Thread: Poor shaver

I have a nice collection or razors I manage to keep in shaving condition, including some I have rescued. I have one, however, that just won't shave. It has no name but is stamped "je coup guaranti" , which means "I cut guaranteed" in French (which is the reason I bought it). I have cleaned it up, made scales, and honed it to passing the HHT. It shaves smoothly but not at all closely! It takes three passes to get mediocre results. It's really frustrating, because I love the razor. Anyone had a similar experience?

Maybe it's not French, perhaps just pretending to be. I cut should be 'Je coupe' or 'J'ai coupé.' In French 'coup' means a blow.

For starters "je coup guaranti" is not French as in French it's 'garantie'. The word 'I cut' in French would be 'Je coupe'.The word sentence doesn't make any sense. Especially in French.
'Le Coupe Garantie' would make the most sense but not very common.
Maybe it's Canadian French, i have no clue.
As to your blade. If it shaves medioce it means your edge is not sharp and perfectly honed. This is another example that passing the HHT is not a sign of a properly honed edge.

The noun 'cut' is feminine ie. la coupe.
I suppose striking 'I cut' on a blade is similar to 'I Excel' (IXL) found on Wostenholms. Doesn't explain the slightly incorrect spelling. May be irrelevant. Perhaps a native French speaker will know or recognise the brand.

Originally Posted by welshwizard

Doesn't explain the slightly incorrect spelling.

my thoughts exactly!

Originally Posted by welshwizard

Maybe it's not French, perhaps just pretending to be..

yeah
maybe it's really a Nazi razor
or a Belgian ashamed of it's heritage
or a....... ok ok I'm done ! sheesh

wait wait
maybe your razor could prank call Sarah Palin !!

ok I'm really done now

Originally Posted by welshwizard

The noun 'cut' is feminine ie. la coupe.
I suppose striking 'I cut' on a blade is similar to 'I Excel' (IXL) found on Wostenholms. Doesn't explain the slightly incorrect spelling. May be irrelevant. Perhaps a native French speaker will know or recognise the brand.

Thank you for indirectly answering a question I have had since I saw my first Wostenholm IXL, but was too embarrassed to ask here.

I had a typo in the original message. It should read "Je coupe" not "Je coup",which cleans up the French a bit. The last word remains problematic, though. I said it was French because, well, what else could it be?

The fact remains, however, that I haven't been able to get a good shave. OTOH, why would I trust a razor with Algerian French or whatever it is.

I just wanted to report that I took the advice of more experienced hands, which I'll boil down to: "It ain't the razor, dummy, it's you." I didn't start from the beginning, but a couple of more trips to the coticule, 12k, and paste has made this a fantastic razor! This is a hefty blade, not a wedge, but not full hollow either, so it just took more effort to get a good edge on it. I love this razor because (1) I restored it, (2) it is a beautiful blade, (3) the mystery of the inscription, and, most of all (4) it now gives a close, comfortable shave. Thanks for the advice.

Originally Posted by welshwizard

Maybe it's not French, perhaps just pretending to be. I cut should be 'Je coupe' or 'J'ai coupé.' In French 'coup' means a blow.

Sounds like it is acting French to me.