I'm going to break with the orthodox on this, I don't think there really is all that much difference between DE blades. There is ferocious brand loyalty out there, but I'm pretty well convinced that a blade's a blade. Ever examine one? it's just a sharp, micro-thin piece of steel. Even medium fancy brands like Astra have the classic Warsaw Pact small arms grease on them. They smell like what they are. Ammo. The old Schick injector is another good example of this, literally inspired by the feeding mechanism of semi-autos. They all pretty much work, until they get dull and then you pitch them. That's what makes the very idea of fat-cat fancy DE razors, and kooks shelling out piles of money on ebay for 'collectibles' pretty ridiculous. Some asshole just bought 2 5-packs of vintage Winchester blades on Ebay for $685! WTF?!? Another asshole seller has a BIN on 6 NOS Gillette adjustable "Slims" for $1950! 4 days left - some jerk will buy it for sure! You could buy a fucking shipping container full of Yuma razors for that much dough! What is a DE razor? Even if it is handsomely crafted, it remains nothing more than a tool for holding a cheap DE blade. Some of the best shaves of my life have been with a lowly Yuma razor and the throwaway Zorrik East Indian blades that Miraç threw onto my order for free! bestshave.net - you can get a complete outfit for about $10. That includes a brush and a 3+ month supply of the best soap you ever used. Another $10 will get you a year's worth of decent blades. You may want more, but you sure as hell don't need more than this. Straight razor snobbery at least makes some sense, but to me DE is all about efficiency and frugality.
