What is your all time worst blade?

Merkur and Big Ben. I haven't used a Merkur in about nine years, so they could have changed since then. I did use a Big Ben last week and it was horrendous in several razors.

Merkur and Big Ben. I haven't used a Merkur in about nine years, so they could have changed since then. I did use a Big Ben last week and it was horrendous in several razors.

I'm actually really surprised about the Big Ben assessment. I've found that blade to be alright in several razors. It's not my favorite but at least for me, not the worst. Truly YMMV.

I'm actually really surprised about the Big Ben assessment. I've found that blade to be alright in several razors. It's not my favorite but at least for me, not the worst. Truly YMMV.

Interesting. Well, it's certainly possible I got a dud blade. I will have to reevaluate BB again in the future.

When I first started I had a terrible experience with a Kai blade. Probably poor technique but I was a bloody mess and raw all over my face. Never tried another one in a d/e but love the artist club style blades from them.

When I first started I had a terrible experience with a Kai blade. Probably poor technique but I was a bloody mess and raw all over my face. Never tried another one in a d/e but love the artist club style blades from them.

Kai is a super sharp blade that for me only works in a few razors, I just finished a week of Kai in the ikon SC 102 and it was really nice. It works well n the Feather AS-D2 as well but not in the EJ DE89 or any of my other ikons. I haven't tried it yet in the ATT or Wolfman, I'm a little nervous as those razors are already fairly aggressive and with the Kai it just might be more than I can handle.

The Kai works fine for me.

But in my experience, only a few razors can actually load the blade properly for use.

Since the blade is physically thicker then the average razor, only the EJ89 (for me) can actually bend the blade in the correct position.

Other razors, I remember the razor blade was not curved/bent after I screwed on the handle.

But maybe its just me.

The Kai works fine for me.

But in my experience, only a few razors can actually load the blade properly for use.

Since the blade is physically thicker then the average razor, only the EJ89 (for me) can actually bend the blade in the correct position.

Other razors, I remember the razor blade was not curved/bent after I screwed on the handle.

But maybe its just me.

They seemed to bend ok in the Ikon 102. I just received 50 Kai blades from amazon and I'm a little annoyed that the vendor didn't leave them in the original boxes. As you know the Kai blades are unmarked and in unmarked wrappers so the only way you know its genuine Kai (apart from the appearance) is if they're sealed in their original box. I think they're the genuine item but really, vendor had to take them out of the boxes...why?

The Kai works fine for me.

But in my experience, only a few razors can actually load the blade properly for use.

Since the blade is physically thicker than the average razor, only the EJ89 (for me) can actually bend the blade in the correct position.a
Other razors, I remember the razor blade was not curved/bent after I screwed on the handle.

But maybe its just me.

They seemed to bend ok in the Ikon 102.  I just received 50 Kai blades from amazon and I'm a little annoyed that the vendor didn't leave them in the original boxes.  As you know the Kai blades are unmarked and in unmarked wrappers so the only way you know its genuine Kai (apart from the appearance) is if they're sealed in their original box.  I think they're the genuine item but really, vendor had to take them out of the boxes...why?

Mark, the first two tucks of KAI blades I got, I purchased from Bullgoose.  The blades in the first box were actually stamped with the KAI logo.  The second tuck, and all subsequent purchases of this blade have been just as you say, unmarked.  I have never been able to figure out why that one set of blades was clearly marked but not any of the others.

The Kai works fine for me.

But in my experience, only a few razors can actually load the blade properly for use.

Since the blade is physically thicker than the average razor, only the EJ89 (for me) can actually bend the blade in the correct position.a
Other razors, I remember the razor blade was not curved/bent after I screwed on the handle.

But maybe its just me.

They seemed to bend ok in the Ikon 102.  I just received 50 Kai blades from amazon and I'm a little annoyed that the vendor didn't leave them in the original boxes.  As you know the Kai blades are unmarked and in unmarked wrappers so the only way you know its genuine Kai (apart from the appearance) is if they're sealed in their original box.  I think they're the genuine item but really, vendor had to take them out of the boxes...why?

Mark, the first two tucks of KAI blades I got, I purchased from Bullgoose.  The blades in the first box were actually stamped with the KAI logo.  The second tuck, and all subsequent purchases of this blade have been just as you say, unmarked.  I have never been able to figure out why that one set of blades was clearly marked but not any of the others.

Thats strange, I don't think I've ever seen a marked Kai blade. Weird that they wouldn't put their mark on the blade, they're not cheap either. They're not a regular blade for me but I like to keep a few around. The price on amazon was too good to pass up - 60 cents (49 cents US) they're 85 cents US on other sites. I know I'm dithering about 25 cents but most of the blades I buy cost less than that so Kai are relatively expensive blades. We'll see how they shave, if their fakes I expect they won't shave like the Kai.

They seemed to bend ok in the Ikon 102.  I just received 50 Kai blades from amazon and I'm a little annoyed that the vendor didn't leave them in the original boxes.  As you know the Kai blades are unmarked and in unmarked wrappers so the only way you know its genuine Kai (apart from the appearance) is if they're sealed in their original box.  I think they're the genuine item but really, vendor had to take them out of the boxes...why?

Mark, the first two tucks of KAI blades I got, I purchased from Bullgoose.  The blades in the first box were actually stamped with the KAI logo.  The second tuck, and all subsequent purchases of this blade have been just as you say, unmarked.  I have never been able to figure out why that one set of blades was clearly marked but not any of the others.

Thats strange, I don't think I've ever seen a marked Kai blade. Weird that they wouldn't put their mark on the blade, they're not cheap either.  They're not a regular blade for me but I like to keep a few around.  The price on amazon was too good to pass up - 60 cents (49 cents US) they're 85 cents US on other sites.  I know I'm dithering about 25 cents but most of the blades I buy cost less than that so Kai are relatively expensive blades.  We'll see how they shave, if their fakes I expect they won't shave like the Kai.

I figured I'd update this post - I did get the unmarked Kai blades from Amazon and I don't think they're the genuine Kai blades. They just don't seem to shave as nicely as the Kai blades that I've bought from various vendors that come in a Kai branded box of 5 blades. Maybe its my imagination but I don't think so and in keeping with my feeling that life is too short for bad shaves, I am not using those blades. If they're the last blades in my stash when I run out of all my other blades (around 2052 by my estimation), then maybe I'll use them.