Today we shall examine one of the more unusual and fanciful razors fresh upon the wet shave scene: We present to you the Varukh Safety Razor by Trident Shaving, all the way from the heartland of Ukraine. It’s a new twist on an old style razor, and we will go into all the glorious details below.
Background
I stumbled across pictures of this razor demonstrated on a r/wicked_edge post some months back, and while I noticed it was an unusual and unique design, I made mental note to return to it a little later. Well, later came and I noticed another post by the manufacturer on the same beloved shave forum, so I reached out and requested a demo copy. After it arrived the real personal grooming fun began.
Design
At first glance, we see a razor with a very unusual design, sporting retro styling from the days where daily discussions about the sputnik satellite, Yuri Gagarin, and assorted other cosmonauts would take place at the local pub over a shot of vodka. I notice an hourglass-shaped handle complete with helical striations and an ever so subtle slant structure on the head. The design language used here is quite gorgeous to look at, and it is rare to see this level of original artistry put into a safety razor at this price point.
Up top we have a serrated safety bar, much like you might find with the Timeless razor. Sadly, the blade tabs are not fully covered on this iteration of the razor, but the final product will feature a widened baseplate which will cover the tabs completely. However, this minor detail I can surely overlook when examining the whole package. 
Fit and finish are quite spectacular. There is very little play when assembled, the blade doesn’t orbit around the alignment pins, and the handle tightens down into the base plate to a comfortable, snug stop. The baseplate itself is unusually thick, with a large spotfaced hole going through it. The handle is turned down at the threaded end, and the shoulder of this undercut contacts the spot face on the baseplate. This reduces the amount of material necessary to make the threads in the top cap, but it also effectively limits the handles you can swap on to this shaver to the original, or maybe a rare Yaqi handle.
The finish of the Varukh is matte, and slightly milky, as we expect from aluminum razors. The razor arrives in your choice of three different anodized colors: a bright blue, a candy orange, and a transparent/clear anodized finish. I think the blue looks the best as I view it, but you are entitled to your own opinions, dear reader. 
Specifications
Shall we go over the numbers now? The weight comes in at around 41 grams assembled, so it is very much on the lightweight side of things. Fans of the aluminum Henson will be right at home here as this razor is made from 2024 aluminum, noted for fatigue resistance. Blade exposure is minimal at 0.03 mm, and the blade gap is 0.8 mm, keeping in line with razors of medium aggression.
My Shaves
How fares the shave itself? Overall, the Varukh is exceptionally efficient, and I need just a few swipes for full cleanup. The quick efficiency for which slant razors are famously noted for is readily present here today. I’m in full agreement with Mark, our esteemed webmaster, in his professed admiration for mild razors; and while the Varukh is not what I would call mild, it doesn’t drift so far over to the realm of aggressive shavers as you might see and feel with, e.g., the Stirling razor or a Wolfman with a large blade gap. There is plenty of blade feel to throw around here, so fans of straight razors or kamisori shavers will feel right at home with this one. Lastly, the “bullet head” profile of the Varukh allows for a broad angle of attack, which easily lets you ride the cap for better shave comfort and experience.
A seldom-discussed topic is the wild world of wet shaving is Acoustics, which arrives in spades after the first few passes. As you take your leisurely tile with this shaver, a unique combination of the light material and shave head causes the razor to sounds like a sort of resonator, loudly announcing the therapeutic “crunchy” shave sounds we all enjoy as the blade merrily chops down stiff stubble first thing in the morning. You definitely notice this when making your final passes ATG.
To acquire such an admirable shaving device will set you back a mere $99. Manufacturing and production is done by a lone craftsman in the heart of Ukraine, and I’m pleased to add this modern shaving masterpiece to my collection.
Pros:
- Lightweight.
- Exceptional Styling.
- Superior Efficiency.
Cons:
- Minimal ability to substitute a different handle.
- Some other anodized colors would be nice.
- Beginners might find this slightly challenging.
The Final Cut:
A unique masterwork of wet shaving artistry, readily welcome in the collection of any avid wet shave aficionado.
Trident Shaving:
Disclaimer: This razor was gifted to me by Sergiy of Trident Razors for purposes of a review. There were no further inducements of any variety to shift the discussion topics, subject matter, or conclusions in one direction or another. All of my words, thoughts, and conclusions are entirely my own.
