Thread: Geneva cutlery corp.

+1 mainman. I have both a geneva cutlery and an ontario cutlery. they both hone easy and give a smooth shave. enjoy your new find.

'Surprised not to see GSsixgunner weighing in. He loves NY steel also.
I found the identical razor a week ago last Sat. Zero hone wear. dirty, but no surface rust at all. When I cleared the gunk, I was saddened to see more and deeper pits than I wanted, some in the bevel. I thought I'd hone it and see how it did. Pits and all, it's a wonderful shaver. As your photo shows, it can't be more than 1/2 hollow, which makes it very easy to use and enjoy. My copy has the Indian and says Ontario, but no Geneva on the other side. It's exactly the kind of razor I want to have, but was bummed to see the pits. I shaved w/ it again this morn, and I'm still amazed how friendly and effective it is - pits & all. Even though a spike point, with a minor muting of the tip, I'd call it one of the best beginner blades - so friendly. I'll continue to agitate over the pits, maybe sell, maybe not. I'd like the same razor w/out the pits. If it doesn't sell, it will continue to puts smiles & great shaves on my face. The other blade is a Genco Fluid Steel. 'Plain Jane daily driver that takes a great edge & gives a great shave. It's full hollow, so the Ontario you show is much easier to use for a noob like me.

I really like how Genevas shave. I think Ontarios tend to be just a bit not as good. Or maybe just the one's I've had, or maybe my mood while I was honing them. I have seen some oddball Genevas that were massive PITA's to hone. Ask JoeD about that....

My first straight that I sent out to be professionally honed was a largish 4/8th Geneva. After all the honing and using of my own str8s, and use of other professionally honed str8s... I haven't taken any "out" as far as the first one. After more than two weeks, forgot where in the third (of course) the Geneva is going very strong. Can't recall it's performance degrading at all.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

I really like how Genevas shave. I think Ontarios tend to be just a bit not as good. Or maybe just the one's I've had, or maybe my mood while I was honing them. I have seen some oddball Genevas that were massive PITA's to hone. Ask JoeD about that....

Yep, we had a Geneva that was super hard as in HRC, the metal hardness scale. They must have skipped the tempering on this bad boy! It took quite a while to get the bevel set bit it did lead to improvements in how I set my bevels and it turned out to be a real time saver in the long run. Just remember 'circles' to get the metal off before going to laps.

I'm glad to hear that. I have heard the Genevas can be harder to hone--the steel is somehow harder? So I've not attempted to hone my Geneva just yet. Maybe I'll give it a try!

Originally Posted by mainaman

I restored one recently it honed really easy and is a very smooth shaver.
Congrats on your find.

All the U.S made razors are very underrated and Genco made one hell of a razor. You can't beat em.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

All the U.S made razors are very underrated and Genco made one hell of a razor. You can't beat em.

Best stuff out there!

I'm early in my learning curve, currently in love w/ a wonderful 1/4 hol. Wacker with a transferable smile. In reading about noob's learning curves, I've tried to keep using the full hollows 'cause they're more demanding of technique. The Stainless Dovo gives a fine shave, but the Genco Fluid Steel - the plain Jane, daily driver w/ no jimps, no girth, no weight, just delivers every time. 'Not hard to hone at all. 'Pretty straight forward - even for this beginner. If you've not tried one & want the shave, rather than a 'look', do yourself a favor and grab one. It's my 2nd cheapest acquisition from an antique store, and also my 2nd fav razor. 'Still just ape over the Wacker.

Glad to hear how great these razors are. I have a couple and just picked up one yesterday from an antique store. No hone wear. I just need to clean it up and hone it.