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

Greetings all, I love the internet. If you need some advice from someone you just need to find a site and ask. This razor was found in a box labeled with my great grandfather's name. I don't know if the leather pouch came with it or he made it himself. Inscription on blade reads; GELLCO Henry's XX. Thank you.

I'm fairly sure we are not supposed to value things in money on the forums, but if you can get it Shave ready the fact that it was my great grandpa's would make it priceless to me.

It's more likely that it's a GENCO (not GELLCO).
They were a good maker and have a good reputation as shavers.

We don't do valuations / appraisals here, because value is so subjective.


Being is it's and heirloom piece, I suggest you have it cleaned and honed, and shave with it; or at least hang on to it as a piece of family history.

Originally Posted by HNSB

It's more likely that it's a GENCO (not GELLCO).
They were a good maker and have a good reputation as shavers.

We don't do valuations / appraisals here, because value is so subjective.


Being is it's and heirloom piece, I suggest you have it cleaned and honed, and shave with it; or at least hang on to it as a piece of family history.

Very true, it's a nice heirloom. I'm just curious about it's date really. G Granpa served in the 60th Ohio during the civil war. I really doubt it's that old though. It could have been my grandfathers or even my father's since I'm guessing it's maybe from the 30s.

Sweet, I only wish I had something that cool to hold on to from my great grandfather. Enjoy it and cherish it!

Originally Posted by RNMike

Sweet, I only wish I had something that cool to hold on to from my great grandfather. Enjoy it and cherish it!

Thanks Mike. There's also tin type pictures here but not labled. I'm guessing they may be great grand pa but not sure. Unfortunately I've got no one to pass this stuff on to. Mom and pop were only children as I was. I have no children or other living relatives I'm aware of. And at 48 I'm not about to make any. Like your user ID. I work as a flight nurse out of a local hospital.

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.

[QUOTE=roughkype;976051]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.[/QUOTE

Many thanks. I'm going to do just that. My wife mentioned I was always complaining about lousy razors, electric or other wise, so I'm going to clean this up and give it a try. Thanks again.

I'm glad to hear it! It'll need more than cleaning up; it will inevitably need honing and stropping. If your first experience straight shaving is with a blade that isn't shave ready, you'll be really discouraged. Check out the other links in the main page's Helpful Links box. Nothing makes this community happier than seeing another person enjoy their first straight shaves.

Hey luvlar, I am also an RN. I work in the pediatric intensive care unit at San Diego Children's Hospital. My wife is also a nurse in our unit.