Thread: Let's Have a Contest.

wow! that is sweet. Nice looking razor. Good idea for a contest.

Alright TheBigSpendur, for the Spirit of American Exceptionalism, the Honor of American Made Pride, and a chance at one Sweet Torrey Razor. One of the true tests of quality is name recognition. Grant it there are plenty of well known names not from American companies. Below is a list of names that most will agree are underrated, yet great quality razors.

Grant it many may have been blanked or even ground in Germany. That just goes to show you that an American company will take that extra step to assure that they are providing a quality product.

When working on this post I found that I have almost every company on this list. Even a unicorn like a Dubl Duck / Puma razor. While anyone will know names like Dubl Duck or Case, I'll bet you that some of the most discriminating collectors here on SRP probably have used and can attest to the quality of others on this list. Just a few of the names in my shaving rotation are Dubl Duck, Case, Electric Cutlery, Beau Brummel, Genco, Griffon, King, Ontario, Koken, Maher & Grosh, and Torrey. My experience from these razors alone have shown me that these American products can take and hold an edge in comparison with names like Dovo, Wade & Butcher, Mappin & Webb, Otto Busch, Henckels Friodur, Wostenholm, or even my Kayser Ellison Steel razors.

Beau Brummel
Case (Red Imp, Case Ace, Temperite)
Cattaraugus Cutlery Co.
Depew (The Perfect Razor)
Dubl Duck (Pearlduck, Lifetime, Wonderedge, Satinedge, Satinwedge, Special No. 1)
Electric Cutlery (Electric)
F.A. CLAUBERG & CO. (Tonsorial Gem, The Mikado, Halberd, Imperator and RazorMan)
Fred Dolle Barber Supply Co. (“The Lennox” "Presto" "DE LUXE" "REFORM", and "Columbian Souvenir World's Fair commemorative razor")
Geneva Cutlery or Genco
~ Geneva, New York
~ By 1912, the largest US manufacturer of razors.
~ Army & Navy
~ Blue Steel
~ Easy Aces
~ Expert
~ Fluid Steel
~ Gold Seal
~ Head Barber
~ Henry's (Triumph, X and XX)
~ Master Barber
~ Red Cross
~ Tiger
George W. Korn Razor Manufacturing Co.
~ Little Valley, New York
~ This factory made razors for many firms, including Case, Cattaraugus, and Sears & Roebuck
Griffon Cutlery Works (Carbo Magnetic)
Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. (OVB, Our Very Best)
King Razor Mfg. (King Midas)
Koken Barber Supply
Landers, Frary & Clark
Little Valley Knife Association (I Must Kut)
Maher & Grosh
Ontario Cutlery
Peerless Cutlery Co.
Sears (Queen, and Crow) they may have imported some, but they imported the best.
Shumate Razor Company (Barber Deluxe)
Simmons Hardware Co. (Keen Kutter, Barbers Pet, and the Royal
Sta-Sharp (made or at least carried by Sears, maybe someone can clarify)
Robeson Cutlery Works(ShurEdge, Our Pet, and The Razor That Fits Your Face)
Torrey Razor Co. (The Artist)
Top Flight
Union cutlery Co (Spike Razor)
Utica Knife & Razor Co. (Red Point Razor)
Waterville Cutlery
Yankee Cutlery (Lion Brand)

Even S.R. Droescher (Gold Bug, and De-Luxe) formerly an importer, opened a factory in New Jersey.

I like American straights the best because they come from my history. There is a pride in workmanship and the excellent usability that any quality tool should have. Other manufactures have the same qualities I'm sure but I feel proud of what was manufactured here on my soil. I like my beer American , my trucks American and my women....... Breathing, let's not get too carried away and paint myself too far into a corner

Are American made straights the best straights ever? I don't know if I would go that far, but Torrey will always be special to me since I live in/near Worcester. They are also well crafted and do their job excellently. I think the best straight in the world is the favorite straight in your bathroom.

I love that I can buy an American razor for pennies on the dollar to all others, except the awesome, new customs being put out in the US. We are indeed are a people of utility and take pride in our ingenuity, while scoffing at the pomp of our Old World counterparts (Gnomish Mines of Moria and all!) There is the wonder of American advertising you gotta love in their razors. All the crazy schemes and claims bring a smile to my face.

Good luck reading all the essay entries!!!

A razor is very much an integral part of the Traditional American Male Icon..has been that way for generations. Hence it only makes sense that the Traditional American Male uses a tool forged by fellow American craftsmen...and I don't mean some dinky, weenie, blade all covered with gold wash and cute floral patterns. I mean a fistful of sharp, shiny, handcrafted STEEL!!

Enter Hart Steel. Once referred to as the "Government 1911 of Razors" and after you have shaved with one you can understand why the comparison is legit.

The Traditional American Male is also a man of varied tastes and sometimes believes there is a place for finesse in the shave den as wet shaving can certainly be seen as somewhat of an art (seems there is a retail operation that thinks that also...).

Here is where the intricate and refined delicacy of razors made by guys like Tim Zowada, Robert Williams, and Brian Brown (to name but a few)
come into the arena. If Hart razors can be likened to a Govt. 1911, these are the Swiss made SIGs of Razordom. Elegant, not unlike a piece of art. Swiss-like precision and quality, but nonetheless made right here in the USA.

American razors herald a practice followed by legends like John Wayne, Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Teddy Roosevelt, and countless other American heroes. You think "they" used anything less but the finest razors for their daily shave?? I think NOT!! Q.E.D.

OK...now that's done. I'm gonna go jump in the F150, and pick up some ammunition and targets so I can take the Ruger and maybe the Remington out to the range for some practice later this week.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Gee, Suavio. I hope you can find one with soul! Gotta keep looking!

Oh my! Classic American soul those!!

Ah, so why are American razors the best, you ask.

Well I can't prove they are scientifically, but as a relatively new SR user, I have only one -- a Burrell Top Flight 5/8 spike point that I acquired from a member here. My others are all German (so far), but then, isn'y German steel the best? Again, I don't know and can't prove yes or no, but I know that the Japanese claim the same title of best steel as do many other countries.

However, there was a time (and may be again someday) when US steel was considered the best, and US steel mills dotted many great port and rail cities in the US, including my home town. So I have a soft spot in my heart for objects made of steel and US steel especially, and as luck would have it my favorite razor and best shaver is that plain vanilla Top Flight -- it's top notch! And coincidentally one of my other favorites is an American classic, the S&W revolver...and don't they look nice together,too?

If asked you better say yes they do, because the folks in Springfield Massachusetts knew how to deliver the goods, as did the folks in Ellicottville, N.Y.!

Originally Posted by KindestCutOfAll

Grant it many may have been blanked or even ground in Germany. That just goes to show you that an American company will take that extra step to assure that they are providing a quality product.

Great post, but...
Doesn't the fact (if true) that many use a German or English blank or grind detract from the argument that US razors are the best? Suppose it comes down to what makes a good razor, but the steel, forge and grind must be right up there...

Originally Posted by Suavio

Great post, but...
Doesn't the fact (if true) that many use a German or English blank or grind detract from the argument that US razors are the best? Suppose it comes down to what makes a good razor, but the steel, forge and grind must be right up there...

Not necessarily. To make a quality product doesn't by it's nature require you to produce every part along the way. A great baker doesn't have to grow and mill his own wheat.

If as a razor producer you have a source of inexpensive production in place, you CAN have your product produced to order still makes it your product.

While Apple is without a doubt an American company and all of it's products designed here, they are produced around the world. IMHO Apple makes quality products. That doesn't makes their merchandise Chinese, Japanese, etc. because they have sourced them outside of the USA.

We could even send him our president! That would do the trick! ?????
You want to go to war with NZ over razors ?


I think this blade says a lot about the American razor. The American razor does it's job and is crafted for the job it was made for. It brought fine steel into the homes of many men who decided to shave themselves. Not many say " For Barbers Use" but many a barber used them. Many of the razors that came to America were fashioned after those produced here when the sales increased. These razors were made for the men that used them. Men who needed a tool to do a job. Some of the finest steel in the world went into these razors and I have yet to run across one that was bent because the tang stamp was hit so hard. I have yet to see 1 that didn't look like it was made with pride, although modest. How can a Duck lover say all this? Well ,,the Ducks were made to order for the American public. Bresnick was a very smart business man. He knew that if he was going to compete with American made razors he would have to keep his quality top notch and the "bling" and salesmanship which he employed didn't hurt. After the first world war every nation needed work and so he was able to import razors made to his specifications that would have a chance against the American market at the same price point. The Satinedge is made from Swedish steel , ground by German craftsman, with all the fancy brass Europe could mold into a set of scales. To me THAT says a lot about the razors he was competing against. My favorite comes from none of the more popular brands and/or locations. And it pretty much speaks for itself. Even though it has been through many a war and hardship. It will shine again someday. I will make sure of that. It will shine with all the American pride that went into making it. And I am sure it will shave as good as any razor I have used.

If you want to take it away from me, you will have to pry it out of my cold dead (somewhat bloody) hand :<0)