Wilkinson Light Brigade Equivalent - Vintage Wilkinson “New” Blade

Gents,

Some of this is from the EBay Deals section from when I tried to put the word out, because there was a seller that was selling a sizeable stockpile of these. At any rate, I figured we should have a post regarding this topic in the Blades section.

The revered Wilkinson Light Brigade blades are becoming increasingly rare, and they are pricey!  If you have not been able to purchase any LBs then perhaps the vintage Wilkinson “New” blades might be a suitable alternative.  They do not seem to be all that rare, they are less expensive, and I believe them to be the same blade.  I am still testing my first one.  It started off ultra smooth and ultra sharp, and the smoothness has increased through the first five shaves...just as a vintage Wilkinson Light Brigade.

The Light Brigades and the “New” blades were both Made In England at the same time, they both hit their respective markets circa 1969/1970, and both use the words “New” and “Chromium” in their advertising.  The only difference as far as I can tell is that the Light Brigades have different packaging, and they were sold in the US market, while the vintage Wilkinson “New” blades were sold in the UK and European markets.

I will report back once this first “New” blade has been killed, in order to let folks know if it indeed evolves as a Light Brigade evolves.

Vr

Matt

Wilkinson Light Brigade Packaging with the words “New” and “Chromium” at the bottom

Vintage Wilkinson “New” blade article/advertising with the words “Chromium” and “New”

Various “New” blade packaging

I will keep an eye open for some of these.

Gents,

Just finished the 7th shave with the “New” blade, and it is still performing beautifully!  


I think it reached max smoothness with zero loss of sharpness at shave six.  Now we will see just how long it goes before it gives up the ghost.

I am planning to marathon it, but all I am really hoping for is 15 beautiful shaves per “New” blade.  If I can get 15 shaves per blade that will be 29 years worth of these on hand at 225 shaves per year.

Vr

Matt

Gents,

I had two pillars of the “New” blade arrive today.

The one I am testing gets it’s 10th turn tomorrow, after 9 exemplary shaves.  I am looking forward to hitting double digits!

Vr

Matt

Gents,

For planning purposes, I said to myself that I hoped to get 15 shaves from my first “New” blade.  Today I hit that mark, and the razor blade shows no sign of quitting.  I believe it is exactly on par with the best Wilkinson blades ever made...the Light Brigades and vintage London Bridge blades.

I am a believer, and I will keep using this now until the blade gives up the ghost!

Vr

Matt

I have used both and find them indistinguishable.

I am using for the first time one of the 'New' blades, now at shave 4, and it certainly is smooth and sharp. Time will tell if its durability (for 24 shaves) equals that of the LBs for me.