Thread: What is the best American made straight ever made ?

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

...But note it says packed 1955,could have been made long before that I suppose.
...

I was thinking that, but that's 8 years in storage. I guess it's possible there was a stock left over when production ended, and the army bought that stock or part of it to issue to soldiers much later.

Originally Posted by Wintchase

RedImp was my first razor and the only one that has not been switched out of the rotation.

Ditto! An oh-so-very-minty 6/8" Red Imp #133, stamped "Made for Morris Mfg Co., Solingen - Germany" on the reverse tang. I bought in on eBay, for all of $49.88 + S/H.

Originally Posted by JBHoren

Ditto! An oh-so-very-minty 6/8" Red Imp #133, stamped "Made for Morris Mfg Co., Solingen - Germany" on the reverse tang. I bought in on eBay, for all of $49.88 + S/H.

Nice! Mine is the Case version. The original scales have long since rotted and have been throughmseverel,hand made types.

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

I was thinking that, but that's 8 years in storage. I guess it's possible there was a stock left over when production ended, and the army bought that stock or part of it to issue to soldiers much later.

I was incorrect with the dates. It was 1941 and 1942 the company produced. In that regard, perhaps Top Flight was founded to produce straight razors for the war effort? The ones surviving could all be government models! Here is a link to Burrells Grandson. Burrell Cutlery still exists,http://www.cattco.org/planning/award...5_burrell_john I have read more on the history, but cannot remember where?
Here are my 2 still unrestored Burrells. One very concave and one, a wedge!

There are many American Makers. We tend to dwell on Sheffield and Germany, but I have recently been concentrating on American stuff.
Pics as follows:
1- George Korn was a fine Maker from Case family in Little Valley
2-Not to forget Union Cutlery of Olean, New York. Great steel!
3-Give those Georgia Boys credit! Dixie Mfg in Cracked corn! Fine Blades!
4-Freemont, Ohio was home to fine makers, Clauss being one!
5- Little known Ariel Cutlery(ACM) of Marionette, Wisconsin. The owner was born in Duluth, Minn., hence the Duluth motor Bridge! Nice razors!
Some very old American makers from the old Countries:
6 American Knife Co, Plymouth Hollow, Conn
7 Maher and Grosh from Toledo, Ohio
8 George Rohr of Dayton, Ohio

sharptonn my lord you have some killer gear!!!

The oldies

Now I know this is a Solingen one, but I have to +1 for the Imps - here's my near mint 132! Excuse the pics iPad camera stinks...

Originally Posted by Mdtn

I was wondering what the best American made Straight ever made. I have been looking for an W.R. Case Red Imp but, began wondering if that was the best American made straight or the most popular?

I am partial to the hard steel from upper New York state
made at about the same time that the carborundum barber hones
were made... you cannot sharpen them well on old school Arkansas
hones (IMLE).

The brand is less important than the shape and condition
of the scales. I do like a longish bit for my thumb to sit on.

Most of the American looking razors were made in Germany
and England. Etching and finishing was done here in the
states. They seem to be uniform in quality so I look for condition
of the blade and scales.

Case is more collectible as a knife than razor. I thing highly of
case pocket knives. Perhaps this is why their razors fetch so much.

Sharptonn thanks that is quite a collection of American steel.