GIVEAWAY! Challenge PIF - Vikings At The Gate

[Marsh1]

Vikings At The Gate - Personna Platinum Blue (1) - Shave (1)

Pre: Warm water rinse, PAA The Cube 2.0
Razor: Gillette Pre-War Tech
Blade: Personna Platinum Chrome (Blue)(1)
Brush: Rudy Vey - Mistura
Soap: Tcheon Fung Sing - Ciottola Rossa
Post: Lukewarm rinse, Thayers
Splash: Pinaud Clubman - Special Reserve

I saved my one Personna Blue blade for the Friday shave and overall it performed like a hybrid of the Viking's Sword and Crystal blades on the first shave. So I will echo what others have said insofar as these blades all seem to perform on a similar playing field. The blade seems to cut decently and did give me a close (mostly DFS+) shave but at the expense of smoothness and finesse. This for me translates to more blade feel and "pickiness". But you can still get a decent shave from it and I again had no cuts or nicks and a post-shave that was "normal". Something that's interesting to me in this challenge is the disparity of results people are getting from these blades. People get tired of "YMMV" but I suspect it's more about your skin and facial hair ( and equipment) may vary. I'll keep this blade in the tech for shave 2 and then move into something different on the flip.

 

[ajkel64]

Vikings at the Gate Week One Vikings Sword.​

Another good shave this morning, no blood, very little irritation and very little sting when I used my Alum Block. I must admit with almost a week down on this blade I could quite happily use it a blade rotation. I know it is only one week down but this blade is pretty good IMHO.

 

[fast shaver]

Crystal Blade #2 Shave #3
Tools: Companion Razor, Mogno soap, Disruptor brush & Bay Rum Aftershave.
Close two pass shave this A.M. = DFS.
Got moderate sting from the Bay Rum.

 

[sidpost]

I'll give the Crystal blade one more go before I toss it. Today's shave was OK but, but not great either. After the shower, I did my normal prep with the Lambda Athena and while it knocked the stubble down well, it took a bit more effort and wasn't the closest shave but, good enough for the farmer's market and farm chores on a Saturday.

 

[BigJ]

Personna blue blade one, Shave #7

Razor: Wolfman WR1
Brush: Rudy Vey Persian jar 2-band badger
Soap: Vito’s red
Splash: Proroso green

Comment: DFS on day 7 with this fine blade (9/10)!! And time to move on to the next blade!!

 

[lancre]

Blade: Viking Sword
Razor: Post-war BET
Brush: Semogue 2009 LE Boar
Soap: Maggard Limes & Bergamot

Another great shave. Comfortable as could be during the shave with just a little stubborn stubble below the back corners of the jaw (my toughest regions).

There were no nicks, weepers, or post-shave irritation. The final result was a DFS+.

 

[geneaut]

Viking Sword Blade 1 Shave 6

Smooth and easy. I did move out of the Techs and into the SLOC today, and it really makes many blades extremely comfortable. The good blades in it are the ones that still are efficient. Even on this blades sixth use it was very efficient today. Great shave. BBS.

 

[Garry357]

SOTD Saturday 26 October

• Razor Gillette British Rocket FlareTip
• Blade Crystal Stainless Steel – Super Platinum PAT 3071856
• Pre-Shave Tricare Goats Milk
• Brush Synthetic
• Soap Martin De Candre - Fougere
• Post Shave Thayers Witch Hazel
• Aftershave Brut Splash
• Balm Nivea – Sensitive Pro - Post Shave Cooling Balm

The Morning Shave.
The Crystal Blade was in my c1950’s Vintage Gillette British Rocket FlareTip today.
5th use on this blade. Head & face shave very smooth.
Still getting a very good daily shave from this blade.

Soap: Martin De Candre Fougere
Scent notes:
The scent is very light and delicate. Almost green, woody, floral.
This soap is made in France. Produces a very good lather, easily with minimal product.
Plenty of slick protection. I can’t pick the actual scent, it’s very nice and light not too strong.

 

[ajkel64]

Vikings at the Gate: Week one Vikings Sword Super Stainless.​

First week down for the Vikings At The Gate blade challenge. I chose the Vikings Sword Super Stainless blade for my first outing. I was not disappointed and I do think that even though I had my usual seven shaves I do think this blade could go on for more. I will try that at the end and push the Vikings Sword as far as I think it can go. Now to choose the next blade and razor for Week Two.

 

[Garry357]

SOTD Sunday 27 October

• Razor Gillette Adjustable FatBoy G1 (5)
• Blade Viking
• Pre-Shave Tricare Goats Milk
• Brush Synthetic
• Soap Barrister and Mann – Bay Rum
• Post Shave Thayers Witch Hazel
• Aftershave Brut Splash
• Balm Nivea – Sensitive Pro - Post Shave Cooling Balm

The Morning Shave.
The Viking Blade was in my 1961 Vintage Gillette Adjustable FatBoy today.
5th use on this blade. Head & face shave with no irritation or drag. No weepers.
This Viking blade is going strong.

Very similar result with both Viking & Crystal.

Soap: Barrister and Mann – Bay Rum

Scent notes:
Rum, sweet orange, cinnamon, vanilla.

The scent is quite full with a distinctive Spicy Bay Rum feel. Excellent lather produced from a very small amount. Creamy slick protection.
Bay Rum may not be everyone’s scent; I did like the scent its masculine and warm.
A very enjoyable shave.

 

[BigJ]

Crystal blade one, Shave #1

Razor: Wolfman WR1
Brush: Graydog palm wood 2-band
Soap: Fine Italian citrus
Splash: Pinaud clubman

Comment: DFS++ (9.5/10) today, excellent on day 1!!

 

[mikhou]

Razor: Henson+
Blade: Viking Sword #2 (5)
Soap: Frankensoap (1/3 each of Arko, VDH Luxury, and Dove Men Care 3 in 1 Extra Fresh)
Brush: Yaqi 24mm synthetic
Aftershave: Aqua Velva Ice Blue followed by Nivea Sensitive balm

I said, "Best shave yet in this PIF," after the 4th shave with the Viking Sword, but I have to take that back. TODAY was the best shave yet, and on the 5th shave, too! Wow! Just so pleased with this blade. This blade seems to get better with use, and I haven't had that since @Grundi 's PIF from 2 years ago with the vintage Schick blade. Now that's a high compliment to compare the Viking Sword to the Schick blade. But I've liked it that much. I'm going to push this one as far as I can.

 

[lancre]

Blade: Crystal
Razor: Post-war FH Tech
Brush: Semogue 830 Boar
Soap: Haslinger Ringelblumen

Cue up the Crystal for Round 2, another 4(?) shaves.

I must have done something right this morning. Another great shave. Quite close and comfortable. The only sad part is the current (tallow) Haslinger puck is running low. But I've got more.

There were no nicks, weepers, or post-shave irritation. The final result was a simple BBS.

 

[kirbyg]

Personna Red Shave #1
Razor - 1964 J2 Gillette Slim(5)
Blade - Personna Red(1)
Brush - Omega 10777
Soap - Arko
A/S - Alum, Thayers Facial Toner, Pinaud Clubman
Rating - 8.5/10 DFS/DFS+

My understanding is the red and blue personnas are the same blades packaged for different markets, and this first shave would seem to agree with that. Results were solid DFS/DFS+, nearly identical to the first shave with blue.

 

[Garry357]

Viking v Crytal

I’m really enjoying the Viking v Crystal challenge.
I have found both blades are very similar. Not too sharp so the edge does last.
I have just had my 6th face & head shave on the Viking and expect the same on the Crystal.
Still very smooth and no weepers or any irritation.

Today’s shave the Viking was in my Vintage Gillette Adjustable.

 

[Filudo]

Looks like most are enjoying the Vikings Blade
today use #7
Razor Wunderbar
Soap SV
AS Aqua Velva + Balm

3 pass shave, close, no blood, minimal irritation

During the shave it cuts very smoothly, I do get some burning later. This blade can keep going....and I am a 2-4 use person.

 

[ajkel64]

Vikings at the Gate. Week two Crystal Super Platinum.​

A pretty good start to the week. This blade has started off much like the Vikings Sword last week and I hope that it keeps on going. I have paired it with my 1050’s English Gillette Ball End Tech and as usual this razor didn’t disappoint.

 

[Chad3]

Viking blade 2 shave 1:
Ti 1.65 WR2
B&M Melange
Great shave. Bit red in spots only because I pushed more than I needed.
Thanks as always @Grundi etal.

 

[fast shaver]

Crystal blade #2 Shave #4
Good two pass shave today = DFS.
Tools: RR Baby Smooth Razor, Suavecito shave soap, Disruptor brush & Clubman aftershave.
The Clubman had moderate sting though.

 

[BigJ]

Crystal blade one, Shave #2

Razor: Wolfman WR1
Brush: ShaveMac beagle 2-band (bulb)
Soap: Cella red
Splash: Fine platinum

Comment: Another fine shave this AM, just short of BBS (9.5/10)!!