Derby Blade Experience

[swcarter]

I personally think the derby blades are not that bad. The work well for me but there not my favorite I like Lord Platnium blades more than Derby blades. Yet another Large case of YMMV.

I agree. They were my "go to" earlier. Since, Astras (for everyday value) and med preps have entered the picture. For some reason, the combination of Derby's and my EJ89 works the best with the EJ (maybe the reason that a Derby comes with the razor?) I don't have the quality control issues that I hear some report on this forum with Derbys. In fact, they seem less problematic than Feathers (realizing that I may be throwing the proverbial match into the can of gasoline there). Feathers just seem to be sharp for the sake of being sharp where the Med Preps appear better rounded as a "sharp" blade - just as sharp, smooth, no irritation and a couple of extra shaves.

Regardless, the three will remain in my set up, probably with Astras and Med Preps getting more use, but Derby's have their place (esp with the 89). And of course, YMMV.

 

[BroJohn]

JohnH --

I consider the Derbys to be an excellent blade, and one of the sharpest available. Pay no attention to those disparaging the product --they are, at best, 'confused'.

I've been around here long enough to remember the original Derby bashing threads and witnessed the poisoned 'discussion' that ensued. The package printing changed (from vertical to horizontal IIRC) and half the folks swore that the product had changed. In fact they opined that the result of this phantom so-called change was for the worse.

So, one guy starts off knocking Derbys, another agrees, and then others pile on. (Sort of like what happens within the Williams shave soap threads.)

Look, it was nothing more that a packaging change.

All these Derby haters are wrong. I'm right.

Just accept that.


-- John Gehman

 

[johnh]

This has been (from a response point of view) a really interesting thread. I surmise that the Derby question has been and can still controversial*.
In the future, I might get a little 5 pack to just try them again, just to see if my impression is still the same.

Thanks for your responses. I am slowly working through my sampler pack. As well as this sampler, I have some Wilkinson Swords which I think are a decent blade. In the sampler I'm also using Red IPs, which I also like; not too dissimilar from the Personnas comfort wise. After the IPs I'll use the Astras then Feathers. At some point I'll try a Merkur (which is also in the pack) - I understand that these too receive very mixed opinions** on the boards.

* and **. PS - was not intending to start a S**tstorm or popcorn festival.
Thanks.

 

[fcdiscus]

JohnH --

I consider the Derbys to be an excellent blade, and one of the sharpest available. Pay no attention to those disparaging the product --they are, at best, 'confused'.

I've been around here long enough to remember the original Derby bashing threads and witnessed the poisoned 'discussion' that ensued. The package printing changed (from vertical to horizontal IIRC) and half the folks swore that the product had changed. In fact they opined that the result of this phantom so-called change was for the worse.

So, one guy starts off knocking Derbys, another agrees, and then others pile on. (Sort of like what happens within the Williams shave soap threads.)

Look, it was nothing more that a packaging change.

All these Derby haters are wrong. I'm right.

Just accept that.


-- John Gehman

I am with you John- I love em!

 

[btg]

I don't mind them. The first shave it a little rough, but they smooth out for me after that.

 

[delamain]

I've only got a couple of shaves under my belt, so it is hard for me to make a decisive judgment on Derby blades.

They were my first blade. I gave them two shaves; they were not the best, but what do you expect when you are new?

This morning I changed to an Astra Platinum blade. It was like night and day.

To me, the Astra was superior. It remains to be seen which blade is more consistent, but switching out the Derby improved today's shave big time.

When I first started researching Derbys they had great reviews; then I noticed that I had been cherry-picking older ones and missing the recent crop of critical reviews. That leads me to wonder if their quality control has gone downhill somehow...

(One major critique of the Astra: there was glue left on the blade, transferring tackiness to the inside of my Merkur HD... I'm not a fan of that part)

 

[Jakpro]

I am with you John- I love em!

It was interesting to me to read your comment. I have found that the Derby for me starts off rough on my first shave and then it smooths out for the second and after shaves. I thought that I was crazy!

 

[Gordy2]

I think they are great in vintage razors from 1940 to 1980. Use them all the time in those razors and they work great. I found for me, they do not work well at all in modern razors.

 

[Rick Blaine]

I think they are great in vintage razors from 1940 to 1980. Use them all the time in those razors and they work great. I found for me, they do not work well at all in modern razors.

And my experience is exactly the opposite. I don't like 'em in my Gillettes, but love 'em in my Merkur.

(Is this where I get to say YMMV?)

 

[rockviper]

Nothing wrong with Derbys. I sure wouldn't be upset if they were the only blade available.

 

[JimK]

I have a couple hundred Derby blades... They are pretty good overall, and I'm glad I have a stash of them, as they don't expire in storage. I also have many hundreds of my very favorite blade, the current Astra SP. There are several other blades that I enjoy, and I never hesitate to buy them in bulk, as I tend to do the blade rotation thing unless its game day. Then, it's all Astra..