Thread: Genevas made of two metals?

Hi all -
I've gotten a couple Genevas off of ebay, and noticed that the thin part of the blade (these are hollow ground, so I'm refering to the portion within ~3/16" of the edge) seem to have a different tint than the rest of the blade. Are these made of two pieces of metal fused together?
Thanks,
Shuka

Hi Shuka!

You may be seeing the "belly" of the blade. A lot of Gencos have them.

Check out this thread and see if that's what you are seeing.

Thanks Mister -
As I recall, I thought I saw a color difference, too. I'll check when I'm home tonight, and perhaps add a photo. The link you included is pretty convincing though.

Thanks -
Shuka

I wonder if you're referring to a chrome plated Geneva? I have several Genevas and I believe at least one has a chrome plated blade. The color of those blades are not the mirror like steel color, rather they're more of a pale lighter sterling silver type of color. They just look different.

Chris L

I think its nickel plating, not chrome. I have several Shumates and Genco's with this. I think they thought it would prevent corrosion, which I am sure it did, but I don't think they took into account we would be finding them and using them 100 years later. Most that I have have some flaking of the coating.

Folks -
Here's a couple pictures - I am now sure that it is not the "belly" - the blade is completely smooth as I move my finger from the spine to the edge. Also, the color extends all the way to the edge. I don't see any evidence that this is a coating that can flake off...

I suppose it could be a different grind...but it just doesn't seem that way. I really think it may be two metals...

Hmmm.




Thanks for your thoughts - it's all interesting!
Shuka

I wonder if its selectively heat treated or laminated(san mai)high carbon core with medium or mild steel side plates.Look on the spine and see if there is the same affect.Or just the finish methode is different at the edge.You can take the tip of a knife and just lightly run it from one area to the other and if it glides over the edge area and scratches or digs into the other area it may be one of the two descriptions i gave.I know,kinda destructive testing,but looking at the razor,i dont think it would be that bad if done carefully.
Greg

Wow, I haven't seen anything like that

I'm going to assume the answer will be no, but just out of curiosity, does that line happen to coincide with where the blade sits in the scales with the razor closed?

Interesting. It's hard to tell from the picture rather than see the razor in person. I have a razor or two that were purposely oxidized at manufacture where the upper half (or lower, I can't recall which) is sort of a matte dull gray finish. The plating I was referring to on one or two of my Genevas is not what you're showing there.

Chris L

Originally Posted by dudleythetogi

I wonder if its selectively heat treated or laminated(san mai)high carbon core with medium or mild steel side plates.Look on the spine and see if there is the same affect.Or just the finish methode is different at the edge.You can take the tip of a knife and just lightly run it from one area to the other and if it glides over the edge area and scratches or digs into the other area it may be one of the two descriptions i gave.I know,kinda destructive testing,but looking at the razor,i dont think it would be that bad if done carefully.
Greg

Folks -
I'm pleased the mystery is interesting... Greg, I tried your test with a knife tip... and wasn't convinced that there was any difference I could detect. I thought (dreamt?) that perhaps the knife stuck on the line between the two "colors" but this was probably my imagination, and certainly didn't happen everywhere/everytime along the blade. The knife didn't scratch the razor at all - should I press harder?
Thanks,
Shuka