Thread: Most sought after American steel?

I am fairly new to straights and was wondering what you collectors prefer when it comes to American razors? I have aquired a decent collection of Sheffield steel from the start, last November, but I'm looking to pick up some home grown steel here in the future and would love some suggestions on classics or must haves.

Regards
Louis

Genco, Torrey, Case and Shumate get good reviews.

Originally Posted by Louis

I am fairly new to straights and was wondering what you collectors prefer when it comes to American razors? I have aquired a decent collection of Sheffield steel from the start, last November, but I'm looking to pick up some home grown steel here in the future and would love some suggestions on classics or must haves.

Regards
Louis

I'm pretty new but so far I've picked up a genco, a torrey, and a clauss (from ohio, just like you) and they are all fantastic. American steel is awesome! In most cases you'll get and keep a crazy. Keen and asmooth edge. One thing to keep in mind often you'll see hardware store branded blades....those are usually not american but solingen imports that are rebranded. Anyway the moral of the story is amrican steel is generally a great shave at a great value so just go get some. But pretty please don't go out there and bid up all the gencos and torreys on ebay...it just takes one crazy run to make prices go astronomical.

I've never heard of any bad U.S made razors. They are all great.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I've never heard of any bad U.S made razors. They are all great.

I agree w/ TBS. I have a bunch of popular brand and a bunch of lesser known stamps, some of which were probably imported. I have yet to come across one that didn't give a good shave.

Anything but the Torreys. They're junk. Nobody in their right mind would want one...


/just keep spreading the word so I can keep getting them cheap.

I think the most collectible would be the big ones, simply because they seem to be the rarest, but I think all US razors shave great. Personally, I prefer the full hollows, because American steel tends to be quite hard, and I am typically not a fan of stiff grinds for hard blades.

All mentioned above are great razors, but hey guys, y'all haven't mentioned Shapleigh. Shapleigh's are fantastic U.S. Razors !

A little off topic...The biggest razor I've found from the US companies is a Torrey that is about 6/8ths. Do the US companies make em any bigger?

I like the Electric shave company razors. It was based in Newark NJ. I only have one, but it's a nice 4/8ths with a worked back. Great little shaver. They have a really cool insignia too.

I have tried quite a few times to get an easy aces razor from case. Case was a PA so I would really like to get one. The prices always seem to go over my limit. Great looking razors. Cracked Ice scales, nice blued tang...

Originally Posted by jcsixx

A little off topic...The biggest razor I've found from the US companies is a Torrey that is about 6/8ths. Do the US companies make em any bigger?

I like the Electric shave company razors. It was based in Newark NJ. I only have one, but it's a nice 4/8ths with a worked back. Great little shaver. They have a really cool insignia too.

I have tried quite a few times to get an easy aces razor from case. Case was a PA so I would really like to get one. The prices always seem to go over my limit. Great looking razors. Cracked Ice scales, nice blued tang...

Yeah, my Shapleigh is right at 13/16's and one of my top performing razors !