Big Ben Super Stainless Razor Blade Review

I have been wanting to try the Big Ben Super Stainless Razor Blade for a long time, and I was quite happy that it was next on the list to test.
For obvious reasons I was expecting the Big Ben Super Stainless Razor Blade to be made in England, but it is actually made in Egypt by Lord. While there seem to be several DE razor blades made by Lord, I have not yet personally tried many so this piqued my interest even further.
- 10 Packs of 5 Blades -- Total 50 Blades
- Extremely Sharp, Smooth and Comfortable
- Highest quality blades made to fit different double edge safety razors
- Fits all Standard Double Edge Safety Razors
The one stand out item that I noticed right away is that the tuck (package) the blades came in seemed very crisp and clean. The blades themselves were also in a very thick wrapper with bold writing. I’m not sure why this stood out, but it seemed noteworthy although I am not sure why.
Fresh out of the pack the sharpness measured 49. For information on what this means check out Razor Blade Sharpness Testing. You can click this link to see a Razor Blade Sharpness Comparison Chart with the other blades tested so far.
A reading of 49 is on the less sharp end of average in the spectrum of readings that I have taken so far. Mid 40’s seems to be average, with low or less than 40 being quite sharp. Over 50 has been less than desirable for myself. Remember that a lower number is sharper, and I am reluctant to use the work dull as it is still a razor blade.
Note that I shave my head as well as my face and have a pretty thick growth – except for the top of my head. This means that one of my shaves might equal two of someone that just shaves their face, or even more if they have a thinner beard.
The first shave with the Big Ben Super Stainless Razor Blade was decent. It was not quite as sharp as I would have liked it to be, but the result was a nice shave with no irritation – always a win. That said, I did notice an ever so slight amount of drag a handful of times, but only something to note and not really complain about.
After the first shave the sharpness increased to 45. As of right now most blades have increased their sharpness after the first shave, the average seems to be about 10%. This is right at the average, and I like a consistent blade so to me this is great.
The second shave with the Big Ben Super Stainless Razor Blade was mostly positive. It was going so well that I may have gone a little too aggressive at the end around my goatee area, and I did wind up feeling a little raw after. While the second shave was extremely close, the end it did not feel quite as smooth as the first round and I paid for it when using my alum block and aftershave.
After the second shave the sharpness measured 49, which is right back to where we started. The fact that the sharpness was already declining by the end of the second shave and it was feeling a little more rough lets me know that I would not want to use this blade for a third time – which is fine because DE razor blades are cheap.
Initial Sharpness = 49
Average Sharpness = 48
Edge Retention = 1.0
Smoothness = 3/5
Overall Subjective Rating = 4/5
I had mixed feelings using the Big Ben Super Stainless Razor Blade. It wasn’t a sharp as I would like starting out, and it wasn’t as smooth as I would like finishing off. That said, the first shave was good and when I use it again I would modify my technique for second shave (or even just use the blade once and toss it).
Based on the price, I find it to be a little more than I would like to pay for a single use blade. I would however have no issues using it again, which is more than I can say for several other blades. I can see easily see this blade being a favorite for someone what does not have overly coarse or thick hair. Also, if you only shave your face and not your head as well you will certainly get more shaves out of it than I do.
Check out more Razor Blade Reviews or look into how the Razor Blade Sharpness Testing works.
Have you tried Big Ben Super Stainless Razor Blades? Be sure to leave your overall rating, the community appreciates your vote!
- 10 Packs of 5 Blades -- Total 50 Blades
- Extremely Sharp, Smooth and Comfortable
- Highest quality blades made to fit different double edge safety razors
- Fits all Standard Double Edge Safety Razors
2 thoughts on “Big Ben Super Stainless Razor Blade Review”
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Great to see you back! I’ve been missing the bade reviews. Have you ever considered branching out in to Single Edged blades? I use a lot of SEs now and I’m loving them.
Keep up the good work!
I had tried this blade once before and it is memorable because of the very nice shave I had. I think I used my EJ DE89 with this blade. I found the blade to be efficient and smooth, and similar to my experience with one of my favorite blades, the Derby Premium blades. It also stands out because I had an irritation free shave.
By the way, I was happy to receive the email that you back and reviewing de blades again.