Yep, both fine for me -- they do what they were made to do, cut whiskers.
Derby extra vs. Derby Premium
- Thread starter Odinarcade00
- Start date
I like them both.
I don't find a great deal of difference between them. Perhaps the Extra is a tad smoother.
Neither one is a top tier blade for me, but I can get a decent shave with either one.
Neither one is a top tier blade for me, but I can get a decent shave with either one.
The 2022 Derby product catalog that listed both blades does not call out any difference between these blades. They all have the same coatings. While the premium blades also note the use of Swedish steel other copy in the catalog makes it very possible that the Derby Extra blades use the same steel. The Derby Extra copy does not mention the type of steel used and elsewhere in the catalog Derby notes that all it's blades use similar high quality steel from leading manufacturers.
Bottom line there is a strong possibility that the only difference between Premium and Extra blades in the packaging and marketing copy. Note that the latest Derby catalog only lists the Derby Usta blades, Extra and Premium are no longer listed. Regardless my Derby Extras work well for me. All are post 2016 production when they were made with thinner steel and a slightly sharper edge.
See the link below for our thread where we initially analyzed this question. FYI @Jay21 .
What Are the Differences Between Derby Extra and Premium DE Blades?
Has anyone ever been in direct contact with Derby regarding what makes the Premium DE blades superior to the Derby Extras? In the Derby English language catalog (link below) the only difference listed is the use of Swedish steel. Otherwise the copy for both is identical with the statement...
www.badgerandblade.com
- Thread starter
- #25
cool! I got the extras cuz they were cheaper. And I have heard people have more luck with those than the premiums. I did notice the box said it had the same coatings as the premium with the only difference being the "swedish steel".The 2022 Derby product catalog that listed both blades does not call out any difference between these blades. They all have the same coatings. While the premium blades also note the use of Swedish steel other copy in the catalog makes it very possible that the Derby Extra blades use the same steel. The Derby Extra copy does not mention the type of steel used and elsewhere in the catalog Derby notes that all it's blades use similar high quality steel from leading manufacturers.
Bottom line there is a strong possibility that the only difference between Premium and Extra blades in the packaging and marketing copy. Note that the latest Derby catalog only lists the Derby Usta blades, Extra and Premium are no longer listed. Regardless my Derby Extras work well for me. All are post 2016 production when they were made with thinner steel and a slightly sharper edge.
See the link below for our thread where we initially analyzed this question. FYI @Jay21 .
What Are the Differences Between Derby Extra and Premium DE Blades?
Has anyone ever been in direct contact with Derby regarding what makes the Premium DE blades superior to the Derby Extras? In the Derby English language catalog (link below) the only difference listed is the use of Swedish steel. Otherwise the copy for both is identical with the statement...
I like them both.
Derby Extra…milder of the two, allows me to easily shave across the grain with not too much attention and no negative consequences. Being a milder (or blunter) blade means that it will tug more than a sharper blade but it also makes it easier on the skin.
Derby Premium…mid level sharpness and very comfortable. In my case, a bit too sharp for mindless ATG passes.
They both have an OK durability.
They have been around for a long time and are worth trying for yourself, if at least just to cross them off the list. I regret waiting 10 years to try them for I ended up liking them.
FYI…the plastic tucks can be reused as a blade bank for about 40 blades.
Derby Extra…milder of the two, allows me to easily shave across the grain with not too much attention and no negative consequences. Being a milder (or blunter) blade means that it will tug more than a sharper blade but it also makes it easier on the skin.
Derby Premium…mid level sharpness and very comfortable. In my case, a bit too sharp for mindless ATG passes.
They both have an OK durability.
They have been around for a long time and are worth trying for yourself, if at least just to cross them off the list. I regret waiting 10 years to try them for I ended up liking them.
FYI…the plastic tucks can be reused as a blade bank for about 40 blades.
I found Derby to be quite a serviceable blade.
I used to hate the old pre 2016 Derby Extra blades but after 2016 when Derby significantly improved the blade I started to like them. If I had to rank order Derby blades it would be 1. Derby USTA 2. Derby Premium 3. Derby Extra. It has been a while since I compared them one after the other but I recall they all seem to work quite well for me.
Similar for me, they shave just as well as my Astras and Dorcos with the main difference in longevity of roughly 3-6 shaves per blade versus up to 12 for my other brands. When I bought my Derby Extra's around 4-5 years ago the 200 blade blue packages were sold for $8-$9 each. At under 4.5 cents per blades these were an excellent value only beaten by my Dorco ST300 Stainless that deliver 8-12 shaves for around 6-7 cents per blade.
I do the same thing with my plastic tucks from Derby and Dorco. Get 40-50 old blades in each. In addition to the used blade disposal slot in the back one can use the front if you first place an old blade in a blade wrapper inside as a base. The old blades can be stacked on top. When done another old blade in a wrapper plus some tape and it's off to a local sharps disposal site.
There is an open question as to whether the USTA blades are anything other than the Extra's under a localized Turkish name. Only the USTAs are listed in the latest Derby razor catalog, no mention of Extras or Premium. It is possible that Derby decided to hone or coat the USTAs differently as an improved replacement as the catalog does note that they now double polish the blades as a "new sharpening technology" though, since the image shows the same "cathedral" hone noted for Derby Extra blades in older catalogs, if this is really new or just new marketing copy calling out something that they always did.
Whether real or just marketing it's not surprising that Derby is noting this given all the posts regarding how Derby blades may not be the sharpest.
Of course with all blades YMMV.
P.S. Edit: Looked up Usta performance in our blade sharpness research project and didn't see much difference between Usta and the other Derby blades, especially given the sample size of what I understand to be a single tested blade. Research Project considered this to be a mild blade. We consider the Extras and Premiums to also be mild.
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The Turks are also very funny and they try their best to complicate our lives. That them aren't all the same blade!?
For Derby Premium and Derby Usta blades they also use the same type of wrapping.
The Concord blade is always produced by Azmüsebat.
For Derby Premium and Derby Usta blades they also use the same type of wrapping.
The Concord blade is always produced by Azmüsebat.
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Careless!
I didn't remember that Derby Premium comes in two different wrappers. I'm writing this so as not to confuse the reader.
There are two different types of Derby Premium blades with different wrappings, the one wrapped in green greaseproof paper with the name of the company Azmüsebat written on it and the one wrapped in paper with Derby Premium writing.
The Derby Premium blades in the two different wrappings differ only in the different writing on the blade but I don't think there is any doubt that they are the same blade. I don't know if there are any discussions about this in the forum.
It's funny because Derby Premium blades have been on the market since at least the end of 2016 and this is the first time I've bought Derby Premium blades in the green oiled wrapper, the same one they use for Derby Usta blades and ,from what I see, also for Derby Extra blades that I liked but haven't used for over ten years.
Maybe them must be the most recent and current Derby Premium blades.
Today I tried the Derby Premium blade again after a while with the MingShi 5000 clone Progress razor and I got a very precise and efficient shave, clean, not too aggressive but at the same time very delicate and with a perfect shaving result anyway. One searches for blades around the world from China to East Africa and then discovers that the balanced blade he likes is already at home. Very nice. Derby Premium is an absolutely fantastic blade for me.
However Derby Usta seems like a different blade to me, maybe it could be sharper. I will also try them and Derby Concord. Since the Derby Premium blades have existed for me Derby Extra has no space.
I didn't remember that Derby Premium comes in two different wrappers. I'm writing this so as not to confuse the reader.
There are two different types of Derby Premium blades with different wrappings, the one wrapped in green greaseproof paper with the name of the company Azmüsebat written on it and the one wrapped in paper with Derby Premium writing.
The Derby Premium blades in the two different wrappings differ only in the different writing on the blade but I don't think there is any doubt that they are the same blade. I don't know if there are any discussions about this in the forum.
It's funny because Derby Premium blades have been on the market since at least the end of 2016 and this is the first time I've bought Derby Premium blades in the green oiled wrapper, the same one they use for Derby Usta blades and ,from what I see, also for Derby Extra blades that I liked but haven't used for over ten years.
Maybe them must be the most recent and current Derby Premium blades.
However Derby Usta seems like a different blade to me, maybe it could be sharper. I will also try them and Derby Concord. Since the Derby Premium blades have existed for me Derby Extra has no space.
Derby Usta is the blade for the Turkish market, although it is also sold abroad.
I don't know where you saw this catalog, but I think Derby Extra and Derby Premium will not disappear nor will they be replaced.
Very informative and interesting! I would have to agree that the differences I have experienced between the different post 2016 Derby blades - 1. Derby USTA, 2. Derby Premium, & 3. Derby Extra are not very significant and might be due to variables other than the blade itself.
It's an on-line English language Derby catalog from their Azmusebat corporate web site. Downloaded it last year.
Here is the link:
That's the company web page, the official web page dedicated to Derby professional blades is Derby.com
Their catalog is accessible from this link:
I have not tried a Derby Extra blade for many years, I do not know if Derby Usta are different but these latter, I repeat, are for the Turkish market. For this reason Derby Usta blades appear only on the company website and on Derby.com web page exclusively when choosing the Turkish language version.
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I responded in the thread focused on this question. No need to continue the conversation in both places. Reality is Azmusebat is unclear and Usta could be the replacement. As you noted, in your posts above, they like to "complicate our lives" with confusing packaging and communications. If you do get an actual communication clarifying their product strategy please share. Link to my detailed response is below:
Are Derby Extra and Premium Blades Discontinued - Replaced with Usta?
Hi everyone. I just pulled a copy of Azmusebat's latest product catalog (link to corp. web site below) and found that the Derby Extra and Premium blades were no longer listed. In their place they only show the Derby Usta blades. In the catalog they note that the Derby Usta blades are made...
www.badgerandblade.com
I also answered in the other discussion.I responded in the thread focused on this question. No need to continue the conversation in both places. Reality is Azmusebat is unclear and Usta could be the replacement. As you noted, in your posts above, they like to "complicate our lives" with confusing packaging and communications. If you do get an actual communication clarifying their product strategy please share. Link to my detailed response is below:
Are Derby Extra and Premium Blades Discontinued - Replaced with Usta?
Hi everyone. I just pulled a copy of Azmusebat's latest product catalog (link to corp. web site below) and found that the Derby Extra and Premium blades were no longer listed. In their place they only show the Derby Usta blades. In the catalog they note that the Derby Usta blades are made...
The official website of the Turkish company should not be taken into consideration.
For Derby blades, only consider Derby official website
We need to understand that for Derby blades between the two web pages, only the Derby.com website should be taken into consideration, not the company website.
Don't get confused.
For the rest, the fact that the latest updated Derby catalog is from 2021 doesn't mean anything. They do not have to update it every year, they decide after how many years to do it.
On the Derby.com web page, Derby Premium/Extra are currently still there, no problem nor complications.
Otherwise, incorrect information is provided. We shouldn't create confusion.
Hoping to be able to clarify once and for all, also because I don't want to read continuously in the forum always topics like 'Difference between Derby Extra VS Derby Premium' or 'Difference between Derby Extra and Derby Usta'.
Derby Usta blades. The famous Italian shaving and sharpening/knife shop, Vianoprofumicoltelli reports this in their description of the blades.
Translation from Italian to English. 'The USTA term which in Turkish means "maestro" are a particular variety of Derby intended for the domestic market. Them differ from the classic Extra as they are produced with a new machine and a new sharpening system with double polishing. Made of stainless steel, they are individually packaged in packs of 10 blades.'
Now that we have clarified this, I hope you understand why only the Derby Usta blades are also reported on the Azmusebat corporate website unlike the Derby Premium/Derby Extra blades which are reported and appear only on the official website Derby.com
Even if the latest update of their catalog which appears on the Derby.com website has not been updated since 2021, Deby Premium/Extra blades hey not disappear nor will them be or could they be replaced by Derby USTA blades.
The Derby Usta are blades for the Turkish and domestic market.
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Repeating my response from the other thread:
We can drop this discussion as it's not productive.
Please don't tell us what we should or should not consider here as you are just trying to make sense of the conflicting information like the rest of us. Each of us can draw our own conclusions based on the available information. Pending any new information, such as a direct message from Azmusebat clarifying their product strategy, I stand by my analysis regarding what could be the case here.
I respect that you have a different view here, please respect mine until we have some additional information.
P.S. On the Derby Official Website you refer to the 2021 catalog is no longer available. Only the newer 2024 catalog that only offers Usta blades can be downloaded.
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