May not be much to look at but it special

Grandfather died many, many years ago. Grandmother is nearing 90 and mentally fading fast. My mom had mentioned that I shave with a straight some time ago. My last visit she dug out grandpa's razor and hone. It was tucked away in a drawer in a back room. The hone and razor are a matched set, both made by Geneva Cutlery.

The hone is in good shape and leather backed for stropping. The box is marked 1.50. Genco Geneva Cutlery Co. Hone-Strop.

The razor is a Geneva Cutlery 'Damascus'. It is not real damascus but just patterned steel. The razor had some rust on it and the scales were in bad shape. Lots of gunk in there. I did not want to do anything dramatic to the razor. I de-pined it to clean it up. The blade got a light sanding to remove the rust and then gave it a light buffing to clean it up.

The scales got several soaks and scrubbing to clean them up. I repined them with a single brass washer and 1/16 brass rod to keep them original. Turned out good. I am going to hone it up when I have a chance to use it now and then. I need to make a shadow box to keep the set in. Then it will get passed onto my son one day.

That is just so cool....

Oh yeah, good job on the razor too :)

That cleaned up nice!! I also have one of Grandpaps straights,and i shave with it on Christmas morn just to keep the tradition alive.And your right,they are special!!!!

I'd disagree that it's nothing special to look at. Even with out the knowing the background, it looks nice.

If I were in your shoes, even with all your excellent jobs, I'd think this has earned tops of your pride list.

Darn, wish I could be around and hear the story when your boy hands it of to his kid.

If I had that razor and it had belonged to my grandfather it would be the prize of my collection. You're a lucky man and a talented man. Great resto. The hone is super cool too. :tu

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Originally Posted by cannonfodder

Grandfather died many, many years ago. Grandmother is nearing 90 and mentally fading fast. My mom had mentioned that I shave with a straight some time ago. My last visit she dug out grandpa's razor and hone. It was tucked away in a drawer in a back room. The hone and razor are a matched set, both made by Geneva Cutlery.

The hone is in good shape and leather backed for stropping. The box is marked 1.50. Genco Geneva Cutlery Co. Hone-Strop.

The razor is a Geneva Cutlery 'Damascus'. It is not real damascus but just patterned steel. The razor had some rust on it and the scales were in bad shape. Lots of gunk in there. I did not want to do anything dramatic to the razor. I de-pined it to clean it up. The blade got a light sanding to remove the rust and then gave it a light buffing to clean it up.

The scales got several soaks and scrubbing to clean them up. I repined them with a single brass washer and 1/16 brass rod to keep them original. Turned out good. I am going to hone it up when I have a chance to use it now and then. I need to make a shadow box to keep the set in. Then it will get passed onto my son one day.

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Wow, you did a great job of bringing that around, and you have a good story to boot. Lucky dog!

That's fantastic. I love hearing stories of guys getting their grandfather's razors. There really should be a Family Jewels Razor Club.

Edit: I did it. Please go to the Razor Clubs section and add your razor to the Family Jewels!

I attended my family reunion a few weeks ago and my cousin and I were sitting around talking about my grandfather's personal things. I was given his shotgun, another had his old Waltham pocket watch. His house had burned down and a lot was lost. My cousin said by the way I have Granadpa's old Dubl Duck razor. I had thought it had been lost in the fire but I found out my uncle had visited my Grandfather shortly before the fire and was given the razor and had passed it on to his son. So I know some of the excitement that you are feeling. I am anxious to visit my cousin and see the old razor. I have not looked at it since I was a teenager and am now sixty-four. I am excited.

Sometimes it's nice having a fancy/pretty/expensive razor but it tough to beat something with family history.
Great matching set, enjoy

I agree with DirtyChrome I think it a very nice looking razor. Btw nice clean up job and a very cool story to boot.

I also agree. Nice razor Dave! And a good memory.

That cleaned up Beautiful, and with family history as well. Thats just awesome

That is priceless. A great heirloom and memory of your Grandfather. Thank You for sharing.

Thanks for the pic's and more so thanks for sharing! Very nice.

Excellent story and a priceless razor.

I agree with the others and I think it turned out great, but have you shaved with it yet?

I like the scales. Now if I can just find a big Ivory tanged Boker with a cool worked spine to go with that, it will be another itch scratched.

Beautiful razor and heirloom!!
What exactly is the scale material??

Regards,

RazorBack

That is family history, and you did a great job on your Grandfather`s Straight. A gift you will always remember, and nice that your Grandmother remembered it and gave it to you.

Looks great. I love blades with history esp. family history.

Real nice razor. Love the scales and the story.
My Uncle has been teasing me that he has his Grandfathers straight razor that he'll give me. He just has to dig it out of the basement. Driving me nuts wondering what it is. He would have been a barber in the late 1800's.

Great looking razor and restore.

I would have loved to have used my grandfathers old razors. I was talking to my mother the other day and she said that he used to have one. Now I need to go to Greece to find it lol.

Still have not had a chance to hone it. To busy making razors for other people.

The scales are just plastic and the wedge is the original white plastic which has turned yellow from age. The tip is a bit rolled and there is moderate hone ware on the blade but everything is still straight and true. It should hone nicely. I have another Genco and they are quite good shaving razors. I expect this one to be similar.

That's work you'll never be sorry for having done. It was a fine job, and even without the background would be a great razor. That it was your Grandfather's just puts it over the top. If you have children, even if they aren't into str8s, I would think they would appreciate the history. 'Maybe gather info about the razor. If there were any photos of your grandfather - especially if there was one of him shaving, that could go in the center of a frame box w/ the razor and hone when the time comes to pass the history on.

'Grats on great work, but moreso on the connection w/ your roots.

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Originally Posted by cannonfodder

The scales are just plastic....

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cannonfodder,

The scales look like the same material that can be used as a gun grip??
Would be interested to know where i could get my hands on that...... :thinking:

Regards,

RazorBack

Great heirloom & resto.
Curious re the tang stamp. I can see the word German. Surely not German made ?

Very cool and great story. Always nice to rescue a family heirloom.

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Originally Posted by onimaru55

Great heirloom & resto.
Curious re the tang stamp. I can see the word German. Surely not German made ?

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Extra Hollow Ground
German Ground