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Thread: Russian Blades

  1. #1
    Senior Member MikeT's Avatar
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    Default Russian Blades

    Hello Gents!
    A question has been bugging me for a while!
    I've been wanting a Russian blade for a while, just waiting for a good one. They seem plain to me, very "utilitarian", but for me that kindof lends to the allure in a weird way. Don't know why, maybe all those movies growing up with "Mother Russia"...
    Okay onto the question:
    Did Russia make ANY big blades? I've never seen one. Ever.
    What are your biggest Russian blades? Any info? Pics?
    Please share.
    Thanks,
    Mike T.
    “You must unlearn what you have learned.”
    – Yoda

  2. #2
    Antiquary manah's Avatar
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    Russian or Soviet blades?
    Soviet blades were made according to the state standards, blade width - 14mm to 18mm.
    So, the biggest was 23/32 (18mm).
    Here is a catalog of Trud manufacturer, 1964:
    http://manah.strazors.com/vacha.pdf
    Alex Ts.

  3. The Following 8 Users Say Thank You to manah For This Useful Post:

    BobH (10-25-2015), Geezer (10-26-2015), Hirlau (10-25-2015), MikeT (10-26-2015), s0litarys0ldier (10-26-2015), sachemo (10-25-2015), Tarkus (10-25-2015), vicmaldo (10-26-2015)

  4. #3
    Senior Member blabbermouth
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    The limited blade widths seems in keeping with the Soviet era ethos.

    Bob
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    Senior Member criswilson10's Avatar
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    Most of the Soviet blades that I have seen are Stitz 5/8 round tips. Nice hard steel, but plain blade and scales.
    Maybe some of the Russian and Ukranian members will join in to illuminate us on where to acquire the bigger ones.
    MikeT likes this.
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  6. #5
    Senior Member blabbermouth Geezer's Avatar
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    Manah has the right of it.
    I have a few Russian blades. They have good steel, take a good to great edge, and can rust in a heartbeat. Treat them with respect.

    There are more coming to market now and the prices and shipping are lower than a few years ago when I bought mine on a recommendation...
    Finding a 6/8ths or greater is almost impossible. There are some and when found can be worth the price asked.
    ~Richard
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  8. #6
    Tradesman s0litarys0ldier's Avatar
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    I have noticed this as well. They are all very plain looking, round point and 5/8 give or take a few 1/32 but boy do they shave well. Would it be correct to assume that communism had something to do with this?

    Blades made in capitalist countries were made bigger and more expensive? For the $?
    MikeT likes this.

  9. #7
    Senior Member MikeT's Avatar
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    Thank you all for the info. This all is inline with what I had assumed. It would be of interest to find one of those 6/8 or bigger though I've never seen one. I can imagine the price would be high considering the rarity.
    I had maintained that the Soviet era ethos, very utilitarian, would define anything too large as a western excess..
    Thanks again, this answered my question.
    I'll keep my eye open for a good Soviet blade and maybe... just maybe... I'll find that blade made in secret by a western sympathetic Russian dreaming of the western way... hehehe
    BobH likes this.
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