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I've seen quite a few Russian straights come up on the bay throughout the years and it seems they get ignored for the most part with no bids. Anyone have any experience shaving with one or how do they hone up? Probably a thread already out there concerning this but......
Looks like I posted this in the wrong forum. I am not sure how to move to a new forum but probably should be in razors or auction talk forum.
Moved to razors forum. IME the few Russian razors I've had, vintage from the post WWII era, were very good. YMMV.
Gentlemen,
I have owned several Russian razors in the past and all were fine shavers. My only objection to them was the blade size, which never seemed to exceed beyond a small 5/8 or a 9/16, sizes I don't like.
I used a few soviet-time straights and my key concern was that their quality was inconsistent. Some of them were exceptionally good, but almost as many were of inferior quality - steel, geometry, scales, pinning, etc. Given that the price is not extremely high, you might want to buy a few and very probably might get at least one excellent blade. Hope it helps and good luck!Quote:
Originally Posted by dtrain17
I've only had one pass through my hands and it was a pretty little 5/8 that belongs to my uncle, this was before I had any bevel setters or the knowledge in how to use them so I never got to shave with it.
I think I read somewhere on the forum that the quality was generally good up until the fall of the USSR.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...lation-id.html
Like most Russian made items, They work,but are very utilitarian.
If plain jane suits you, they will serve you well.
I have a Vostok3 that shaves just fine. The earth orbiting CCCP inlay in the scales is cool!
I've had an "on again, off again," interest in acquiring a Cold War era Soviet straight for some time .. if for no other reason than to rekindle fond memories of Nikita Kruschev pounding his shoe at the U.N., saying he will bury the West .... and hiding under my desk in grade school, circa mid 1950's, during air raid drills to protect our heads from incoming nukes ....
Fun times!:hmmm:
I've got a Trud Vacha military hospital razor that's an outstanding shaver. Geometry was a bit wacky, but the previous owner fixed that.
I have 4 or 5 Soviet era blades and they all took a good edge. Unfortunately I haven't really used them much, so I can't talk to how well they may hold an edge.
My experience with Trud Vachas has been very positive. I managed to get a 6/8"recently. They hold the edge fine, the ones I bought had no blade issues.
I really wish I could say I got a great shave from my Stiz (Stolichnaya) but I'm afraid it was less than a passing grade.