Thread: Genco = Magic?

Ok...I've got 4 razors from the same guy, who honed all of them.
Three of these razors are all very similar in profile, roughly 4/8 half hollow square points. One is a Solingen, one is maybe Japanese and one is a Genco. This is a pretty good basis for comparison, right?

So can anyone explain WHY my Genco shaves are just jawdroppingly great--so much better than the other blades? Seriously, a 2 pass shave with this razor is closer, smoother, and more comfortable than any other razor I have, especially the other two similar blades. Why on earth would that be? Did the guy just have a good hone day on this one razor? Is there something in the steel that makes it that much better than the others? Or are Gencos just magical mystery shavers?

I don't know what it is, but I like it. I got a 2-pass 99% BBS shave in 15 minutes today, with 0 irritation and 0 nicks. Part of that might be the La Toja sensitive cream, but I wasn't getting that 4 days ago with the big old Cornetta I got from the same guy...

Originally Posted by JimR

Ok...I've got 4 razors from the same guy, who honed all of them.
Three of these razors are all very similar in profile, roughly 4/8 half hollow square points. One is a Solingen, one is maybe Japanese and one is a Genco. This is a pretty good basis for comparison, right?

So can anyone explain WHY my Genco shaves are just jawdroppingly great--so much better than the other blades? Seriously, a 2 pass shave with this razor is closer, smoother, and more comfortable than any other razor I have, especially the other two similar blades. Why on earth would that be? Did the guy just have a good hone day on this one razor? Is there something in the steel that makes it that much better than the others? Or are Gencos just magical mystery shavers?

I don't know what it is, but I like it. I got a 2-pass 99% BBS shave in 15 minutes today, with 0 irritation and 0 nicks. Part of that might be the La Toja sensitive cream, but I wasn't getting that 4 days ago with the big old Cornetta I got from the same guy...

Shhh!!!! Don't let the cat out of the bag!!

They were just well made American razors. American razors don't get the royal treatment Solingen razors get. I don't know why, maybe because American razors as a whole aren't that eye pleasing.

Jim this is one time I am Happy to be the one to say "I told you so".....

You said you wanted to try American steel and you did...
Genco/Geneva's are really good examples....


However not the best there are even smoother ones out there....

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Jim this is one time I am Happy to be the one to say "I told you so".....

You said you wanted to try American steel and you did...
Genco/Geneva's are really good examples....


However not the best there are even smoother ones out there....

...such as:_____,______,______, oh and especially _______

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Jim this is one time I am Happy to be the one to say "I told you so".....

You said you wanted to try American steel and you did...
Genco/Geneva's are really good examples....


However not the best there are even smoother ones out there....

Indeed!

and how much do I need to pay you to PM the names of those others?

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Jim this is one time I am Happy to be the one to say "I told you so".....

You said you wanted to try American steel and you did...
Genco/Geneva's are really good examples....


However not the best there are even smoother ones out there....

Just saw a Geneva in good red celluloid at an antique shop today for $25 bucks. It was pristine. Don't know why I didn't get it, guess because I didn't know that much about it... but now...

I've always said American made razors are the most underrated razors out there. I haven't found one to be a bad shaver yet. But in the end I don't know that I would say one razor is better than all the rest until I've tried about 20 of them and they are all something special.

So that's why I think DDs are the best.

I have a Genco Easy Aces and it's a superb shaver. nice scales, too. i have been asking myself similar questions recently, and i have found that all my best shavers tend to have very similar blade geometry.

the way i see it, there are 2 explanations:
1. my shaving technique is more compatible with certain blade geometries, leading to a better shave
2. my double-bevel honing technique is more compatible with certain blade geometries, leading to a sharper razor

right now i suspect #2, but further testing is needed before i have a rock solid answer for you guys.

i have found that for reason 1 or 2 i tend to not do well with anything bigger than 6/8 or less than 4/8. this might be a function of 1 or 2, not sure, but again i suspect 2 because i have sent razors outside of that size range to others for honing and they seemed to shave better than when i had sharpened them.

forked here so that i don't sidetrack this thread:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...tml#post367289

I've got two American razors. A Genco Head Barber 5/8 square point in nice brown and black swirly scales and a Cornwall Cutlery Co French point 6/8.
The Genco is seriously sticky ! The Cornwall took a lot of bevel polishing but, is now as keen as anything.
Americans make really good razors.
Cheers M

My 6/8's Geneva full hollow shaves as well as any of current model French and German razors. Of course, it is as plain as can be so it's hard to get attached to it.

The edge it takes is keen and long lasting. I understand that American steel content is different than European steel and thus has different feel.