This review is about the Минлегпищемаш AGAT (Minlegpischemash – Ministry of Mechanical Engineering for Light Industry, Food and Household Appliances of the USSR)
Introduction
Sometimes reviews come out that represent more than just a couple of shaves. This is reflected, for example, in razors made with special materials, from a particular manufacturer or with an unusual design. And other times it's not these elements that make the razor stand out, but rather the story behind it.
But there are razors that combine all of these elements. And in this case, we have a razor before us that does just that. Special materials, a unique manufacturer and a less common design. I'm talking about the Минлегпищемаш AGAT.
The owner, who kindly lent me this razor for review, is @FredPerry77. I want to thank him profusely for lending it to me. He thinks it has a very smooth cut but shaves incredibly close. To learn more about the razor and read my review, I invite you to continue. No need to pay, comrades. Today, the people rule.
Construction
The AGAT is a three piece DE razor. It has a slant head made of a chrome-plated zinc alloy and a plastic handle. The disassembled razor can be stored in a small red plastic case (a very logical choice) with a transparent lid.
The set comes with a piece of paper containing various information. It recommends not using too much force when gripping the handle, not dropping the razor and rinsing and drying it after use. The paper also lists the components of the set and states that it has a 12-month warranty. But there's more…
At the top, we see the logo and name of the USSR Ministry of Mechanical Engineering for Light Industry, Food Processing and Household Appliances. I've seen this logo on other Soviet products, like this wind-up toy bear. And inside the box is a piece of paper with more or less the same design, the logo and a product description. I imagine the Ministry mandated that a paper like this be included with these products.
Speaking of the Ministry, the AGAT document lists an address. I looked it up on Google Maps and found this building, which could very well have been a ministry. The address is in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) at 5-6 Krupskaya Street. This was the ministry's branch office, specifically branch number 4.
The street was named after Lenin's wife, Nadezhda Krupskaya, who married the Russian leader in 1898. The ministry was founded in 1965 and closed in 1988...like so many other things that were closing in the final days of the Soviet Union. But let's get back to the razor, because, as a wise man once said, you can't shave with a ministry. Or was it, you can't reason with a woman?
Material: Zinc alloy, plastic
Finish: Chrome
Handle length: 73 mm
Handle diameter: From 9.5 mm (top) to 7.5 mm (bottom)
Total length of the razor: 78.8 mm
Total weight: 27.1 gr
Head weight: 22.6 gr
Gap: “Adjustable” (between 1.2 to 1.8 mm)
Exposure: positive
Looking at the top of the cover, we see a very pronounced curve. The slanted design places the top axis diagonally across the cover. This results in a cover that is thicker along the top and diagonal axis and thinner towards the long sides. The chrome plating has suffered some wear, but this piece of paper also indicates the date of manufacture: December 1982. This razor is almost 43 years old.
On the inside of the cover, we see the central thread with very little threading and two cylindrical guides. At the corners, we see four prongs to hold the blade in place, although in a slant razor design, these prongs don't play a significant role in securing the blade.
The photo shows the gap between the pins and the blade. It's clear the blade isn't secured by the pins. With a slant design, it's impossible for the blade to be parallel to the short side of the cover because it twists inside the head.
The interior of the base plate has that typical Tech design we've seen so many times before. A narrow central body with holes for the central thread and guides, two open rinse channels and combs on two support points. All very typical. On the short sides, we see the recesses to create space for the lid's prongs.
At the bottom, we see the central body again with the three holes. The central hole has a recess for the handle, although the fit isn't very precise.
Inside one of the rinsing channels, we see three ovals. This could be a mark from the mold used to manufacture this part. If defects were found in parts, the correct mold could be investigated without having to stop the entire production line. This system is still used today in manufacturing processes where different machines produce the same parts.
The finish isn't bad, but its age and the quality (or lack) of the workmanship are noticeable. The chrome plating has come loose in some places, but not where it would affect shaving. The razor cost 3 rubles in 1983, which was equivalent to 5 pesetas at the time. This may seem like a small amount, but the situation in the USSR wasn't exactly booming back then and this was reflected in the products available for purchase with rubles. Sometimes products were unavailable because production hadn't kept pace. The quality of the materials could also be compromised, although the Russians always tried to manufacture products that would last a lifetime.
It must also be said that for a relatively inexpensive razor intended for the general public, here it is, fully functional and intact. Who am I to say it's not well-made? Time has proven it’s alive and well. The connection between the handle and the internal metal (probably brass) thread is still strong and the plastic of the handle and the case are also in perfect condition.
The tolerances are what we'd expect from a razor made of zinc alloy: loose. Adding a slant to the equation only increases this looseness. To ensure precise blade placement in a slant (where a blade is intentionally contorted), the tolerances must be very tight. A zinc alloy die-cast razor doesn't offer such precise adjustments.
This photo shows how the blade can be secured in the head. There's too much space inside for the blade to move around. The central body, with its central thread and two guides, is meant to keep the blade centered, but the sides of the cover allow the blade to twist. We lower one corner on one side, but not the other corner on the same side and vice versa. With this head, you have to position the blade carefully with your fingers to ensure it's properly aligned and then screw down the handle.
This is also why I've labeled the gap "adjustable" in this razor's description. It's not actually an adjustable gap, but by manipulating the blade while inserting it, you can change it. And manipulating it becomes necessary if you want a certain degree of evenness on both sides. If you don't adjust the blade, the gap and exposure will be different on each side.
But if you decide to manipulate the blade, you have a challenge ahead. Normally, you'd look at the head from above and align the cap so that the blade is roughly parallel to the long sides of the cap and at a similar exposure distance. If I do that, the blade is aligned on the cap as you see in the photo. It looks well-centered.
But when I measure the gap on each side, there's a 0.4 mm difference between the two sides (1.3–1.7 mm). The exposure is also very different. You can feel it when you run your index finger across the shaving plane. You could try to adjust the blade a bit more to even out the distances, but the head's tolerances don't allow for much movement. This is something to keep in mind with any razor where the tolerances have a fairly wide margin.
The comb has pronounced grooves and offers two advantages. First, it provides lubrication channels. The grooves allow shaving cream to pass through, which lubricates the cut. The second advantage of the comb is its well-defined shaving plane. It's a wide and comfortable comb for maintaining the correct cutting angle. Later, in the shaving section, I'll explain how I used the razor. The comb plays an important role.
Score: 13
Material: 3
Finish: 3
Tolerances: 3
Head/Comb Shape: 4
Grip
The handle is small and made of plastic. This has advantages and disadvantages. Let's start with the disadvantages. A small handle reduces the number of fingers you can use for gripping. In my case, I can only use two fingers to grip the handle. This also reduces the leverage I can exert on the head. Plastic is also more fragile than metal, for example. Those are the disadvantages I can identify, but in this case, the disadvantages don't really matter.
Because the advantages of the handle are aligned with the razor's design. A short handle is only a problem when you have to move a lot of weight. This razor weighs less than 30 grams. We don't need much grip to handle that weight. A short handle reduces the leverage we can exert on the razor head, but in this case, with a razor that has a large gap, positive exposure and a slant, we don't want to exert any pressure on the head. We don't need a long handle. And the idea of fragility is relative. The instruction manual already warns you not to drop the razor. But if you drop the handle, which weighs next to nothing (5 grams), it's like dropping a feather. I've never seen a feather break when it falls. It won't damage the floor either. There are metal handles that pierce tiles or leave marks on them. And another point about fragility. This razor is over 40 years old. I'll say it again... if the handle has survived 40 years, it will almost certainly last another 40. Now let's talk about the advantages; dismantling the "disadvantages" isn't the only thing.
An advantage of plastic is that it's inexpensive, lightweight, easy to transport and corrosion-resistant. That's already four advantages, but there are more. This plastic has good friction. The knurling also works very well and has two components. The first one are the grooves perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle, which provide excellent grip and prevent the razor from slipping along that axis.
And the handle isn't perfectly round. The surfaces where the grooves are cut are somewhat flattened. This provides us with surfaces that prevent the handle from twisting between our fingers. The flattening is there, but it's not as pronounced as, for example, on other handles like those of the Lambda Athena, Merkur 41c or Paradigm Ti.
In short, this handle is a very good example of how something can be designed to benefit from and enhance the technical characteristics of the other parts. This razor head doesn't need a long, heavy, metal handle. If that's the reality, why manufacture one? Within the framework of this razor, this handle fits perfectly into the necessary requirements. A good example of efficiency. It doesn't stand out, but it does the job very well.
Comfort is like the grip. It's not exceptional, but it's good. The plastic feels nice and the grooves are noticeable but not bothersome and have no sharp edges. Control over the razor is somewhat hampered by the short handle. There isn't much surface area to change grips, although the light weight of the head makes the grips manageable.
What I like most about this razor head is the smooth glide of its comb. As I've already mentioned, the comb is wide and allows for good lubrication during the cut. In fact, with this razor, the comb is what I use most for shaving. I'll elaborate on that in the shaving section, but when a specific feature is used frequently and works well, it benefits the razor overall.
Score: 15
Dry/Wet: 4
Comfort: 4
Control: 3
Head slide: 4
Management
This is the razor's balance point. There's no way to balance the razor on your index finger and when you place it on a table, sometimes the head lifts the handle. As I explained, in this particular case, the balance doesn't interfere with handling the razor because it's very lightweight. And even though you can tell that all the weight is in the head, it doesn't affect the razor's proper functioning.
Another issue is changing the blade. The short sides of the cover don't cover the blade. When you want to put the blade in place, you have to manipulate it using these sides. Because of the force required to position the blade correctly, this is awkward. The sides of the blade get in the way.
If it weren't for that, the change would be easy. The blade is in the cap, the base plate is on top and we can even use the bottom of the comb to tighten the head. That works well. But having to manipulate the blade makes the whole system much more difficult. It's never advisable to have to apply force with your fingers to a blade, especially when it's already warped.
Cleaning, on the other hand, is easy. The surfaces are mostly unobstructed. Rinsing works very well with those large gaps.
Score: 13
Balance: 1
Weight: 5
Model/Security: 2
Cleaning: 5
Shaving
And now we come to the shaving section. How does this razor shave? It gave me two different kinds of shaves. The first was a shave full of red spots and irritation. But it wasn't the razor's fault. It's normal for a "red" razor to leave your skin red. The thing is, just as every face is different, every razor has its own instruction manual and this first shave showed me exactly how I should use it in my particular situation.
I did my first shave using the intuitive shaving plane. I rested it on the cap and comb to see how it performed. In that position, the razor's exposure was too harsh on my skin.
The second option I use is riding the cap. I open the handle angle to slide it over the cap and decrease the cutting angle. With slant razors, this method doesn't solve the issue that much either because the blade always has a point that protrudes more than the rest. It's not perpendicular to the handle and the cutting angle of the edge varies along its length.
The third method is the one that worked best for me. It involves using the comb as a shaving surface. In this case, I bring the handle closer to the skin, which moves the blade further away. It's true that this increases the cutting angle of the blade relative to the skin, but you can control the efficiency much better by applying a little pressure without having to change the angle of the handle.
Every shave after the first one was excellent. The razor shaves very close and is relatively forgiving when used adequately. But this only works if you find the instruction manual that suits your personal needs. This particular system worked very well for me, but it might not work for someone else. That's the weakness I see with this razor. You need to figure it out and find the right way to use it. It delivers some really good shaves, but you have to find a way to access them. It's not intuitive.
Controlling the cutting head, as with any slant razor, is somewhat tricky. Because of the contorted blade, the cutting edge is never in a perfectly straight line, which can be confusing when cutting on surfaces where you don't have much room to maneuver. The edge is at a different angle and in a different position along its entire length.
The type of blade you use also makes a difference. Of course, I've tried this razor with a Russian blade, a Voskhod in this case and the result was good. It also performs well with other blades (Astra, Matgicol, Lord, Treet). It's true that shaves with sharper blades feel better than shaves with duller blades. This is noticeable with the Derby, where the wider cutting angle makes you feel the cut more. There's no irritation or nicks, but I doubt I'll use any blade more than once in this razor. You need to use a blade in optimal conditions for the best results.
Score: 14
Efficiency: 4
Head control: 3
Derby/blade test influences: 3
Indulgent: 4
Quality/Price
I think the razor has its aesthetic appeal. The white handle gives it a modern touch and the comb really defines its look. I don't know why, but it reminds me of the villain Jaws from the James Bond series. Maybe it's because of the slanted grin that character has.
I think this razor offers a lot in a compact package. It doesn't have much cutting-edge technology, but the shaves you can get from it are good. If it were a purer, more tech-focused razor without the slant blade, I think the shaves would be spectacular.
I've searched everywhere online for this razor, but I haven't been able to find it. @FredPerry77 received this razor from relatives in Russia and apparently there are many of them there. I think selling them abroad could be a good way to get them in the second hand market in the rest of the world. The razors weren't expensive back then and nowadays, the price at which they are sold si still low. I think it's fair to say they've held their value well though.
Could this be my only razor? It's not that amazing, but I wouldn't rule it out as an interesting razor for two reasons. The first one is that it's a part of shaving history. That, for me, gives it a value that can only be acquired over time and that makes it special. The second reason is that it's a razor that makes you think about your shave and how to get the most out of the tool you have in your hands. It's not an auto pilot razor at first, although, once you figure it out, it can be. It's fun and it has a history.
Score: 14
Aesthetics: 3
Reward: 5
Value in 25: 3
Single razor: 3
Conclusion
It's always interesting to receive material from my fellow forum members. Sometimes they're razors that are extraordinary in terms of materials, craftsmanship and luxury. Other times they're razors that work very well with very basic components. And other times you receive relics from the history of our hobby that provide a map of where we've come from on this shaving journey.
I've been thrilled with the AGAT this week. The razor has the power to transport you to another era and environment, allowing you to understand that something so basic, created within a communist framework and with certain limitations imposed by the economic situation, can function just as well as a razor created today in a much easier environment, but one that doesn't necessarily push the designer and manufacturer to deliver their best.
That's why I applaud the AGAT. It's not the best or the prettiest. But it's one that embodies a lot of history and the spirit of a time that not only dominated the political landscape but also had a huge influence on the most basic aspects of people's lives. From their jobs to their grocery shopping to something as fundamental as their personal hygiene. And yet, with all this in mind, this razor does its job very well. In fact, knowing its history, it's fantastic.
Final score: 69 points
Introduction
Sometimes reviews come out that represent more than just a couple of shaves. This is reflected, for example, in razors made with special materials, from a particular manufacturer or with an unusual design. And other times it's not these elements that make the razor stand out, but rather the story behind it.
But there are razors that combine all of these elements. And in this case, we have a razor before us that does just that. Special materials, a unique manufacturer and a less common design. I'm talking about the Минлегпищемаш AGAT.
The owner, who kindly lent me this razor for review, is @FredPerry77. I want to thank him profusely for lending it to me. He thinks it has a very smooth cut but shaves incredibly close. To learn more about the razor and read my review, I invite you to continue. No need to pay, comrades. Today, the people rule.
Construction
The AGAT is a three piece DE razor. It has a slant head made of a chrome-plated zinc alloy and a plastic handle. The disassembled razor can be stored in a small red plastic case (a very logical choice) with a transparent lid.
The set comes with a piece of paper containing various information. It recommends not using too much force when gripping the handle, not dropping the razor and rinsing and drying it after use. The paper also lists the components of the set and states that it has a 12-month warranty. But there's more…
At the top, we see the logo and name of the USSR Ministry of Mechanical Engineering for Light Industry, Food Processing and Household Appliances. I've seen this logo on other Soviet products, like this wind-up toy bear. And inside the box is a piece of paper with more or less the same design, the logo and a product description. I imagine the Ministry mandated that a paper like this be included with these products.
Speaking of the Ministry, the AGAT document lists an address. I looked it up on Google Maps and found this building, which could very well have been a ministry. The address is in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) at 5-6 Krupskaya Street. This was the ministry's branch office, specifically branch number 4.
The street was named after Lenin's wife, Nadezhda Krupskaya, who married the Russian leader in 1898. The ministry was founded in 1965 and closed in 1988...like so many other things that were closing in the final days of the Soviet Union. But let's get back to the razor, because, as a wise man once said, you can't shave with a ministry. Or was it, you can't reason with a woman?
Material: Zinc alloy, plastic
Finish: Chrome
Handle length: 73 mm
Handle diameter: From 9.5 mm (top) to 7.5 mm (bottom)
Total length of the razor: 78.8 mm
Total weight: 27.1 gr
Head weight: 22.6 gr
Gap: “Adjustable” (between 1.2 to 1.8 mm)
Exposure: positive
Looking at the top of the cover, we see a very pronounced curve. The slanted design places the top axis diagonally across the cover. This results in a cover that is thicker along the top and diagonal axis and thinner towards the long sides. The chrome plating has suffered some wear, but this piece of paper also indicates the date of manufacture: December 1982. This razor is almost 43 years old.
On the inside of the cover, we see the central thread with very little threading and two cylindrical guides. At the corners, we see four prongs to hold the blade in place, although in a slant razor design, these prongs don't play a significant role in securing the blade.
The photo shows the gap between the pins and the blade. It's clear the blade isn't secured by the pins. With a slant design, it's impossible for the blade to be parallel to the short side of the cover because it twists inside the head.
The interior of the base plate has that typical Tech design we've seen so many times before. A narrow central body with holes for the central thread and guides, two open rinse channels and combs on two support points. All very typical. On the short sides, we see the recesses to create space for the lid's prongs.
At the bottom, we see the central body again with the three holes. The central hole has a recess for the handle, although the fit isn't very precise.
Inside one of the rinsing channels, we see three ovals. This could be a mark from the mold used to manufacture this part. If defects were found in parts, the correct mold could be investigated without having to stop the entire production line. This system is still used today in manufacturing processes where different machines produce the same parts.
The finish isn't bad, but its age and the quality (or lack) of the workmanship are noticeable. The chrome plating has come loose in some places, but not where it would affect shaving. The razor cost 3 rubles in 1983, which was equivalent to 5 pesetas at the time. This may seem like a small amount, but the situation in the USSR wasn't exactly booming back then and this was reflected in the products available for purchase with rubles. Sometimes products were unavailable because production hadn't kept pace. The quality of the materials could also be compromised, although the Russians always tried to manufacture products that would last a lifetime.
It must also be said that for a relatively inexpensive razor intended for the general public, here it is, fully functional and intact. Who am I to say it's not well-made? Time has proven it’s alive and well. The connection between the handle and the internal metal (probably brass) thread is still strong and the plastic of the handle and the case are also in perfect condition.
The tolerances are what we'd expect from a razor made of zinc alloy: loose. Adding a slant to the equation only increases this looseness. To ensure precise blade placement in a slant (where a blade is intentionally contorted), the tolerances must be very tight. A zinc alloy die-cast razor doesn't offer such precise adjustments.
This photo shows how the blade can be secured in the head. There's too much space inside for the blade to move around. The central body, with its central thread and two guides, is meant to keep the blade centered, but the sides of the cover allow the blade to twist. We lower one corner on one side, but not the other corner on the same side and vice versa. With this head, you have to position the blade carefully with your fingers to ensure it's properly aligned and then screw down the handle.
This is also why I've labeled the gap "adjustable" in this razor's description. It's not actually an adjustable gap, but by manipulating the blade while inserting it, you can change it. And manipulating it becomes necessary if you want a certain degree of evenness on both sides. If you don't adjust the blade, the gap and exposure will be different on each side.
But if you decide to manipulate the blade, you have a challenge ahead. Normally, you'd look at the head from above and align the cap so that the blade is roughly parallel to the long sides of the cap and at a similar exposure distance. If I do that, the blade is aligned on the cap as you see in the photo. It looks well-centered.
But when I measure the gap on each side, there's a 0.4 mm difference between the two sides (1.3–1.7 mm). The exposure is also very different. You can feel it when you run your index finger across the shaving plane. You could try to adjust the blade a bit more to even out the distances, but the head's tolerances don't allow for much movement. This is something to keep in mind with any razor where the tolerances have a fairly wide margin.
The comb has pronounced grooves and offers two advantages. First, it provides lubrication channels. The grooves allow shaving cream to pass through, which lubricates the cut. The second advantage of the comb is its well-defined shaving plane. It's a wide and comfortable comb for maintaining the correct cutting angle. Later, in the shaving section, I'll explain how I used the razor. The comb plays an important role.
Score: 13
Material: 3
Finish: 3
Tolerances: 3
Head/Comb Shape: 4
Grip
The handle is small and made of plastic. This has advantages and disadvantages. Let's start with the disadvantages. A small handle reduces the number of fingers you can use for gripping. In my case, I can only use two fingers to grip the handle. This also reduces the leverage I can exert on the head. Plastic is also more fragile than metal, for example. Those are the disadvantages I can identify, but in this case, the disadvantages don't really matter.
Because the advantages of the handle are aligned with the razor's design. A short handle is only a problem when you have to move a lot of weight. This razor weighs less than 30 grams. We don't need much grip to handle that weight. A short handle reduces the leverage we can exert on the razor head, but in this case, with a razor that has a large gap, positive exposure and a slant, we don't want to exert any pressure on the head. We don't need a long handle. And the idea of fragility is relative. The instruction manual already warns you not to drop the razor. But if you drop the handle, which weighs next to nothing (5 grams), it's like dropping a feather. I've never seen a feather break when it falls. It won't damage the floor either. There are metal handles that pierce tiles or leave marks on them. And another point about fragility. This razor is over 40 years old. I'll say it again... if the handle has survived 40 years, it will almost certainly last another 40. Now let's talk about the advantages; dismantling the "disadvantages" isn't the only thing.
An advantage of plastic is that it's inexpensive, lightweight, easy to transport and corrosion-resistant. That's already four advantages, but there are more. This plastic has good friction. The knurling also works very well and has two components. The first one are the grooves perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle, which provide excellent grip and prevent the razor from slipping along that axis.
And the handle isn't perfectly round. The surfaces where the grooves are cut are somewhat flattened. This provides us with surfaces that prevent the handle from twisting between our fingers. The flattening is there, but it's not as pronounced as, for example, on other handles like those of the Lambda Athena, Merkur 41c or Paradigm Ti.
In short, this handle is a very good example of how something can be designed to benefit from and enhance the technical characteristics of the other parts. This razor head doesn't need a long, heavy, metal handle. If that's the reality, why manufacture one? Within the framework of this razor, this handle fits perfectly into the necessary requirements. A good example of efficiency. It doesn't stand out, but it does the job very well.
Comfort is like the grip. It's not exceptional, but it's good. The plastic feels nice and the grooves are noticeable but not bothersome and have no sharp edges. Control over the razor is somewhat hampered by the short handle. There isn't much surface area to change grips, although the light weight of the head makes the grips manageable.
What I like most about this razor head is the smooth glide of its comb. As I've already mentioned, the comb is wide and allows for good lubrication during the cut. In fact, with this razor, the comb is what I use most for shaving. I'll elaborate on that in the shaving section, but when a specific feature is used frequently and works well, it benefits the razor overall.
Score: 15
Dry/Wet: 4
Comfort: 4
Control: 3
Head slide: 4
Management
This is the razor's balance point. There's no way to balance the razor on your index finger and when you place it on a table, sometimes the head lifts the handle. As I explained, in this particular case, the balance doesn't interfere with handling the razor because it's very lightweight. And even though you can tell that all the weight is in the head, it doesn't affect the razor's proper functioning.
Another issue is changing the blade. The short sides of the cover don't cover the blade. When you want to put the blade in place, you have to manipulate it using these sides. Because of the force required to position the blade correctly, this is awkward. The sides of the blade get in the way.
If it weren't for that, the change would be easy. The blade is in the cap, the base plate is on top and we can even use the bottom of the comb to tighten the head. That works well. But having to manipulate the blade makes the whole system much more difficult. It's never advisable to have to apply force with your fingers to a blade, especially when it's already warped.
Cleaning, on the other hand, is easy. The surfaces are mostly unobstructed. Rinsing works very well with those large gaps.
Score: 13
Balance: 1
Weight: 5
Model/Security: 2
Cleaning: 5
Shaving
And now we come to the shaving section. How does this razor shave? It gave me two different kinds of shaves. The first was a shave full of red spots and irritation. But it wasn't the razor's fault. It's normal for a "red" razor to leave your skin red. The thing is, just as every face is different, every razor has its own instruction manual and this first shave showed me exactly how I should use it in my particular situation.
I did my first shave using the intuitive shaving plane. I rested it on the cap and comb to see how it performed. In that position, the razor's exposure was too harsh on my skin.
The second option I use is riding the cap. I open the handle angle to slide it over the cap and decrease the cutting angle. With slant razors, this method doesn't solve the issue that much either because the blade always has a point that protrudes more than the rest. It's not perpendicular to the handle and the cutting angle of the edge varies along its length.
The third method is the one that worked best for me. It involves using the comb as a shaving surface. In this case, I bring the handle closer to the skin, which moves the blade further away. It's true that this increases the cutting angle of the blade relative to the skin, but you can control the efficiency much better by applying a little pressure without having to change the angle of the handle.
Every shave after the first one was excellent. The razor shaves very close and is relatively forgiving when used adequately. But this only works if you find the instruction manual that suits your personal needs. This particular system worked very well for me, but it might not work for someone else. That's the weakness I see with this razor. You need to figure it out and find the right way to use it. It delivers some really good shaves, but you have to find a way to access them. It's not intuitive.
Controlling the cutting head, as with any slant razor, is somewhat tricky. Because of the contorted blade, the cutting edge is never in a perfectly straight line, which can be confusing when cutting on surfaces where you don't have much room to maneuver. The edge is at a different angle and in a different position along its entire length.
The type of blade you use also makes a difference. Of course, I've tried this razor with a Russian blade, a Voskhod in this case and the result was good. It also performs well with other blades (Astra, Matgicol, Lord, Treet). It's true that shaves with sharper blades feel better than shaves with duller blades. This is noticeable with the Derby, where the wider cutting angle makes you feel the cut more. There's no irritation or nicks, but I doubt I'll use any blade more than once in this razor. You need to use a blade in optimal conditions for the best results.
Score: 14
Efficiency: 4
Head control: 3
Derby/blade test influences: 3
Indulgent: 4
Quality/Price
I think the razor has its aesthetic appeal. The white handle gives it a modern touch and the comb really defines its look. I don't know why, but it reminds me of the villain Jaws from the James Bond series. Maybe it's because of the slanted grin that character has.
I think this razor offers a lot in a compact package. It doesn't have much cutting-edge technology, but the shaves you can get from it are good. If it were a purer, more tech-focused razor without the slant blade, I think the shaves would be spectacular.
I've searched everywhere online for this razor, but I haven't been able to find it. @FredPerry77 received this razor from relatives in Russia and apparently there are many of them there. I think selling them abroad could be a good way to get them in the second hand market in the rest of the world. The razors weren't expensive back then and nowadays, the price at which they are sold si still low. I think it's fair to say they've held their value well though.
Could this be my only razor? It's not that amazing, but I wouldn't rule it out as an interesting razor for two reasons. The first one is that it's a part of shaving history. That, for me, gives it a value that can only be acquired over time and that makes it special. The second reason is that it's a razor that makes you think about your shave and how to get the most out of the tool you have in your hands. It's not an auto pilot razor at first, although, once you figure it out, it can be. It's fun and it has a history.
Score: 14
Aesthetics: 3
Reward: 5
Value in 25: 3
Single razor: 3
Conclusion
It's always interesting to receive material from my fellow forum members. Sometimes they're razors that are extraordinary in terms of materials, craftsmanship and luxury. Other times they're razors that work very well with very basic components. And other times you receive relics from the history of our hobby that provide a map of where we've come from on this shaving journey.
I've been thrilled with the AGAT this week. The razor has the power to transport you to another era and environment, allowing you to understand that something so basic, created within a communist framework and with certain limitations imposed by the economic situation, can function just as well as a razor created today in a much easier environment, but one that doesn't necessarily push the designer and manufacturer to deliver their best.
That's why I applaud the AGAT. It's not the best or the prettiest. But it's one that embodies a lot of history and the spirit of a time that not only dominated the political landscape but also had a huge influence on the most basic aspects of people's lives. From their jobs to their grocery shopping to something as fundamental as their personal hygiene. And yet, with all this in mind, this razor does its job very well. In fact, knowing its history, it's fantastic.
Final score: 69 points
