Thread: ontario vs geneva vs genco

i have a few genco
have shaved with geneva

i just honed up (blue ark)an auction buy ontario razor appears stainless (first time use) and inspite of its flaws got an amazing shave from it. super sharp super comfy!


what is the hive opinion on ontario razors?

Where was it made. The name sounds familiar. Most of the old razors are well made, although some blades are ground better than others.

I think stainless blades were normally marked "stainless" or "inox".

Geneva is Genco and some say Ontario razors were made by Genco. Genco was one of the largest razor companies and made them under many brands.

In the early 1900’s they claimed to make over 6,000 razors per week.

All 3 brands are excellent shavers from the heyday of the Little Valley razor makers.

I have an Ontario Cutlery razor Barber's Special. It was barely used when I got it, very possibly NOS. The steel is very hard, and I've gotten amazing edges on it despite my intermediate honing skills. I like it a lot!

Originally Posted by biglou13

i just honed up an auction buy ontario razor appears stainless, (first time use) and got an amazing shave from it. super sharp super comfy!

You say it appears to be stainless steel. Most stainless steel razors were marked as such as a marketing thing as in better than regular carbon steel. Why do you say it appears to be stainless?

Any razors from the Little Valley area I have all shave very well.

Bob

I agree. Little valley razors are great shavers. I have many of them. Working on a geneva and a genco right now. Just checked. I have Ontario razors too.

Geneva razors I have all shave very nice. In fact all American razors I have shave well, on par with anything else out there.

Added photo

My first razor was a Genco and it did a good job. I didnt know a thing about razors and had it sharpened by the local knife sharpener, It wasnt great but still did the job. Then I found SRP and learned all the things that my guy was doing wrong. I should get that old blade out and send it off to get honed. (The knife guy told me he finished the razor on 600 grit stone. That was the end for he and I.)