American made / branded razors

Hi guys,

For most of my straight shaving I've used Sheffield razors, with an occasional other thrown in for good measure. But lately my eye has been drawn to some American beauties. Last week I won a Union Cutlery co. (which I believe is made in America) and a Red Imp (the tang stamps are in English so I assume they were made for export - but not sure about that).
My razors haven't arrived yet, so naturally I'm worried some greedy postman has taken them for himself, but if they turn up I'll post a couple of pics.
Getting back to the topic, would you guys mind listing some American makers, or razors made elsewhere but for distribution in the states that I could keep my eye on in the future?

As always, thanks.

Here are some sites that give you dates of manufacture and where manufactured.


Razor makers
Straight Razor Manufacturers and Dates of Operation
STRAZORS.com - all about classic razors - Home page

The Union is a good one..

The Impy can really be almost anything all of which have always impressed me with the shaves :)

Case made one
Morris Imported one
and Ludo made them

They are all nearly identical except for the stamps on the backside, I honestly don't know the whole story behind them


I will buy and try nearly any NY made razor and especially target Little Valley NY razors

but any of the razors from that area have always impressed me

In no order

Case
Kinfolks
Cattaruagus
Thistle
Genco
Geneva
Oleans
Union
Robeson
George Korn

Shumate out of St.Louis and early production out of TX are another to try

Look at the ones made in MA too there are many good makers there


And of course Torrey made so many razors it isn't even funny


Many of these razors are in the 4/8 - 6/8 size and a high percentage are Hollow grind - Extreme Hollow grind most are very capable of taking and holding very refined edges...


(Note to newbs, these are just names the condition of the razor is of paramount importance)

As my friend Glen has pointed out, I find it hard to beat good old American Made Razors!!! I’m in complete agreement about the NY ones! I’ve just finished an Olean that’s a fantastic shaver!!

I will be test shaving a Challenge Faux Frameback 6/8 Roundpoint that was made in Bridgeport CN. The initial findings tell me that I’m in for a Great Shave!!

I believe I have two American made razors, a Genco and a Clauss, both 6/8 very hollow ground. They were both easy to hone and took a super edge. If these two examples are typical then American made razors shave as well as any out there. I know that if I run into more that I like I wouldn't hesitate to buy it.

Of the ones made off shore for American companies I like the Hess 44 stainless and the Double Duck Special No.1. The DD Special No.1 is often passed over for the more fancy DDs so I think is still a relative bargain and just as good a shaver as it's fancy cousins.

Bob

Just remembered I have a Landers Frary & Clark, also a good shaver.

I've got a couple of Case Bros from around the turn of the century. One from Springville, NY and the other the more common Little Valley, NY. About a half dozen Genco Fluid Steel, a Hess 44, a Kinfolks and a Robeson. Not sure if I have a Cattaraugus, think I might. There was also Western out of Colorado, know I don't have one of those. Wiss Cutlery out of Newark, NJ. They were more into scissors but made some razors, imported others. Ain't a bad one in the bunch.

I’m in total agreement here. Here’s a unique 7/8 Clauss that is one of my top shavers. I am partial to King Razor Mfg. I have a few, wanna see?
Mike

http://i.imgur.com/6KqQN8U.jpg

What a coincidence - I've just this moment finished an Ontario Cutlery Co, (Geneva N.Y.) re-scale, a first American razor for me as they don't come up very often on Ebay over here. I don't know what the quality is like as it's not honed yet but I'm looking forward to giving it a try and adding it to the British, German, Swedish, Spanish , French, Swiss and Belgian razors in my rota.

I have a Burrell Topflight, and a Geneva pyramid, two of my favorites, also a Kinfolks which i haven't honed yet, but i am sure will be a great razor if the others are anything to go by.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

The Union is a good one..

The Impy can really be almost anything all of which have always impressed me with the shaves :)

Case made one
Morris Imported one
and Ludo made them

They are all nearly identical except for the stamps on the backside, I honestly don't know the whole story behind them


I will buy and try nearly any NY made razor and especially target Little Valley NY razors

but any of the razors from that area have always impressed me

In no order

Case
Kinfolks
Cattaruagus
Thistle
Genco
Geneva
Oleans
Union
Robeson
George Korn

Shumate out of St.Louis and early production out of TX are another to try

Look at the ones made in MA too there are many good makers there


And of course Torrey made so many razors it isn't even funny


Many of these razors are in the 4/8 - 6/8 size and a high percentage are Hollow grind - Extreme Hollow grind most are very capable of taking and holding very refined edges...


(Note to newbs, these are just names the condition of the razor is of paramount importance)

---

Please don't buy any of the brands Glen suggested. I would prefer that the prices remain as they are.

There were tons of American made razors and they are some of the most under rated pieces you will ever find. The original cutlery capitol in the U.S was centered around the Little Valley area of New York State.

The real secret has always been you can get some fabulous razors for a steal. People want Solingen and Sheffield and Sweden and pass by the American stuff.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cudarunner

As my friend Glen has pointed out, I find it hard to beat good old American Made Razors!!! I’m in complete agreement about the NY ones! I’ve just finished an Olean that’s a fantastic shaver!!

I will be test shaving a Challenge Faux Frameback 6/8 Roundpoint that was made in Bridgeport CN. The initial findings tell me that I’m in for a Great Shave!!

---

You can Add Challenge (at least this razor) to the list of American Manufacturers who made Great Shavers, or should I say 'Fantastic Shavers'!!!! I just finished a very sweet, smooth and wonderful two pass shave off of the razor above!!

The owner (and my friend) is really going to like this one!! :tu

Yikes ! :idea: Forgot all about JR Torrey out of Massachusetts. Got a few of his and they are real good too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Yikes ! :idea: Forgot all about JR Torrey out of Massachusetts. Got a few of his and they are real good too.

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I also just finished cleaning up and honing a Torrey 1/4 grind for my friend! Again, great shaver!!! :tu

I think we forget Keen Kutter (Simmons Hardware) and Hibbard Spencer and Bartlett too ........... :shrug:

The majority of mine are all Geneva Cutlery Company/Genco (same company and at one point was the largest factory in the world), though I have a Torrey which is one of my best shavers. I also have a Cattaruagus that I've yet to clean/hone.

Pretty much all the Genco branded items I've come across have been good quality. I have two barber hones (one of which is a strop back) that are great. I'm hoping to one day find a Genco retractable strop...


Attachment 138414

Yes, American razors were produced by the most enterprising and skillfull of emmigrants from England, Germany, and elsewhere. A look through this thread will yield much info on history and makers! http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...llow-conn.html

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I think we forget Keen Kutter (Simmons Hardware) and Hibbard Spencer and Bartlett too ........... :shrug:

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Yes Jimmy we did! :banghead: How could we!!

Not to pop your bubbles, gents, but Simmons and HSB were most likely German made for them just as most "Hardware Store" varieties, including Shapleigh!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Yikes ! :idea: Forgot all about JR Torrey out of Massachusetts. Got a few of his and they are real good too.

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You also forgot about C-MON -- when Carl Monkhouse, Sr. moved his family from Germany to the US, it was to Ellicottville, NY.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

Not to pop your bubbles, gents, but Simmons and HSB were most likely German made for them just as most "Hardware Store" varieties, including Shapleigh!

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You know, I've got this Shapleigh razor I'd never showed off until just now, but even though it doesn't count for this thread, I'm putting here! I've never seen another of the same model that retains all its blinged-out glorious excess.

Attachment 138519

Attachment 138521

Still, there is also Maher & Grosh out of Toledo, Ohio.

Attachment 138520

Yes! And a hone to match! ;)


Attachment 138522Attachment 138523

I have a Diamond King hone also and I've used it to maintain a few of my razors that were pro honed. Its a very good hone and has kept my razors in good order. Thanks for the photo Sharptonn.

Marty E.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stimpy52

Please don't buy any of the brands Glen suggested. I would prefer that the prices remain as they are.

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Oh, wait, I forgot....you should buy them when I'm selling them. My altruism expires at the cash register.