Thread: giesen & forsthoff

Sad to hear all this bad stuff about the G&F's. The one I bought is a superb shaver! I gifted it to a mate who I'm trying to get interested in cut-throat shaving, thinking I would pick up another if I really needed to have more razors than there are days of the week. I'm thinking that may not be such a good idea move now.


Mick

I really thought that they were getting better. For a while....

The old blue-tanged run were mostly rubbish, but I did manage to sort out a few good ones - about a 1 in 5 hit rate, which is spectacularly poor. Even the ones that just passed were - iffy.

Then there was a second run some years later. These showed a bit more promise. The steel was a bit harder and they promised to hold an edge fairly well, but the in-house honing was rubbish. I don't think I ever saw one that was shave-ready from the factory, or which did not have two or three partial bevels.

Then there was another run - which hit rock bottom again. Total, utter rubbish in my opinion. I would never, ever, take a gamble and buy one hoping that it was OK.

One razor, a dinky little G&F, modern, in nice wooden scales that look third-party - altogether a dainty little razor - gets sent to me 3 or 4 times a year. You would not believe the sort of damage exhibited by the bevel, caused by just shaving and stropping. The guy has other razors, so I know he knows how to look after them, but this G&F is so soft I reckon he has to turn the lights down when he gets it out shaves with it for fear of frightening it and breaking a bit off. It is losing metal at an alarming rate - soon won't be much of it left.

I don't really believe the metal formulation is the same as vintage Sheffield - quite honestly I have never had a metal this soft before, or which deforms so easily. I am not even sure that it meets Solingen minimum standards (which is quite soft, believe me) in some cases. Since the company was revived I am sure the blades have come from a number of suppliers, none of which were that conversant with what makes a good straight razor. But that seems to be the story with most straight razors of this ilk, which strive to be mass produced and fail miserably. The list of modern makers with passable goods remains painfully low, and I believe it will only get lower as time goes by. Sad.

Regards,
Neil

I felt as though my G & F 6/8 wasn't a bad shave once you got it right, that it had been an affective shaver. Now this took a while. In any event, I bought a second identically branded razor from Star Shaving, for $88 bucks. Four weeks ago. Once again hard to hone, but do-able., and I persisted and got it sharp by the 3rd session at the hones.

Men, it can be done. It is a nice shave. For a newbie, probably cost you half as much to have it honed by anyone desperate for work! But the one I bought a year ago is as good a shave as any of my dovo's , dorkos; etc. We all agree that this brand of razor has a poor recent history. Both my G & F's 6/8 shave well. I knocked a 3 day growth down with the 1 year old 6/8. Can't say they are bad shavers, friends, Their only issue is that when they say 'not shave ready' as they now do, they bloody mean it, takes a while on the 1k to correct any bevel issues,, put aside a spare hour over two days, and go through your process. It'l come good. It's on the 'avoid' list, but if you can hone and have the stones to do it, have a go at it, if you have a strop only, then it's no good for you...pretty easy.
We mostly agree that our shaving method is great, we enjoy it, we collect some and hone as well. If it takes 2 days to get a razor right, I enjoy most minutes it takes to hone. Sure this one is hard, not too hard though.

It can be done, but so can be accomplished with a gold dollar. Do you really want to to spend 88$ on a mediocre razor?

Well, I bought the 6/8 G& F a year ago, it was hard but once honed is lovely. I bought it's brother 4 weeks ago, once again hard, but the end result is a nice shaver. The reason I bought a 2nd was the fact that it was a good razor. Simple. They are in my rotation because they work. The razor I have bought is not a Gold Dollar. I assume you have had a gold dollar in your possession and only lost 20 bucks. I have avoided the gold Dollar.... good luck mate

I have honed a few g&f razors for others and wasn't impressed. I form this opinion based on the quality of the grind, finish, shave quality etc. when compared to other brands. I have no doubt that the decision to add Modern production G&F razors to the list of brands to avoid was not made on a whim, but on experience.

Any additions we make to the list are based upon the experiences of many of our members over time and the experiences of our resident honemeisters.

In addition to the qualities mentioned don't forget one of the most important, how long it holds it's edge.

Originally Posted by Badgister

It can be done, but so can be accomplished with a gold dollar. Do you really want to to spend 88$ on a mediocre razor?

Dead set Badgister, the G & F is in a different class than a gold dollar. I have only put the year old one on a touch up once on over 25 uses, there is nothing wrong with them, really mate. If you can't hone it yourself, fair enough, buy something else. But the truth is I have two in my rotation, and I get great shave from them both. In fact I have to make an indelible mark on the oldest one so I know! I also don't hone for others and have no motive or cart to push. I know my limits, and I also have a dozen highly recognized and prized brands which I compare the G & F, Dovo, TI, Dorko, Modoso, Robert Klaas, Othello and others. In my humble opinion, gents, if you can't get the G &F shave ready, it's your impatience in the honing process. Just my view. Bare in mind, I have no issue with people who hone for others, I simply say that we aren't about whose edge is the best, who's razor is a mirror....It's only about the quality of the shave.....say no more

Bobski,
I am glad to hear you are enjoying your G&F razors and that they compare to your other highly prized razors. If you are getting as a good a shave with them, then my hat off to you.

Thanks mate, I swear, I'm getting a good edge on them both. Today I shaved with a Modoso, that I keep isolated to prolong it's edge. Because the G & F have a rough reputation, I tend to use them (The cheapies) more than the 'brand' name razors, so I use them frequently, sort of waiting for failure. The 1 year old #571 works fine....can't explain it. If your a honer, ie, someone that can sharpen a blade, then have a go at it. You can then enter the world of honing stones.....god help us all....lol