind is rough, and the performance of the steel is poor, with lots of large chipping after the test.

View attachment 1992633 View attachment 1992634

What does it say about a manufacturer when they produce two blades to the same specification, and both are very similar, including poor balance of sharpness from one edge to the other? I am sure there are still sharper and duller ones out there, but I don't think any of the mild stainless Tiger spec blades are worth purchasing.

Performance of the better top edge is similar to the overall performance of the Razolution blade, so I suspect that Razolution remains a better representation of this same nominal specification.

View attachment 1992640

Date	9-Feb-2025	Mass, mg	512	Thickness, microns	90
Blade	Czech Blades SRO	Tiger	Platinum	Czechia	1-Jan-2024
Wear on Edge	0	3	6	9	12
Edges Measured	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top
Measurement Medium	Stren 4 .21	Stren 4 .21	Stren 4 .21	Stren 4 .21	Stren 4 .21
Dulling Substrate	New	Paper	Paper	Paper	Paper
Measurements	20	20	20	20	20
Adj. Std. Dev.	25	19	22	11	16
Median F (g)	63.5	72	81	106	109.5
Mean F (g) Top	55	65	73	100	96
Mean F (g) Bottom	81	82	99	106	109
Mean F (g)	68	74	86	103	102
BESS Adj. Factor	1.39	1.39	1.39	1.39	1.39
Avg. Adj. F (g) Top	77	90	101	139	133
Avg. Adj. F (g) Bottom	113	114	137	147	151
Median Adj. F (g)	88	100	113	147	152
Mean Adj. F (g)	95	102	119	143	142

View attachment 1992642 View attachment 1992641

Blade Sharpness Test Index

I've used 4 of them, totally agree with your test. Awfully tuggy.

 

[TeoeM]

Hello guys

@helicopter thanks a lot for such a huge razor blade database and the work put into making this.

Can you suggest which blade will be the closest
Wilkinson Super Sword?
Should I go by the location on the chart, or do I need to pay attention to something else?

 

[pjgh]

You seen these @helicopter?

View attachment 1991921

Sold by Connaught (UK) ... not sure if it's okay to link direct, but folks can find them

... as if Personna was not complex enough, now Edgewell are making AccuForge! I questioned the proprietor on this and he is absolutely firm that these are made in Germany by Edgewell. I guess it's this SKU https://accuteccompany.com/s/product/accuforge-double-edge-blade-with-microcoat/01t3i0000089qvIAAQ ... but made under license.

From TSR Forums

 

[helicopter]

Hello guys

@helicopter thanks a lot for such a huge razor blade database and the work put into making this.

Can you suggest which blade will be the closest
Wilkinson Super Sword?
Should I go by the location on the chart, or do I need to pay attention to something else?

The location and the shape of the curve together tell you something. Next things to look at are in the reports, thicknesses, and the micrographs.

That particular blade is very similar to the current Procter and Gamble blade that is made in Amazonas, Brazil, and marketed in South America. I don't see those on eBay right now, so the Indian Saloon Pack blade is probably your best bey among current blades. It isn't as durable as the English one, but the initial sharpness and coating performance are fairly similar.

I suspect the Brazil one is designed to be similar to that English blade, and that the Indian one may have been picked from existing blade designs already in production at the facility because it was the most similar to that English one.

The current German blade is designed to match the Light Brigade blade I tested more recently. That late 1960s design was revolutionary, and laid the ground work for many of the top performing blades we have today.

 

[GeorgeGlass]

This is the KRWN Super Stainless blade...but it looks like it is probably Chinese.

I probably forgot to mention in DMs that the outer box for the 20 tucks has "Made in China." I recycled the box so no pic, but you can make it out, albeit not clearly, from this Canadian site * here *

helicopter: It is a dull blade.

I prefer not to comment about branded razor blades until after I've used at least five or more, along with various soaps. As for KRWN blades, I've only used a couple. The first time, I went the easy route and loaded a Feather Popular (TTO) for an upper body shave (stomach, chest, and arms). It cut no problem, no redness, etc, other than a poor choice in razor (constant opening to clean). However, once I tried on face (a new blade), here are my slash notes (diary)...

- decent efficiency / close to tugging / fairly good shave, no roughness

Unfortunately for the second shave...

- blade more sharp with decent efficiency but left face quite uncomfortable, neck redness / alum burn / end of blade

As previously mentioned, this is not a final assessment since I've only used one blade. I'm reluctant to finish the tuck as I'm no fan of face discomfort

 

[helicopter]

This is the Erbe Ice Tempered Edelstahl Stainless blade. It is made by Czech Blades S. R. O. in their Jevíčko Czechia plant for the German priavte label Becker Solingen. Erbe is also a fingernail clipper brand, and this explains the hanger design. They are 90 micron blades with a platinum driven metallic coating, a crude mild grind, decent balance, and fair durability and consistency.

A lot of these blades had damaged edges despite pristine packaging. I picked through four individual blades to find a top edge and a bottom edge without any dead spots.

I received these two hangers of Czech blades when I ordered items with these stock photos from Fendrihan:

The real Solingen blades must be a thing of the past. They were probably just private label Giesen and Forsthoff blades anyway, so if you want them, you can just get yourself some Timors.

I think these ones are a fairly good representation of their mild spec Tiger Platinum type blade. You shouldn't buy either one, but if you can't resist, just get Tigers for an eighth of the price.

Date	10-Feb-2025	Mass, mg	502	Thickness, microns	90
Blade	Czech Blades SRO	Erbe Edelstahl	Ice Tempered	Czechia	1-Jan-2024
Wear on Edge	0	3	6	9	12
Edges Measured	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top
Measurement Medium	Stren 4 .21	Stren 4 .21	Stren 4 .21	Stren 4 .21	Stren 4 .21
Dulling Substrate	New	Paper	Paper	Paper	Paper
Measurements	20	20	20	20	20
Adj. Std. Dev.	15	18	27	26	15
Median F (g)	64.5	61	74.5	92.5	96
Mean F (g) Top	69	68	88	102	94
Mean F (g) Bottom	63	55	65	73	100
Mean F (g)	66	62	76	87	97
BESS Adj. Factor	1.39	1.39	1.39	1.39	1.39
Avg. Adj. F (g) Top	96	95	122	141	130
Avg. Adj. F (g) Bottom	88	77	90	101	139
Median Adj. F (g)	90	84	104	129	134
Mean Adj. F (g)	92	86	106	121	134

Blade Sharpness Test Index

 

[LRod]

This is the Erbe Ice Tempered Edelstahl Stainless blade. It is made by Czech Blades S. R. O. in their Jevíčko Czechia plant for the German priavte label Becker Solingen. Erbe is also a fingernail clipper brand, and this explains the hanger design. They are 90 micron blades with a platinum driven metallic coating, a crude mild grind, decent balance, and fair durability and consistency.

A lot of these blades had damaged edges despite pristine packaging. I picked through four individual blades to find a top edge and a bottom edge without any dead spots.

View attachment 1993243 View attachment 1993244 View attachment 1993245

I received these two hangers of Czech blades when I ordered items with these stock photos from Fendrihan:

View attachment 1993261 View attachment 1993264

The real Solingen blades must be a thing of the past. They were probably just private label Giesen and Forsthoff blades anyway, so if you want them, you can just get yourself some Timors.


View attachment 1993246 View attachment 1993247

I think these ones are a fairly good representation of their mild spec Tiger Platinum type blade. You shouldn't buy either one, but if you can't resist, just get Tigers for an eighth of the price.

View attachment 1993256

Date	10-Feb-2025	Mass, mg	502	Thickness, microns	90
Blade	Czech Blades SRO	Erbe Edelstahl	Ice Tempered	Czechia	1-Jan-2024
Wear on Edge	0	3	6	9	12
Edges Measured	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top	Bottom / Top
Measurement Medium	Stren 4 .21	Stren 4 .21	Stren 4 .21	Stren 4 .21	Stren 4 .21
Dulling Substrate	New	Paper	Paper	Paper	Paper
Measurements	20	20	20	20	20
Adj. Std. Dev.	15	18	27	26	15
Median F (g)	64.5	61	74.5	92.5	96
Mean F (g) Top	69	68	88	102	94
Mean F (g) Bottom	63	55	65	73	100
Mean F (g)	66	62	76	87	97
BESS Adj. Factor	1.39	1.39	1.39	1.39	1.39
Avg. Adj. F (g) Top	96	95	122	141	130
Avg. Adj. F (g) Bottom	88	77	90	101	139
Median Adj. F (g)	90	84	104	129	134
Mean Adj. F (g)	92	86	106	121	134

View attachment 1993257 View attachment 1993258
Blade Sharpness Test Index

My fault for finding these and suggesting them!
They said Made in Germany so that's where I assumed they were from. Fendrihan needs to update those photos!!

 

[helicopter]

My fault for finding these and suggesting them!
They said Made in Germany so that's where I assumed they were from. Fendrihan needs to update those photos!!

No worries. I was expecting exactly what I got.

 

[Barberbite]

It is probably made by Vidyut Metallics.

It's still unclear to me, do they continue to make new blades at that manufacturing plant except for the Supermax brand?

 

[helicopter]

It's still unclear to me, do they continue to make new blades at that manufacturing plant except for the Supermax brand?

They faced challenges, went through restructuring, and closed some facilities. My understanding is that the brand did revive under new management.

I don't feel like I have a clear understanding of exactly where Indian blades are currently produced, or the business structures. I will probably take a deeper look at it, along with Chinese blades, at some point. I was recently thinking about how those are the only two countries that remain unclear to me. If I can sort them out reasonably well, then I should have an entire picture.

Some of the Indian blades are clear, but India and China are not like Europe, where I know exactly who makes all of the private label blades, and can easily identify them, or the rest of the world, where at least I know who makes blades, and have examples to compare.

 

[AceyMan]

I find it fascinating that you could be so accurate and objective in your observations without measurements.

Just wait until you get into perfumery .

/Acey