024 - Info on Astra SP Blades

Just a short video to pass along my experience with the Astra SP blades now being made in India instead of Russia where they have been made in the past. Gillette is pulling out of Russia and moving their operations to other countries. I now have both blades and wanted to post information on what I have learned.

[@reddieland]

Great information, Randy! This relieves my concerns about blade availability and quality.

[@randyshaves7956]

Thanks, I am glad it was helpful to you!

[@RHDaveShaves]

Thanks for bringing this up, Randy. If anyone's interested, there's a fairy long discussion thread on this over at Badger & Blade, too. Tried these early on in my WS journey and didn't care for them, but I'm thinking it would be good to give them another try. Lots of folks really like them. Appreciate your input.

[@randyshaves7956]

Thanks Dave for watching and for the comment. I went through a similar experience with these blades. I did not care for them about 5 years ago when I first used them, but I swear something changed with them. I believe a manufacturing change was made because I tried them again about 2 years ago and have loved them ever since. No changes were publicized, but I do think changes were made with them. It had to be either that or my technique changed to such an extent that it made a difference. They are now one of my favorite blades. Thanks again!

[@RHDaveShaves]

Appreciate your thoughts, Randy. Your comment on better technique mirrors my thinking for myself. The gent on B/B thought the Indian blades were a step sharper than the Russian ones, too, which I find intriguing. I'm going to let the supply chain of Russian blades drain a bit, but I'll be trying the Indian ones at some point. Happy Weekend!

[@randyshaves7956]

@@RHDaveShaves I didn't notice any difference in sharpness, but that doesn't mean the newer ones aren't sharper. My philosophy is, all razor blades are sharp. 😂 Sharpness has always been hard for me to judge for some reason, but I like blades as long as they are smooth. As for the number of blades I HAVE TOO MANY!!! 😉

[@RHDaveShaves]

😂 Totally understand!

[@JeffShaves]

Thanks for the information Randy!

[@Callahangonefishin]

Thanks Randy, I was wondering as to how the new blades stacked up against the old. Cheers

[@randyshaves7956]

Thanks friend, I hope this helped!! Personally, I detected no difference in the two blades. Thanks again!

[@alspencer2794]

Thanks Randy, good information

[@randyshaves7956]

You're welcome Alfred, thanks for watching!

[@DismontDeSire]

Very useful information, very prompt. As I thought, P&G blades are now made in India. I think all other popular blades will also be produced there. And Nachet and Permasharp, perhaps even Wizamet. And it’s right that good blades be made by indians and not russi@n sc_um. Thank you very much!

[@randyshaves7956]

Thanks very much for watching! I agree, every U.S. company needs to get out and stay out of Russia. The Astra blades are still very good blades and shave just as well as the Russian blades did. Thanks again, and happy shaves!

[@Sola_Scriptura_1.618]

​@randyshaves7956 How can you comment about the Russians when the USA hasn't stayed out of Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, and, let's not forget, Iraq! You are entitled to your options, just not your own facts!

[@antona.4572]

FYI, Russian "sc_um" blades have been lasting for many shaves without getting dull, I shaved for 16th time with one of those "sc_um" blades this morning and it still shaved like new. Keep hoping your beloved Indian-made version will last as long (which I have my doubts about, as some other Indian-made blades come out dull brand new, right out of the box), lol. But at least it's not "Russian sc_um", eh? Keep saying that to yourself when scratching your face with it, lol

[@Sola_Scriptura_1.618]

@antona.4572 I prefer the MIR "sc_um" over the MIA "sc_um" any day! At least the MIR are not pretending to spread democracy as they invade and illegally topple foreign governments!

[@jerrynash8920]

Thank you, Sir. You have confirmed almost the same conclusions that Geofatboy@ShaveNation came to. In fact, Geofatboy tried both on a video.

[@randyshaves7956]

I'll have to take a look, I haven't watched him in a long time. Too many channels and not enough time!!! 😉 Merry Christmas!!

[@Shaverboy516]

Less glue is a positive for sure.

[@randyshaves7956]

Agree 100%

[@hakan_ozen]

Silverblue and permasharp were turkish companies before they were bought by gillette usa.

[@antona.4572]

I've been shaving with the same Russian-made Astra blade for 16th (sixteenth) time this morning, and it still shaves like new, despite me having a hard and thick stubble. That's what a high quality steel looks like. I wonder if an Indian-made version will last for that long?

[@FoggyStillness]

Most of the reviews that I've read/watched say, like you, that the blades are very similar, though that the India blades are a bit sharper, and do not last for as many shaves as the ones from Russia.

[@randyshaves7956]

Personally, I have seen no difference at all. Now, I do see differences in blades depending on what razor they are used in, but I have experienced this with all blades. For example, one of my favorite blades is the Perma-Sharp, but I don't like it nearly as well in the RR Lupo .72 as I do in other razors, but that is the razor, not the blade. With the Astra SP's in a blind test I think most all shavers would have a really hard time knowing whether they were using the Russian or the India blade, provided they were using the same razor for both blades of course. Thanks for watching!!

[@FoggyStillness]

@@randyshaves7956Thanks, Randy. Have you been able to compare the number of shaves that you get with the Russia vs India blades?

[@randyshaves7956]

@@FoggyStillness I can get 5 with both. I could probably go for more, but during the 5th shave I start to feel a little degradation in both blades, so as cheap as they are I just toss after 5.

[@antona.4572]

@@randyshaves7956 if you tossed the blades away after only 5 shaves each, then you didn't really test their durability and cannot attest to whether or not there is a difference in durability between Russian and Indian versions of that blade. Any two blades of any two decent quality brands can shave equally well for the first few shaves, and any blade may subjectively exhibit "little degradation" after 5 shaves, so overall, your "experiment" doesn't tell us much. If you kept using both blades until they dull down and started tugging on your hair (that's how you tell when the blade has come to an end of it's life cycle), and took a note of how many times you shaved with each blade, then you could attest to a durability of each one of these blades, but my understanding is this wasn't done.

[@antona.4572]

@@FoggyStillness little known fact to American "standers with ukraine" is that Russia has always been producing a high quality steel and other industrial-grade metals and alloys, unlike many other countries. Russian-produced steel is even being used in Japan's automotive industry, which is one of the reason why Japanese cars and parts are of such high quality. And I kind of doubt that with the production being relocated from Russia to India, Astra blades will still be made from the same type and quality of steel, especially considering the quality of some other Indian-made blades. Therefore, my suspicion is Indian-made Astra blades won't be lasting as long as Russian-made were, but to test that, the blades will need to be used more than 5 times.

[@davehess8374]

Thank you for the information on these i use these to im wondering about the nacet blades and perma sharpe stainless where they will be or if there just as good but thank you once again

[@randyshaves7956]

Thanks Dave for watching. I don't know about the others. I don't use Nacets, but I love the Perma-Sharps, so I need to check that out. Thanks again!

[@antona.4572]

​​@randyshaves7956 just an update on the durability testing: I was able to get a total of 34 (thirty four) descent-quality shaves out of my single Russian-made green Astra blade before it finally started to dull down and tugging on my hair instead of cutting them. Thirty four times is how long the blade lasted - not bad, considering I have a thick and coarse stubble. I challenge you to put your Indian-made version of that blade to the same durability test, and let me know how many shaves you can get out of it? IMHO, tossing the blade away after only 5 shaves is an incomplete experiment and a waste of a good blade.

[@Alex00789]

How does a Wilkinson Sword Classic shave with the Astra Superior Platinum blades? Is it a mild shave or an aggressive one? I have irritation on the neck when I go against the grain with the Wilkinson Sword Classic and Gillette Stainless or Gillette Platinum blades.

[@carloscardona3924]

Ty for the info and yes too much wax on russia blade

[@randyshaves7956]

Hey Carlos, You're welcome and thanks for watching!

[@antona.4572]

Thank you for the information, good to know 👍 Any feedback on the durability of Indian-made Astra blades so far, compared to Russian? Do they last as long as Russian-made ones did?

[@randyshaves7956]

I have found no difference at all in the durability of the Russian made Astras vs those made in India. Thanks for watching!

[@antona.4572]

@@randyshaves7956 no problem, and thank you! So, how many shaves on average could you typically get out of Indian-made Astra blade vs Russian one, before it gets dull and starts tugging on your hair?

[@randyshaves7956]

@@antona.4572 I have never really tried to see how many shaves I can get from a blade. I typically change after 5 shaves, but I'm sure I could get more if I tried.

[@antona.4572]

@@randyshaves7956 so, you changed the blades after only 5 shaves, even though they were still good? That's a waste of blades, IMHO, but I guess it's your call. If that's the case, though, it looks like you don't have sufficient information to answer my question regarding the blades' durability. as your durability testing was kind of incomplete 🙂

[@antona.4572]

​​@@randyshaves7956just an update on the durability testing: I was able to get a total of 34 (thirty four) descent-quality shaves out of my single Russian-made green Astra blade before it finally started to dull down and tugging on my hair instead of cutting them. Thirty four times is how long the blade lasted - not bad, considering I have a thick and coarse stubble. I challenge you to put your Indian-made version of that blade to the same durability test, and let me know how many shaves you can get out of it? IMHO, tossing the blade away after only 5 shaves is an incomplete experiment and a waste of a good blade.

[@Sola_Scriptura_1.618]

I just purchased 400 MIR Astra Platinums.

[@brianerskine3046]

Very interesting about this information on blades is it just the same sharpness like Russia? 🪒💈

[@randyshaves7956]

I could tell no difference at all. I still love them as much as I always have.

[@vrichtigu]

I'll write it again. Astra is an old Czech brand. P&G bought it and put it in Russia in '04 with the technology. Czech blades s.r.o. (Jevíčko) still exists and they make other brands they had in the past. TIGER (very popular in africa), TATRA and SOLOL (africa too). Stainless steel, carbon and three hole also. The Russians did not invent Astra.

[@randyshaves7956]

I don't think anyone ever claimed they did. The point in this video is the ones made in India now are just as good as the Russian blades or as good as Astra has ever been regardless of where they were made..

[@Sola_Scriptura_1.618]

Maybe not but they perfected it!

[@vrichtigu]

@@Sola_Scriptura_1.618 i dont think so... I still have last two pieces of astra from '91.

[@Sola_Scriptura_1.618]

@vrichtigu no doubt you feel that way. I have tested Personna Israeli Reds and compared them to Personna German Reds, and they provide the same shave and have identical markings. I know the Astra's have different markings, which most likely means a different machine or at least a modified machine. I love the original Astras so much that I ordered 400 of them before they are all gone. I will be happy to try the MII Version, but so many of my favorite blades come from Russia that I did not want to take a chance and potentially lose out on what I already know is a great blades. Unfortunately, there are also a few bad reviews of the Astras MII. YMMV with any razor blade, so I appreciate the subjective nature of the matter. Thanks for your response. I greatly appreciate it!

[@antona.4572]

Who ever claimed Russians "invented" Astra? They make safety razor blades of their own, such as Rapira, Voskhod, Sputnik, which as just as good. Why won't you go on and start convincing us Russians didn't invent safety razor either (as if we didn't know that, lol).

[@Neil-from-Oz]

The USA having such a corrupt Govt and controlled by big business I am looking to buy things not made in USA because other countries make things so much better.