American Steel!!!!

You know after todays shave, a Robson Shuredge, I have come to a definite conclusion... Most of my one pass BBS shavers are American, yes there are some of those, that are made with German steel, or actually made in Germany and just imported....
But some are just good olé Made in the U.S.of A....
I have the utmost respect for the actual German brands and even the silky smoothness of the Sheffield and Spanish steels...
For some reason though my top shavers mostly have USA on there somewhere!!!!
Is this just me, or has anyone else noticed this also?????

I agree, I think it might a result of the superior iron ore coming from the Mesabi range and steel from the Pittsburgh area at that time.

SSSSSHHHHHH!!!! Glen you will drive the prices up!!!!:nono:

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Originally Posted by Doc

SSSSSHHHHHH!!!! Glen you will drive the prices up!!!!:nono:

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:roflmao :roflmao :roflmao No :cen
I hereby retact all statements about any razor being good
But honestly I don't think my humble opinion matters all that much

My best shaver is my Robeson... it has uneven bevels, a slightly bent blade, and lots of patina... I call it one of my "dirty girls"... and it shaves better than anything else I use, i.e. 1 Maher and Grosh chopper, 2 Wapis, 1 Fromm Eagle, 1 Chinese Double Arrow, 1 JR Torrey... my Bowdin's Wedge and my Levering Razor Co "The Artist" are close seconds, though.

Wait... no... I take it back... my Robeson stinks! It's bent, it has lots of patina, and it has an uneven bevel... yeah, it's no good! If you find one in similar shape, just send it to me for proper disposal.

So anyone stuck with these inferior blades should send them my way. I collect them because they are simply nostalgic americana and have no real value whatsoever. thanks:w

I've been accumulating a lot of US made razors lately. They ain't always the prettiest, but they are some great shavers.

Challenge
Genco
Ontario
Simmons
Christensen
Clauss
etc

Jordan

I've been saying for a long time now that American Made Razors are very underated and they are really superior blades and with the exception of old case razors can be had for a song.

Two of my top 3 are American.. Chandler custom and a Genco Grant.

Genco's are my favorite American brand...my favorite one has pink scales!

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Originally Posted by richardhead

Genco's are my favorite American brand...my favorite one has pink scales!

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grumble - mutter - grumble - Metro.....



















Kidding!!!:rolleyes:

Jordan

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Originally Posted by jnich67

grumble - mutter - grumble - Metro.....
[snip]

Kidding!!!:rolleyes:

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I will always expect that kind of ribbing from having a 'pank' razor. :)

If you need me, I'll be off shaving with my ax while eating raw meat.

Hi,
I' ll say that old razors are better done that those of today, not same steel and, most important: not same workers... and technologies ......:w

I just bought an American razor from an antique shop yesterday. No maker's name, just "Made in USA". It was the Devil's own job to hone up - seriously hard steel. Shaved with it this morning - a good, smooth, easy, comfortable shave. Better than a Sheffielder?....You surely would not expect a Yorkshireman to say that!:D

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Originally Posted by richardhead

I will always expect that kind of ribbing from having a 'pank' razor. :)

If you need me, I'll be off shaving with my ax while eating raw meat.

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I have to add here Shaving with a "Pank" razor is the mark of a real man
cause only real men shave with pink razor's!!!!!!
(This was part of the deal when I sold him that razor)

Actually that Genco was a really nice razor, very well behaved on the hone too...

You remind me of my dad... uncannily honest! My parents are Portuguese (from the Azores islands, not mainland Portugal), but we grew up in Bermuda... a few years ago, my parents did a bus tour of Europe with their church group... Italy, France, Spain and Portugal. I asked what I thought would be a slam dunk question... "Dad, what was the most beautiful part of Europe you saw on your trip?" Without a doubt, I thought he would say some region of Portugal.

Nope! The mountainous forested regions of Northern Spain was his answer, with no hesitation. Then he proceeded to explain to me why the border between Spain and Portugal exists. They call it the frontier in Portuguese, it's a natural barren landscape where little grows and few eek out a living from the land.

On that note, I have to report that I got the best shave yet last night with my Chinese Double Arrow razor, which I had put a microbevel on per the Zowada thread a few weeks ago.

Hmm... I hope I never find the perfect shave formula... perfect shaves are OK... I wouldn't mind some of those in my lifetime, would give me something to savor and anticipate reproducing... but if I ever get the perfect shave recipe down, I think I would lose a lot of interest in this endeavour. I suspect I'll spend a lifetime without finding the perfect recipe, and I'm happy with that :)

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Originally Posted by Yorkshireman

I just bought an American razor from an antique shop yesterday. No maker's name, just "Made in USA". It was the Devil's own job to hone up - seriously hard steel. Shaved with it this morning - a good, smooth, easy, comfortable shave. Better than a Sheffielder?....You surely would not expect a Yorkshireman to say that!:D

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I have to admit that three of my four best shavers are American made.

Genco Gold Seal, Genco Head Barber and a Union Razor Cutlery Company. They certainly don't make them like that any more.

Chris

I don't know what you are talking about....

All of those American steel producers are over-rated butter knives, especially the Torrey and Gencos!

Crap I tell 'ya! You should send them on to me so I can make some nice display cases because they don't shave! :w


v/r

Allen

Hey Allen,


Oh I couldn't possiby send you such inferrior blades. I would feel terrible knowing I cheaped you in such a fashion. However I would be happy to lighten anyone's load of said "butter knives".:tu

Chris

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

Most of my one pass BBS shavers are...

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Huh? Is your hair silk? Teach me wise one how to receive BBS in one shave

I have 4 Robeson hammered tangs in my rotation, Still out to get 3 more for some reason :D

I love my american steel... Robeson, Shumate, Noonan, Christensen, genco, case and WILLIAMS! all fantastic :)

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Originally Posted by syslight

I love my american steel... Robeson, Shumate, Noonan, Christensen, genco, case and WILLIAMS! all fantastic :)

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And since that time let me add a few more Zowada, Earl and Chandler (in purchase order)!

the Ritchie and Stewart guide seems to give huge values to american steel razors (and relatively low valuations to solingen razors).

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

For some reason though my top shavers mostly have USA on there somewhere!!!!
Is this just me, or has anyone else noticed this also?????

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Haha, I'd like to think my Kinfolks had some input to this conclusion? :)
I put it in the rotation but it keeps getting pulled out every other time instead of every 4th time.

Old thread, but I'd like to add a "hell yes" to Glen's sentiment.

Some of my best shavers are American made. Back when that actually STOOD for something, and people in this country took pride in their work...

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Originally Posted by joke1176

Old thread, but I'd like to add a "hell yes" to Glen's sentiment.

Some of my best shavers are American made. Back when that actually STOOD for something, and people in this country took pride in their work...

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From what I've seen here on SRP, there are still some Americans who take pride in their work.

Dave

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Originally Posted by Tonsor

From what I've seen here on SRP, there are still some Americans who take pride in their work.

Dave

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I think they are the exception, not the rule. As a whole, the quality of american workmanship isn't so highly looked upon in the global community in a cost vs quality assessment.

It wasn't always that way, but it is now.

Robeson, Union Cut, are absolute junkers that I use, I dont recommend them to anyone wanting to bid on one :D

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Originally Posted by loueedacat

the Ritchie and Stewart guide seems to give huge values to american steel razors (and relatively low valuations to solingen razors).

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Are Ritchie and Stewart Americans, by any chance? :)

I have no American razors yet, but thanks for the recommendation :tu

Actually I have no idea why American razors shouldn't be good?! There is good steel and the workmanship is underrated in my opinion.

We have several Robesons that we have collected. For nostolgic reasons also as we live near Rochester NY where the distribution center was. The actual manufacturing facility was in Perry NY about an hour's drive away from Rochester to the Southwest. Robeson did import blades from Germany but in the early 1900's there were high import taxes on imported cutlery so they started manufacturing here in the States... Just some history on the company :w

We also have Torrey's, Genco and Geneva blades as well as a couple of others that I can't remember off the top of my head.

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Originally Posted by CarrieM

We have several Robesons that we have collected. For nostolgic reasons also as we live near Rochester NY where the distribution center was. The actual manufacturing facility was in Perry NY about an hour's drive away from Rochester to the Southwest. Robeson did import blades from Germany but in the early 1900's there were high import taxes on imported cutlery so they started manufacturing here in the States... Just some history on the company :w

We also have Torrey's, Genco and Geneva blades as well as a couple of others that I can't remember off the top of my head.

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Just to add to Carrie's comments, the American steel blades we have all give killer shaves! :chop:

I knew this thread was hidden someplace, I was thinking about it when I was shaving with one of the Cattaraugus, Green Lizards this morning :D
Unbelievably close, smooth shave, with an edge that is scary sharp, I mean stupid sharp...We're talking Shapton 30k sharp, and smooth as silk on the face, with a feather light touch... Man I love some of these American razors....

I am still rubbing my cheeks :)

H.M. Christensen and Challenge Cutlery are awesome straight razors.

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

I was shaving with one of the Cattaraugus, Green Lizards this morning :D

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Glen, I was recently given a Green Lizard razor as a gift and I have to agree. It is a very fine shaver. I've used it about five times now and I'm totally impressed with its quality in every way.

I've only been straight razor shaving since May.

Used my Wosty Pipe from Sheffield and a few Germans loaned to me by CoachMike.

Then, I won a Case Temperite spike point 5/8 and touched it up on a Coti.

Can't believe what a great shave and how sure footed it feels while shaving.

This is going to be my one and only razor till I can afford and procure a Zowada.

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

I knew this thread was hidden someplace, I was thinking about it when I was shaving with one of the Cattaraugus, Green Lizards this morning :D
Unbelievably close, smooth shave, with an edge that is scary sharp, I mean stupid sharp...We're talking Shapton 30k sharp, and smooth as silk on the face, with a feather light touch... Man I love some of these American razors....

I am still rubbing my cheeks :)

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A friend of the wife's saw a razor hone & grabbed it for me. 'Was a Green lizard, green in color, with an impression of a lizard. The box mentioned Cattaraugus Cutlery, but I couldn't find much on the company.

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Originally Posted by pinklather

A friend of the wife's saw a razor hone & grabbed it for me. 'Was a Green lizard, green in color, with an impression of a lizard. The box mentioned Cattaraugus Cutlery, but I couldn't find much on the company.

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Early 1900's Little Valley NY one of the Case family of cutlers :)

Now inspired to dig out my rusty little lizard and polish her up and take her for a spin.