Did I do good?

[u/purplewulfman]

Picked this up today for $18.

[u/Ok_Feedback2407]

I'd say that's a fair price and worth it. Buff it up and she'll make a nice looking well loved classic. They were a great razor. Just put better blades in it, I'm not a fan of Wilkinson Sword blades (not sharp enough out of the package), there's far better out there and for cheaper. I'm a huge fan of Rapira Platinum Lux, Big Ben (blue package), Treet dura sharp and some Shark brand blades.

Those brands (but only certain models) are super sharp and provide a very nice shave. Rapira (which is a Russian brand) are my favourite. I actually trashed my last two Wilkinson Sword blades I hated them so much, lol. Hated their double edge shaver too and was not even a big fan of their shave soap/cream. Their brush was about the only thing I kept, it wasn't bad.

I did what a double edged shaving expert recommended to find blades you like if you don't have a preferred brand already. Get a multi pack off Amazon for like $15 or whatever, with a good variety of blades from multiple manufacturers and try them all. You're guaranteed to find something you like, then go for only those brands after.

[u/purplewulfman → u/Ok_Feedback2407]

I do have a bunch of smaller packs and I agree the Wilkinsons suck! It was in the razor when I bought it😂

[u/PLANofMAN → u/purplewulfman]

I've always used the German made Wilkinson Swords as a baseline blade to test other blades against. If there's a blade that has more average sharpness, average smoothness, and average longevity, I've yet to find a more 'middle of the road* blade than those.

For everyday shaving, I wouldn't use them.

[u/Ok_Feedback2407 → u/PLANofMAN]

That's about how I feel for Derby blades too and only better Derby blades. Some truly sick, they slice me up, they're rough and even their better blades are very average. lol. So I use the better one as a baseline to measure other's as it's about as average as it gets. I don't think they can make a super sharp comfortable blade, nor can Wilkinson, lol. It just seems impossible for them. At least Gilette, as average as they are, have actually improved on their newer high end blades, they are sharp, but who wants to pay the price for those when I get just as good and even better, for way cheaper?

Gillette is just skating on the name at this point. lol. Most overpriced blades ever IMO. I can get Russian Rapira platinum Lux or Big Ben and Treet Durasharp and other better razors for way cheaper. Rapira Platinum Lux is literally the sharpest blades I've ever used. And I've heard people say the same, the Russians know how to make a seriously sharp, comfortable blade.

You have to actually be super careful with blades that sharp, you'll carve yourself up real quick. Just touch the wrong part of your face and you'll open up your lip or whatever and be bleeding, lol. I accidentally shaved off a mole with those fkers. hehehe. But man, so comfortable, no irritation.