Thread: Magic in that Sheffield Steel?

I've not got enough experience to steer you, I'm afraid. I'm sure any vintage you like the look of will make you a happy chap!

Originally Posted by JNT

Any particular American brand you would recommend as your personal favorite?

They're all good.

Being new to these forums I have mostly been reading that everyone's favorites are either Solingen or Sheffield razors. I do have a Genco at home (ebay special) that needs to be cleaned up and honed. I will be honing that one up as soon as I can. I am anxious to try it now.

Thanks

I, too, have a Sheffield blade that is loads smoother and more forgiving than my others (all Solingens). If I were to try to shave blindfolded, or with my foot, I wouldn't hesitate for a second about which razor to use.

Just wondering - could it be because the softer steel polishes more easily? In that sense, you'd be getting more out of the finishing stones with it using a given number of strokes. One way to check would be to find out if some of the guys with the 200x magnification devices report the same phenomenon, since I'd assume they're polishing the razors to the same (visual) degree no matter the steel.

I like my Torrey. But for some odd ball reason the Torrey holds a better edge than my Boker (Red-Injun No.101). I would figure the Boker would do better since it is a German blade, but I cant swear it is Soligen since its not marked on the blade as such.

Originally Posted by JNT

Any particular American brand you would recommend as your personal favorite?

i have a J.R. Torry and it is the best razor i have. it is even better than the new Dovo i have and a Wostenholm which is a great shaver but i am just not a fan of the spike point it has. comparing each place with my razors i would say American is the best with Sheffield in a close second and Solingen last but many will say otherwise it is just a matter of opinion. (my opinions are mostly because of the grind of each razor because i like a closer to wedge like my Torry is)

Cattaraugus, Case, Western States, Robeson, Torrey, Union Cutlery, Genco, are all good American made brands from the old days. There are others that don't come to mind right off the top of my head.

Edit; Shumate is a good one too as well as Winchester and Remington but the last two are more sought after by collectors of those companies stuff ....same with Keen Kutter.

Although I favor the Sheffield steel I have had some nice shaving American steel in the past, a Genco, a Geneva Cutlery, but sent them to some of our soldiers. Recently I acquired not much heard of Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. 'OVB' (Our Very Best) of Chicago, Ill. (now known as True Value Hardware) that is a very fine shaver, another American made razor to consider.....I'm keeping this one. Personally, I think it is better than the Genco and Geneva Cutlery, but that's my opinion (story) and I'm sticking to it............

i think all is personal preferences. I love sheffields,genco,puma,etc.so on so on. I DONT use my own blades for shave but when i do i pick up my TI .i was doing test to see how long it will last without touching up hones almost give up after 1 month but now is 2 nd and it does shave same as when i started.I miss my puma and rest but trying to see how long this ti will last.anyway my genco army & nevy is awonderful shaver too.ask for boker great one too.too many of them out there

Waterville made some great razors, the Unlimited in particular.
The Union Cutlery Spike is one of my all time favorites, as long as you can find the larger 11/16ths size. Same with the Case Red Imp 132. Both these razors are wedges.
Torrey made some very good shavers. I prefer their 6/8ths, but they made several sizes.
Roberson, Shumate, Henry Sears, Geneva, various off-shoots of Case such as Kinfolks, the list is very long and all are very nice shavers.