Vintage Wilkinson Blades? QUESTION

Hello Gents!  Has anyone ever used these vintage Wilkinson blades?  What can you tell me about them?

Thanks!

Vr

Matt

For me they were nothing special at all, equivalent to an average modern blade.

(05-13-2019, 04:32 PM)churchilllafemme Wrote: For me they were nothing special at all, equivalent to an average modern blade.

I have the same experience, seems like the modern blades are better especially when considering the prices for these blades.

Thanks for the warning gents!

Vr

Matt

I disagree.  The vintage wilkies I have are superior.  The edges are nearly as sharp as a Feather but last for several weeks of shaves.  The ones I have say "Made in England" on the blades themselves.  IIRC, production was moved to Germany in the 80s and the quality dropped dramatically.
Average price for these vintage blades is roughly $1/blade if you're looking on fleabay.  I rate the vintage Gillette "Spoilers" in the same class.
Excellent blades, spoiled only by the excessive prices people charge for them.

(05-13-2019, 09:01 PM)Mr_Smartepants Wrote: I disagree.  The vintage wilkies I have are superior.  The edges are nearly as sharp as a Feather but last for several weeks of shaves.  The ones I have say "Made in England" on the blades themselves.  IIRC, production was moved to Germany in the 80s and the quality dropped dramatically.
Average price for these vintage blades is roughly $1/blade if you're looking on fleabay.  I rate the vintage Gillette "Spoilers" in the same class.
Excellent blades, spoiled only by the excessive prices people charge for them.

Vintage Wilkie Super Sword  and especially Light Brigades or Chromium Edge, yes, the ones pictured in the OP, not at all.

Hey guys!  Do you all know anything about these ones in particular?  I snagged approx 400 in a lot I purchased.

Thanks!

Vr

Matt

Matt, please put a blade photography ...

(05-16-2019, 04:53 AM)zennhorst Wrote: Matt, please put a blade photography ...

I sure will once they arrive. The seller is based in the UK, so it could be a couple weeks.

Thanks!

Vr

Matt

Gents,

Here is what arrived from England today...about 360 Made in England Wilkinson blades!

Does anyone know anything about the blade with the diagonal lines on the cover?  The cartons (shown above) say 1981.  Those are stacks of 20, so I have 260 of them.  If I could get 5+ great shaves per blade that would be wonderful!

Thanks!

Vr

Matt

(05-21-2019, 01:23 PM)Ols67 Wrote: Gents,

Here is what arrived from England today...about 360 Made in England Wilkinson blades!

Does anyone know anything about the blade with the diagonal lines on the cover?  The cartons (shown above) say 1981.  Those are stacks of 20, so I have 260 of them.  If I could get 5+ great shaves per blade that would be wonderful!

Thanks!

Vr

Matt

I think those might be the Sword Masters.

Hi John!  That would be fantastic if these were sword masters!  However, while the out packaging looks the same, the blade inside is different.  Although, I have been reading up on these vintage Wilkinson blades, and as far as I can tell based off of research is that they are all good, Light Brigades are at the top of the goodness chain, and now the rest seem to be a hodgepodge mix of different tucks, blade packaging, and blades with no ryhme or reason that difinitively can tell us what’s what!  Here is a pic of the blade from the sword master tuck!

Vr

Matt

As if it isn’t confusing enough, I picked up about 15 of these in a lot last week.  I tried the first one today, and it felt every bit as sharp and smooth as the Light Brigades, and provided an impeccable shave....of course I did use the RS-10.

However, nobody really has mentioned these on the forum posts I have read

Vr

Matt

(05-13-2019, 09:01 PM)Mr_Smartepants Wrote: The vintage wilkies I have are superior.  The edges are nearly as sharp as a Feather but last for several weeks of shaves.  The ones I have say "Made in England" on the blades themselves. 

+1

So I did a really outstanding shave last night using the vintage polsilver stainless blade (brown tuck, made in Poland), and I it was quiet at my house 17 hours later....a rarity.  

So I said “I have a hint of stubble that can be felt, but I don’t need to shave.”  So I decided to shower and shave!

I used the below unidentified Wilkinson blade that came in a cardboard box of 200 from 1982, Mitchell’s Wool Fat shave soap, the 
RS-10 with mild baseplate, and finished it off with T&S Sicilian aftershave.

I am really very pleased with the outcome...another BBBS!  I never go less than 24 hours between shaves, and I figured it would be a good way to see what we have with this blade!

I was curious, and a bit worried, because I have 260 of these which were bought blindly in a large lot of vintage made in Engld Wilkinson blades.  Happy to report that these are solid, and will be staying in the pelican case until used up over the next few decades!

Vr

Matt

Although they vary some in their different aspects, I think virtually all the vintage Wilkinson blades are excellent.  I'm glad you're enjoying them.

(05-26-2019, 10:58 AM)churchilllafemme Wrote: Although they vary some in their different aspects, I think virtually all the vintage Wilkinson blades are excellent.  I'm glad you're enjoying them.

Yes Sir! Thanks!

Vr

Matt

(05-26-2019, 10:56 AM)Ols67 Wrote: So I did a really outstanding shave last night using the vintage polsilver stainless blade (brown tuck, made in Poland), and I it was quiet at my house 17 hours later....a rarity.  

So I said “I have a hint of stubble that can be felt, but I don’t need to shave.”  So I decided to shower and shave!

I used the below unidentified Wilkinson blade that came in a cardboard box of 200 from 1982, Mitchell’s Wool Fat shave soap, the 
RS-10 with mild baseplate, and finished it off with T&S Sicilian aftershave.

I am really very pleased with the outcome...another BBBS!  I never go less than 24 hours between shaves, and I figured it would be a good way to see what we have with this blade!

I was curious, and a bit worried, because I have 260 of these which were bought blindly in a large lot of vintage made in Engld Wilkinson blades.  Happy to report that these are solid, and will be staying in the pelican case until used up over the next few decades!

Vr

Matt

Third 3+ pass shave on this blade, and I used the Charcoal Goods G2L2 Baseplate with AOS Sandalwood (tallow based). It was a wonderful BBBS result. The 1982 blade started off very smooth and extremely sharp, and now it is very sharp and extremely smooth! I hope it lasts for another 3-4+ shaves!

Vr

Matt

I am just going to call this unknown Wilkinson blade from 1982 a Wilkinson Med Prep...the Personna 74 Med Prep comes in a small cardboard box of 100...these came in a small cardboard box of 200.

Plus if I am wrong, I am sure that someone will let me know!

At any rate, I am just going to ignore the rotation and use this blade until it’s been killed! It has four shaves on it now, and each one has somehow been better than the last.

During today’s shave I used the Paladin Chief, Santa Maria Novella Cream, a Charcoal Goods Generation One Level One Open Comb razor head, and I finished it with the matching Santa Maria Novella Aftershave.

BIG LEAUGE, Serious BBBS result!

So far I couldn’t be happier with the Wilkinson Med Prep blade from 1982! If anyone comes across them for sale, I recommend snatching them up quickly!!!

Vr

Matt