The cookies, the cartel, the force or the revolutionary spirit, I can't ascertain the cause but I now have a 'Rocket' straight inbound.
Welcome Comrade. The Proud Blood of the Motherland runs deep in her True Sons. Da, pictures or it didn't happen.
Previous judgment stands. This is a letter opener. Had to touch it up four times on a two pass shave, and still had to clean up with a different razor. It developed a tug before it got to my jawline on my WTG pass. Checked it under the scope, and the edge rolled in spots. If this was my only option to shave, I would grow a beard. That said, now I want to get an older one and experience the hard Soviet steel you all keep talking about.
It Sounds as if there Isn't any Temper in the Steel of that Blade for Whatever Reason..Maybe a Factory Dud..It Can Happen..The Older Ones are Meant to be Softer Steel According to what I can Gather Compared to the Later Ones.. That's Said..My Later Russian SR Took a While to Hone Not Necessarily Just because its Very Hard Steel but because I had to Remove a Lot of Darn Metal to Set a Bevel..The Later Ones from the Factory Need a Lot of Metal Removed Maybe like a Factory Gold Dollar..Not that I have Honed a Dollar from the Factory..That was the Main Reason it took Me so Long to Set the Bevel on a 1 K Stone..Anybody that gets One that's Not NOS & has been Honed before it Wont Take a Long Time to Hone it.. Now..If I was to Reset the Bevel in the Future with My Commie SR it Probably Wouldn't Take any Longer than any Other SR..I Am Guessing here..But..Its Very Possible that the Earlier 1950s Jobs Have a Factory Bevel or Near Bevel & Thus Doesn't Require the Same Amount of Metal Removed as the Later Ones that were made in the 60s/70s..That Would Perhaps Explain One of the Reasons Why the 1950s Models are Sought After.. Billy..
I took the time to hone this Russian Beauty. I have to say, @Billyfergie was not exaggerating. It took a very long time to hone this sucker. I don't want to do this again, for a while. This is the hardest steel I've come across, and the blade had issues. There wasn't even an attempt by the Russian factory to put an edge on it. The edge was squared off. After trying to get a Bevel on it, and nearly done, I found the blade is wavy, with more metal to the heel of the edge. This made the bevel look off, from the side view, but spot on, from above. Thank goodness there was plenty of metal. After about 3 1/2 hrs total(I kid you not), the blade was done. ten strokes on the Chromium Oxide strop, and 200 on the leather, and I think its ready for a shave. "Орбита"(Orbita)
Here is another one that arrived, from Estonia. It's a big blade, much larger than the other I have. It's not been honed yet, but at least the edge isn't square. "EKSTRA" ZTV 1953
Aye..There was No Attempt from the Factory to Put an Edge on Mine Either..I Just Took the Steel off in its Own Time & it Took Shape because the Factory Grind & Geometry was Perfect.. Billy..
Well, my blades had a slight wave to it, but it didn't affect the edge any. Now I just need to figure out if I want to hone the bigger Pink Russian any time soon. It might not take as long, since its been said the razors from the 1950's are a little softer. Plus, the edge isn't squared off.
You are Cooking with Gas then Cause that's what I Reckon the Difference is Between the Earlier & Later Ones..There is Far Less Metal to Remove.. Billy..
Well, mine is from the 70's too. The blade is hard as a rock, and took a killer edge. It just looks like you got a complete "Dud". Save the scales, toss the blade, and try another. I am going to try to hone a 1953 Commie Razor, that's never been honed. I will give it a go, on Sunday, hopefully, and should let everyone know the differences in the steels. But, as you have found, duds do exist. Probably more common in Communist era countries.
Guys, check out the several replies of @mlys7884 on page four of this thread. He specifically says the earlier razors are better steel and produced in a different way. I know that as technology for metalworking was moving to new techniques, and that could certainly produce blades with a different quality steel. Does anyone have an earlier blade to compare with a 70s one? I think I am going to try and get one from the 50s rather than risk getting a letter opener again.
