Thread: From Russia with love?

Maybe I have missed something but if there is hype about the Russian stuff I don't know why. It's not like there is anything wrong with them exactly. They are just not worth paying a premium on from what I've seen. It is worth having in a collection but maybe wait till the hysteria dies down.

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

Maybe I have missed something but if there is hype about the Russian stuff I don't know why. It's not like there is anything wrong with them exactly. They are just not worth paying a premium on from what I've seen. It is worth having in a collection but maybe wait till the hysteria dies down.

I don't think there's hype, I just saw some on ebay and was wondering if anyone had info.

I got mine before all this recent stuff started. And 25 bucks shipped made it worth buying. I'd say its not worth much more in my opinion.

I have one that I got from a friend who collects them, mostly because they are cheap I think. They are good practice razors.

The one I have has decent, hard steel, and it shaves well - although it's not one I would normally reach for.

I have many Soviet (Russian) razors. There were 2 main manufacturers - Trud Vacha and STIZ. Since I used many of them I can say I like shaving abilities of Trud razors more. Though it is said both manufacturers produced razors from +/- same type of steel for many years (need to be checked) there is a difference in shaving as I can feel. Maybe the heat treatment of steel was different. What I also noticed (and btw this is well known theory among almost all Russian sharpeners) the quality of razors produced before mid 1960-s was much better than anything which was produced after. The steel was more responsive and understandable when sharpening, and also razors kept sharpness better. Late razors were already not so good and often with a curved geometry or bad quality of steel. Probably the change of standards had affect and attention to straight razors was not that serious already in the USSR since the use of T-shaped razors was in full swing already. In any case, these are cheap but absolutely working razors that can find their users. Here are my razors and videos of them being used.
STIZ 1958.


Trud Vacha Ekstra 1957


STIZ Sport (before 1948 - Stis tarted to stamp production year from 1948s If I'm not mistaken)


Trud Vacha Oka 1954


STIZ Sport 1949


STIZ Vostok 1969


STIZ 1960

Just some activities with Trud Vacha Extra 1961 razor:

https://youtu.be/VkELgSsKPyo?si=LImEaXFLttnhjmLv

https://youtu.be/w3nWqwSSPQo?si=rGsAp1FiD0Cy5JiE

I like the cool Cold War images on the scales of the Soviet blades. Rockets and such look kind of fun. I dont own any though, as I try to stick to English blades

Nice! I expect that when in Russia, collect them. I never have seen one locally. Good examples.

Then again, New York razors are likely not in Russia either!

Like Jerry, I had a Raketa at some point.
Came to me NOS.
Nice shaver. Small. Held the edge well.
Sold it because it was too small for my big hands.
As said above, if you find one for a good price, go for it, but don't spend the world on it.