Genco in Ironwood (My First)
This is my first razor and first razor restoration.
I purchased this blade at an antique store for ten bucks. The blade was rusted and the handle was warped and cracked. (I'm sorry, I don't have any before photos.) I re-finished and honed the blade and pinned some temporary handles on it. I ordered a new pivot and teflon washers. With new hardware in hand, I made up the final scales from some flat-sawn desert ironwood with sapwood. The wedge spacer is ebony.
There are still a few pits and scratches in the blade. I'm not sure how good my honing and stropping skills are. It shaves better than anything else I've used, but that's not saying a lot. Also, the tang is tapered at the pivot, so it doesn't rotate as smoothly as I'd like. (Why the heck do they taper them like that?)
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I've been shaving with this for about 2 months now, and I'm really enjoying it. I still have a long way to go with my straight razor kit (sharpening, lathering and so on). I don't feel it's too bad so far, considering the $15 total investment.
Phillip