I am almost at the end of my Sputnik blade trial and can safely say that this is an excellent piece of Russian manufacturing (unlike, I am sorry to say a lot of what makes it out of that country into the West- thinking Ladas and Zorki cameras!). The Sputnik is sharp and reasonably smooth – not quite as sharp and smooth as the current benchmark, the Treet Blue Special – but pretty close, and certainly close to a par with my recollection of blades such as the Feather. I can’t comment on longevity since I change blades every day – a small treat, and well-affordable given the rock-bottom price of great DE blades compared to cartridge razors such as the Fusion. If the Treet BS is a 9.0 then I would rate the Sputnik a solid 8.0 on my ten-point scale.

Today’s prep was with the Valobra shave stick mated to the discontinued Proraso Red cream for a terrific superlather worked up with the Simpson Chubby 2. Alum block…finished off with Trumper’s Coral Skin Food and a splash of Aqua Velva….mmmmmm!