Thread: Griffon xx 60 history

Hey,

This is my first post so bare with me. I bought a razor from the classifieds to start shaving with but, I also purchased a Griffon xx 60 off ebay to start a collection. I know about is magnetic properties and how that is achieved through the hardening process, but what I cannot find is a history on the company.

Could someone tell me when these were manufactured and also, point me in the direction of some good restoration techniques and do's and don'ts in razor restoration. I am not to interested in the value as I am purely buying ones that I find interesting but if someone knows what they go for it wouldn't hurt to know if I got a good deal

I would like to start restoring them and eventually start making them myself.


Thanks


Tyler

Hi Tyler!!

Welcome to the forums!!

First, go to the Wiki's. There is so much information in there you will be able to answer ANY questions you may have on the restoration process.

Here is what the SR Manufacturers database says:

GRIFFIN CUTLERY WORKS
Bridgeport, Connecticut, main offices in New York, New York. Briefly in Worcester, Massachusetts from 1919-1921.
ca. 1893 to the present.

Good luck on your quest.. Watch out for RAD (Razor Acquisition Disorder). It will sneak up on you!!! LOL

Mike

Originally Posted by mjhammer

Hi Tyler!!

Welcome to the forums!!

First, go to the Wiki's. There is so much information in there you will be able to answer ANY questions you may have on the restoration process.

Here is what the SR Manufacturers database says:

GRIFFIN CUTLERY WORKS
Bridgeport, Connecticut, main offices in New York, New York. Briefly in Worcester, Massachusetts from 1919-1921.
ca. 1893 to the present.

Good luck on your quest.. Watch out for RAD (Razor Acquisition Disorder). It will sneak up on you!!! LOL

Mike

Hey

lol I bought another while waiting for a reply.

I found a good video in the WIiki thanks for the heads up. I have a still have a question about the griffon. I also found the Griffin you were taking about but the one I bought is spelled with an O GRIFFON and from Germany so, I wasn't sure if they were the same. Are they the same company?

Once again thanks for the welcome and the info

Tyler

Griffon (note spelling) razors are fairly common and good shavers. I am looking at a Griffon Carbo Magnetic #60 4\8 spike that I use fairly often and I noticed you used two different spellings in your thread. The Griffon razors that I have knoledge about are ground in Germany and have a trademark of a winged horse \ animal looking creature stamped on the shank of the razor. Hope your resto goes well as Griffon razors shave well. Welcome to SRP and Happy Shaving, wildhog

My Griffon 5/8 Carbo-Magnetic was my first well-informed razor purchase. I know nothing of its history, but it hones and shaves very well.

OH, crud, sorry man, I didn't realize the spelling. duh!!! ok, that's my bad for the night, heheh..

Mike

I'm kind of late to the party here, but I'm new to SRP and SR shaving.
Today I was at an antique shop and bought a razor for $10 that was in rough shape, it was pretty "dirty". I got it home and took some different Dremel brushes to it and discovered it was one of these Griffons. I was pretty excited about my progress and got some super fine wet/dry sandpaper to help out. I wasn't paying attention, got a little too aggressive and broke a substantial chunk off of the end of my blade, I didn't realize how fragile they, apparently, can be. I will keep my razor for my soon to be collection, I don't see any way I could shave without shredding my face.
I haven't actually shaved with my other razor, a FW Engles Warren 28. I bought it at a gun show and paid a knife sharpening guy to sharpen it. I'm trying to figure out if he didn't sharpen it right or well enough or if I need to strop it or if I'm just not shaving correctly. I'm excited to get started on my new adventure, eventually.
This seems like a really cool and very helpful site, I'm glad I found it and am happy to be a part of this community.

Originally Posted by BaldEagle68

I'm kind of late to the party here, but I'm new to SRP and SR shaving.
Today I was at an antique shop and bought a razor for $10 that was in rough shape, it was pretty "dirty". I got it home and took some different Dremel brushes to it and discovered it was one of these Griffons. I was pretty excited about my progress and got some super fine wet/dry sandpaper to help out. I wasn't paying attention, got a little too aggressive and broke a substantial chunk off of the end of my blade, I didn't realize how fragile they, apparently, can be. I will keep my razor for my soon to be collection, I don't see any way I could shave without shredding my face.
I haven't actually shaved with my other razor, a FW Engles Warren 28. I bought it at a gun show and paid a knife sharpening guy to sharpen it. I'm trying to figure out if he didn't sharpen it right or well enough or if I need to strop it or if I'm just not shaving correctly. I'm excited to get started on my new adventure, eventually.
This seems like a really cool and very helpful site, I'm glad I found it and am happy to be a part of this community.

Welcome to the forum and straight shaving.

So, to your razors. No you cannot shave if it has a chip if you value your face and I doubt a knife sharpener has the stones required to sharpen your other razor as a knife does not need to be as sharp. Depending on the size of the chip the griffon razor maybe salvageable but smeone with the proper stones would neednto do it.

There are tests you can do at home to check the sharpness. A hanging hair test where you drop a single hair on to the razor and it cuts it in two or use the razor dry on your forearm against the grain and the hairs should come off with no effort. Sharpening is an art of its own. A lot of guys send there razors to memebers on this forum or if you're lucky enough you'll have someone with that skill in your city. You can use that griffon to practice once you buy the proper stones.

If I were you I would buy a used ready to shave razor from the forum here before you go out and buy a bunch you don't need/won't like. There are many different stylrs, lengths, scales, etc. First learn to shave and then you can start the collection and a collection you like and can use.


If you plan on restoring razors do some research first. There are some good YouTube videos on it. It will be an investment unless you already have the tools. A dremal is not recommended mainly for the reason you experienced. Check out the wiki here and YouTube for more info.

Have fun!!

If your razor was "sharpened" by a "knife guy" at a gun show, just box it up and send it to your choice of someone here offering honing services. There is no point in a beginner attempting to perform unreliable tests to determine sharpness. If it doesn't shave, it ain't sharp...plain and simple.

Dremels and razors are almost always a poor mix unless you would like to consign a certain percentage of your blades to the recycle bin...especially if you have no history with razors. Welcome to the pool, time to learn to swim!