Thread: my first razors

Hello all,
I have been lurking around for the past week or so, and this is my first post. I have been throwing around the idea of picking up a straight to start shaving with for around the past 10 years. Well I finally decided to go looking around at the antique shops yesterday.
The first I picked up is a Genco Safege that is in good condition with no nicks or chips. It has some rust around the pivot area, but the scales are in good condition and the blade is tight around the pivot. I think it should clean up quite well, but does need a good honing first.


The second one I got is a Wade and Butcher with a Barber's notch. The scales are in bad shape and needs replaced but the blade is in good shape with a couple small chips near the heel.




I will be looking around shortly on who i want to send them out to for work. I don't have any hones for use on razors because I have never had one. I do have a nice set of hones for my knives but they are far too coarse to use on a straight. I think I will be sending the Genco out first to be cleaned up for my first shaver.
I seen some purple african hardwood around some where on the forum that i think would look absolutly fantastic on the Wade and Butcher, so i need to dig around and find out what it is so i can contact someone about making me some scales.


what do you guys think?

-Wes

Welcome! Come in and play! Bring your toys!

Both of those razors look like excellent future shavers. The Wade will need some skillful honing, but there's still plenty of razor there to work with, and those older W&B's are wonderful on the face.

That W&B has some hone wear but it should clean up nicely I'm not seeing much "Bad" about it's scales though heck it's well over 100 years old

The scales are cracked all around the pin at the wedge and chunks have fell out all along the edges. I didn't think it was in too bad a shape for the $20 i paid for it .

I hope to get them both sent out soon for honing. I am currently looking for someone here in Tulsa that can hone up the Genco for me so i can start using it.