Graf blades - different numbers on each blade?

[fluffle]

I have a pair of Risport Antares which I've owned for recreational use (2-3x a year at Christmas) for 9 years, but this year I started lessons (1-2x a week since March 2025) and am currently level 7 on Skate UK's LTS. I've been using the boots just to see how long they'd last, but the blades are definitely on their last legs - they're really corroded.

Upon inspection, I noticed that the blades actually have different numbers on them. One says 2013, and the other says 2016. I tried looking it up, but can't find much info about these blades. I got these from a reputable skate shop, so my hope is that they can't be that different...!

Does anyone know if the 2013 and 2016 Graf blades differ much? If so, does this present any challenges for when I upgrade to new (and, hopefully, identical) blades?

Pics below show the blades - they're both size 10, but the numbers in the middle are different. The 2013 one is significantly more corroded than the 2016 one - these photos are taken right after a sharpening, and they're still incredibly rusty! In the past, I struggled with two foot turns a lot more than one foot turns, but thought that was just a me issue rather than a blade issue. But wondering if the corrosion and/or the blade differences may have made life a little harder!

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

I wouldn't worry about it. I would be more concerned with upgrading both boots and blades if you are more active in the sport.

 

[Query]

Off topic, but you mentioned the rust.

Sharpening wouldn't always remove rust on the side like that. Unless you asked the skate tech to remove the rust.

Some people say to remove that kind of rust on the side with WD40 and a kitchen mildly abrasive pad.

I just tried that on another brand of cheap blades. They re-rusted a bit while I was on the ice! Perhaps cheap steel rusts very easily? But it helped a little. BTW, if there is any rust on or around the screws, I would try to remove that too, because rust has a tendency to spread. If there is rust on the screws, maybe a good tech could replace them with stainless steel screws, and remove any rust under the screws. But if you don't know what you are doing, don't remove or replace the screws yourself, because it is easy to strip screw holes.

Also, it helps a lot to dry out the blades after use, keep them in a low humidity environment (e.g., not your car, and certainly not in an enclosed bag or box that has no ventilation), and if you aren't going to use them in the next day or so, to cover them with a thin layer of oil.

 

[fluffle]

I wouldn't worry about it. I would be more concerned with upgrading both boots and blades if you are more active in the sport.

Thank you for the advice! I went to a skate shop today and got fitted, it turns out my boots (and blades) were too big! I went from a 260 boot and 10 blade to a 245 boot and 9 1/3 blade You are definitely right, better to just upgrade everything

 

[fluffle]

Off topic, but you mentioned the rust.

Sharpening wouldn't always remove rust on the side like that. Unless you asked the skate tech to remove the rust.

Some people say to remove that kind of rust on the side with WD40 and a kitchen mildly abrasive pad.

I just tried that on another brand of cheap blades. They re-rusted a bit while I was on the ice! Perhaps cheap steel rusts very easily? But it helped a little. BTW, if there is any rust on or around the screws, I would try to remove that too, because rust has a tendency to spread. If there is rust on the screws, maybe a good tech could replace them with stainless steel screws, and remove any rust under the screws. But if you don't know what you are doing, don't remove or replace the screws yourself, because it is easy to strip screw holes.

Also, it helps a lot to dry out the blades after use, keep them in a low humidity environment (e.g., not your car, and certainly not in an enclosed bag or box that has no ventilation), and if you aren't going to use them in the next day or so, to cover them with a thin layer of oil.

Oh interesting! Thank you so much for the advice. I will definitely try and keep the blades drier in between sessions - I hadn't thought about using oil, that is a great tip!

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Oh interesting! Thank you so much for the advice. I will definitely try and keep the blades drier in between sessions - I hadn't thought about using oil, that is a great tip!

Don't put too much oil or wd40 on your blades. That's not good. Just make sure that you use hard guards once you are off the ice and then as soon as you are sitting to take the boots off have a soft towel to thoroughly wipe the blades and bottoms of the soles of your boots. Then put the soft guards (soakers) on and once home, take the boots out of the bag you carry them in and let them sit in the open air to dry.

 

[IceM]

I wouldn't worry about it. I would be more concerned with upgrading both boots and blades if you are more active in the sport.

This.

OP, you can ask a skate tech (one that knows about figure skating blades) to take a look and see how similar or not the blades are, and if you want to do something about it if it bothers you.

And by the looks, those Graf blades seem to be rebranded MK Professional blades. Just as an fyi if you ever need those replaced or upgraded, then MK Pros are going to be the same blades. HD Sports is the supplier for Graf blades, or at least used to, so Graf blades are basically just MK/John Wilson blades with Graf name on them.

 

[fluffle]

This.

OP, you can ask a skate tech (one that knows about figure skating blades) to take a look and see how similar or not the blades are, and if you want to do something about it if it bothers you.

And by the looks, those Graf blades seem to be rebranded MK Professional blades. Just as an fyi if you ever need those replaced or upgraded, then MK Pros are going to be the same blades. HD Sports is the supplier for Graf blades, or at least used to, so Graf blades are basically just MK/John Wilson blades with Graf name on them.

Oh how interesting, thank you for the info! I didn't know Graf just stuck their logo on haha. That explains why I couldn't find much about them online.

I took them in to a skate tech and they said there wasn't that much of a difference between the two blades - however, it turns out my old boots were 3 sizes too big so I ended up having to buy some new skates anyway! These are Edea Overtures with the Rotation blades, and they feel reaaallly different, probably partially because they are 2/3 of an inch smaller but also the shape of the blades themselves. I will keep an eye out for MK blades in the future!