Thread: New razor worse off than when I bought it.

I bought a Hen and Rooster today from the Smokey Mountain Knife Works. When I bought it, it would shave arm hair with some difficulty. I got it home and started to hone it. Now it won't cut hair at all. The reason this makes no sense to me is that I have used the same equipment to hone razors before with wonderful results. The only difference is I used 1 layer of electrical tape. I forgot to mention, it's a stainless blade. Does anyone have any suggestions?

are you sure the bevel is set correctly?

yes take the tape off and go to your lowest grit stone .move up you should be fine.

I just checked that sight and I see razor brands that are on the "not recomended" list. Does anyone have an update on this specific brand?

I have a Hen and Rooster, and it shaves fine, but mine is HC steel.
They may have been sold out since mine was manufactured. I seem to recall JoeD had one, and knew more about them.

Hen and Rooster used to be top of the line cutlery and razors but the original company went under and sold their name so what you get now is not what you got once upon a time.
Not knowing when your razor was manufactured does not allow us to give you an accurate answer but I am betting if it is a recent incarnation of Hen and Rooster you are likely dealing with poor steel. Someone here may know better though.

As JMS said, the old ones were fine razors. I have a more recent H&R that came in a velvet and suede box and has fancy etching on the blade. Honed up fine and shaves well. It is made in Solingen. I've read of a similar model that was marked 'Spain" and the owner wasn't happy with it. Whether that had to do with his lack of skill in shaving of honing or with the quality of the razor is unknown to me. bulldog, give it another try on the hones and if it doesn't work for you send it out and let a honemeister take a shot at it. BTW, is the country of origin marked on the blade ? Here is the one I have described above.

The one with the black scales is marked "Solingen" on the blade, on the box, and in the box. The one I bought yesterday, the one with the purple, black and gold scales, is marked Spain on the back of the tang but it says nothing about Germany.

Well I can't say whether the Spain marked one is good, bad or indifferent. I can say that the one I have marked Germany is real good. Fillys were made in Spain so they were capable of making a quality razor back in the golden days. What they are doing now I don't know. You'll have to see if you can get it sharp. If not maybe send it to Lynn or one of the other honemeisters and get a second opinion. If Lynn can't get it sharp no one can and it needs to be on the razors to avoid list.

The true Hen and Roosters of legendary status are marked bertrum. They went out of business and the company was bought by AG Russell who ran it into the 1970s and then they went totally bankrupt and from that point on it's just a name. My understanding is Frost owns the name now.