Thread: Total newbie with a Genco and a Clauss ....

I just bought two vintage straight razors, which are winging their way toward my house.

A Genco:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...view=all&tid=0

And a Clauss:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...view=all&tid=0

I don't have a strop yet, and I am not sure how to tell what kind of condition these are in, the blades looked clean in some of the photos that were online, without visible issues in the close-ups.

I'm hoping buying these was a good decision ... but I don't know what I'm doing here. Next step: get a strop and figure out if these need to be professionally honed before entrusting my face to them?

I'm currently shaving with glycerine facial soap in a mug and a shaving brush. Is the specialty shaving soap that much better?

I couldnt get the link to work, but more then likely they will need to be honed.

in my opinion you should've picked something in the classifieds instead.
the razors need work and then serious hone work, so when all is done you'd have spent much more time and/or money than if you had just gotten something already good to go.
but it's always fun to do ebay.

as far as strop goes, i'd suggest you pick either one of the illinois ($30-$40) or the $20 one at ruprazor if you want the probably cheapest option.

Clauss item number is 150401519382. Genco item number is 350299378717.

You can do a search for those numbers on eBay to see the razors.

They look like they're in decent shape and should serve you well. Definitely send them out to be honed and you might want to pay a little extra to have them clean up (polish it up and tighten the pivot pin if needed) a bit.

Originally Posted by commiecat

Clauss item number is 150401519382. Genco item number is 350299378717.

You can do a search for those numbers on eBay to see the razors.

They look like they're in decent shape and should serve you well. Definitely send them out to be honed and you might want to pay a little extra to have them clean up (polish it up and tighten the pivot pin if needed) a bit.

Yes, that's the ones!

There's a guy in Raleigh who sharpens razors ("The Shaving Edge", (919) 785-2858, according to Google). He's probably a lot less experienced than some of the pros like Lynn, but he's local and I could talk to him.

Would you go with local, or send it out?

Originally Posted by gugi

in my opinion you should've picked something in the classifieds instead.
the razors need work and then serious hone work, so when all is done you'd have spent much more time and/or money than if you had just gotten something already good to go.
but it's always fun to do ebay.

I figured that if I spend $30 on a razor, then add $20 to get it fixed up and honed, I'm still lower than many of the prices I see in the classifieds. Or am I missing something?

Originally Posted by gugi

as far as strop goes, i'd suggest you pick either one of the illinois ($30-$40) or the $20 one at ruprazor if you want the probably cheapest option.

How much of a difference will there be between the Illinois and Ruprazor?

You forgot the cost of cleaning them up and the honing may end up more than $20, what I see on the poor ebay pictures doesn't look encouraging. They may turn out really good, but right now you have a $70 gamble.

No idea about the honing services you are referring to but you can certainly give it a try and find out. It could be terrible or it could be great.

The main differences between the strops is that the illinois is 2.5" vs. 2" and had a canvas component, which is important for long term edge retention.

Im still a relative newbie now but here is my opionion on the strop. I have the Illinois 827 and it contains a linen component. It is a great strop for the price. It ran me about 40 dollars and is recommended by many vets on this site

The Filly strop does not contain a linen part, but is still a great strop. The back of the strop has already been pasted with CrOX for touch ups if your razor starts to dull.

The guys that sell razors on this site know razors in and out. They realize that this razor will be used to shave and they make sure its up to par. For 40-70 bucks you can get a very nice high quality vintage razor. When buying razors on ebay, the sellers don't care what you do with the razor. I would imagine that most of them think people are buying just to collect. Their are many variables that can come into play where you will have to spend some money to restore the razor in order to shave with it. The razor might not be able to take an edge. Excessive hone wear, cracked scales, loose pins, warping, rusting, and pitting can occur and it might to be in the pics. Furthermore, you will still have to spend another 20 to get it honed.

If I had asked some questions before buying, I might have bought the razors here in classifieds, but it's too late for that now. I've already made that particular gamble, and we'll see what comes in the mail.

Is there any particular reason not to go with Williams shaving soap, which is readily available and cheap?

I assume that the local guy who sharpens straight razors can tell me whether I need to get the razors restored, not just honed....

Yeah try the williams, it's 99c+tax here so it's probably similar where you are. I haven't used mine except for the first week since I have too many better soaps, but it works.