See...that was actually my issue with the shavette - it was way too sharp. When later using a straight razor I was struck by how much more forgiving the blade was - yet still able to mow down the beard
Aye Sir....Sharp blades are a judgement of taste for sure....The earlier ones and the DX I believe don't have a sort of rounded shape where the blade protrudes....The rounded shape where the blade protrudes on the Feather SS instructions were a bit of a mystery to me until today....What it does is that it allows the user to tilt the straight edge of the blade almost flat against the face to squeeze the skin forward of the blade...Its early days with this but after my first shave the blade settled down and you can buy more than a few milder less sharper blades for these as well... I got a sample pack with it...
A couple of packages in the mail today. First, from Bulgaria in RECORD time - I give you the Mladost II from the Soviet Union. This vintage razor is in EXCELLENT shape. It shows little if any use, it's cheaply made, although it has some heft to it and it's shiny, but it has those touches that prove it's Soviet. What are those you ask? Well the doors don't really open all the way without some help and while it appears to be an adjustable, and I think it is, it's so clunky I can barely make it move. Of course, I can tighten it down and then bump the base plate mechanism and it will move then. Maybe it just needs some WD-40 or other oil. It does appear to be rusted around the mechanism which may be holding it up. Either way it's definitely a step down from Gillette quality and I'm not sure if it adjusts more than 3 levels, if really at all. Yeah, with this kind of quality.....I love the thing. I'll be working on it a bit and it will show up with a real blade against my face in the near future. But then, you all knew that already. This, by the way, was enabled by @Darkbulb in one his more enabling moments. Second in today's treasure trove - a box from Seattle, Washington. I haven't ordered anything from the great Northwest. Nope, nothing. I recognize the address as belonging to our very own @Rufus T. I suspect I know what's in it and I'm a bit curious about that as we've made no arrangement for that, if it is what I think, so I open it to confirm my suspicions to find........... A mystery......that I am requested, nay even ordered by my nefarious friend to keep under wraps until my birthday. Ah, the plot thickens. Yes, I still think I know what he's up to but I have no proof! Not for 49 more days. But that's ok. I'm patient, and so it is now on my shelf, still undisturbed, and we will return to this when I am a year older.
That Mladost doesn't look bad at all!! I'm really curious to find out if it's an adjustable or not - it's incredible that it's not apparent. Gotta love old Russia. I tried looking around online for info but came up with nada. When will you try it out? Btw, I totally respect such an evil thing as to send someone a birthday gift 40+ days in advance and then ask them to not open it. It's diabolically good.
If it isn't an adjustable it sure looks like one. The mechanism underneath is pretty much identical to the Slim. No numbers on the "dial" though, but I can get it to move a couple of notches, then it freezes. I can also move the bottom plate around. I think I'm up against rust to be honest. But yeah, gotta love the Soviets for designing something so crappy. Makes my heart warm. As to the finish and build? Not bad. Not good, but not bad considering. Oh, the blade gap appears uneven but that's standard Soviet razor engineering. It may also be the moving plate too. Lots to learn. I, too, have scoured Google for any info at all. It's a total ghost so far. Guess it's up to me to figure it out. I'm thinking I may skip my Sunday Feather and use this thing instead. Nothing like risking life and limb on a day off eh? Diabolical and surprising is what I'd call the birthday gift. I know @Rufus T. is good but I had no idea how bad he was as well. We all may have underestimated him. Another one to keep an eye on over my shoulder.
There is, I believe, a vendor on Etsy that sells a lot of NIB Russian razors...it might be worth it just sending him an email asking if he has any info about this razor... Is it even in Waits'?
Nothing in Waits, in either the alphabetical listing or under USSR. I'll look for a vendor that may know something. I might even get crazy and ask at B&B, not that anyone ever answers.
Funny you should mention that. I was also inspired by that thread to purchase this Bulgarian razor that popped up when I typed Mldos...whatever, into eBay's randomizer (aka search engine). I expect it to be a shining gem of a razor. Well, a polished turd at any rate. I will post better pictures when it arrives.
At the very least, it can't be worse than the Scotch & Stowe blemish I ordered. The handle was nice, but the head was... I put a blade in the head, took it out, and tossed the head...and the head wasn't blemished, the handle was.
Received this tiny "Maw of London" brush w/ aluminum/bakelite holder. The knot is in surprisingly good condition and might well be usable.
