Finally figured out my Genco!

I've been resurrecting a sad old 5/8 Genco Head Barber I found in a box. Honed past the pitting and got a nice bevel, then tinkered and tinkered with the final polish. The Naniwa12k was OK but didn't really feel special; Thuringian didn't really rock it either. Stropping on 0.5u diamond brought a little snap to it, CrOx smoothed that a little, but it all still left me wondering what was the big deal with Gencos.

After reading NiftyShaving's very good review of the Spyderco UF (it's buried in the recent Musard or Mayo thread) I thought to dig mine out and give it a shot. I most recently used it to flatten my CrOx-treated felt pad, so it's got a good CrOx patina. Gave the Genco 10 laps on the N12k to clear whatever influence all the previous stropping had had, then 30 laps on the Spyderco, then 20 passes on linen and 80 on leather, then shaved.

AHA! So THAT'S the big deal with Gencos. Wow. The easy spots were, well, easy as always, but my chin was made easy too. It's as clean as I've ever gotten it, and even the ATG pass underneath it was gentle.

Tomorrow I'm unpinning the blade so I can clean out the rust around the hinge, then will Renwax the whole thing (including the thrust washers), get some Tuf-Glide on the hinge pin, and call it Darned Good.

Congratulations!

It's always great when you can give new life to an old razor. How about some pictures?

Thank you! I'll take some pics tomorrow when I dis/reassemble it. The scales are kind of cool, tigerstripey celluloid.

Nice one roughkype, getting a blade dialled in is always a satisfying ecperience :)

Well, I'm disappointed.;) If you hadn't figured that Genco out I might have had opportunity to snag it out of the classifieds!

They're really great razors. I only have two, but I won't pass one up if I ever come across one in an antique store or elsewhere.

Glad you got her sorted out. Now, bring on the pics!

Peace,
Jim

RK, 'Don't ya love the thrill of victory w/ a blade? And there are few that deliver so reliably. I just love Gencos, but with large hands, have sold all the 5/8 size. The one I can't part w/ is a 6/8 Fluid Steel that's very very hollow. It stands tall w/ any blade from any country at any price.

I don't like it when I have to fuss much to get a blade to come in, but there are some completely worth any fussing. Genco is certainly one of them. Whenever I have to fuss with them, I think I've not gotten the bevel fully right. I've only seen one Genco that had quality issues - very visible warp. I've had at least 18, but keep only the Fluid Steel now. I find myself thinking like Glen, in that I find the US blades to be very fine. 'Less embellished than most, but just deliver the goods with the best on the planet.