Thread: Boker - U.S. made???

Looked over a Boker in an antiques store yesterday in my travels and was suprised to read on the blade "made in USA". I was expecting the usual German markings.
Was not impressed with it at all. My first reaction was that it was
light as far as overall weight goes, the scales were thin and plain, the blade was ho-hum, extra hollow ground and square point.
Although it nicely priced, I let it go. Very unlike the other Boker that I did buy, German, "Damascus Steel" engraved on the blade, nice condition, heavy, long blade. All the things I like in a razor.
Did Boker allow their name to be used by a U.S. mfg. at some point in time?
The U.S. made razor looked to be very similar to a Genco.

Marc

You say that word "Genco" like it is a bad thing, I am not so sure to many would agree, considering there are Genco's, out there that will shave circles around most anything out of Solingen... Be careful what brands you chose to denigrate they might just surprise you...

Now as to the American made Boker yes there were, and if it was this one, you probably should have bought it, if the razor was in good shape and the price was right...

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...jun-102-a.html

Originally Posted by gssixgun

You say that word "Genco" like it is a bad thing, I am not so sure to many would agree, considering there are Genco's, out there that will shave circles around most anything out of Solingen... Be careful what brands you chose to denigrate they might just surprise you...

Hear, hear!

Originally Posted by gssixgun

...there are Genco's, out there that will shave circles around most anything out of Solingen...

Spot on Glen!

Originally Posted by Doop

All the things I like in a razor.

this part is important

Glen, that is a nice-looking TE you linked to. I had not seen that before

I just shaved with a Genco this morning.

I didn't mean to cast a shadow on Genco, I own maybe 3 or 4 of them. I'm just not crazy about them, a personal thing, ... and they do shave!

The U.S. made Boker I saw was different than the one Glen got. The one I looked at had "made in U.S.A." on one side all by itself and "HBoker" on the other, and I believe it was a 4/8ths blade.

Here is a Boker USA razor. I think it is late production, maybe 1970's. Not as good as a vintage Boker, IMO, in the steel and scale quality.

I have one of the Boker TE95 razors liked Glen linked earlier. It is an excellent shaver. The fact it was marked "made in the USA" prompted me to do a little internet research. From what I could find out, the Boker Company here was founded by members of the Boker family. It seemed, at least from the article that I read, that the plant here was an extension of the German facility run by actual members of the Boker family, and not merely an American Company with a license to stamp their straights with the Boker name.

Originally Posted by Doop

I didn't mean to cast a shadow on Genco, I own maybe 3 or 4 of them. I'm just not crazy about them, a personal thing, ... and they do shave!

Hehehe We'll forgive you
Just do 15 Hail Boker's, and 10 Glory be to Genco's for penance

All in fun of course