Thread: Straight razor found in great grampa's stuff. Any ideas, age, value, etc?

There are others here who know way more history about the blades, but I know enough to verify for you that this was not a civil-war era blade. Your suspicion of the 30s is probably pretty good.

Gencos are considered to be very, very good razors, very desirable to have in a shaving rotation. You can hone them out to finer edges than most German or other European blades, because the American steel is harder.

As desirable as they are, you never see them sell for breathtaking amounts, because there were zillions and zillions made and they're pretty common antique store/flea market/yard sale finds. They're a great item from a lost era, in which manufacturers still cared to produce high quality in high bulk, before the strategy of planned obsolescence started to erode our industries.

So, you've found this quite fine razor, you've found us at SRP (and, by the way, welcome!), it's only natural now that you should join us in using such a fine tool for its proper purpose. I don't know how many members we've got here, but every one of us will swear to you that straight shaving makes your life a little better. It turns a chore into an accomplishment and guarantees that you can have at least a half-hour every day that you can devote entirely, mindfully, to yourself. Longer, if you want to milk it, and eventually shorter, if you so choose. Check out this thread, which is running right now.

Plus, once you get your technique down, it's better for your skin than any other method of shaving. No ingrown hairs, like from multiblade disposables. Nowhere for germs to accumulate, like in electrics or multiblade disposables. Just a clean skin from a clean blade.

Best wishes to you.