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I just bought a geneva pyramid and other than knowing it was made by geneva I don't know much about them. I know it was a basic plain jane genco and some on here has said they are hard to set the bevel, but how do they compare shave wise to the other genco blades? How do they compare to other brands?
I have a couple of Geneva, they are both plain razors but both are great shavers, i dont recall any difficulties with setting the bevel on both.
I agree with Martin. Some of the best razor steel ever. I have several and really like them. Geneva cutlery was the original name of the company. Later renamed Genco, It was bought out by Case. Some Genco razors were produced by Case in Bradford, PA. Most are plain, but all are quality shavers in good condition.
I have a Geneva! Very plain blade, custom scales, but is one of my best shavers!
I have a dovo so I'm kinda anxious to see how the two compare. zfrom my understanding the pyramid was made until 1935 when Case bought them and moved to Pa.
The antler logo is the earliest Geneva, I think. Then came the pyramid and just Geneva Cutlery and then Genco.
Seems early pyramids had the date in the pyramid.
Just me.......(a car analogy)............I had rather push a Genco than drive a newer Dovo. JMHO.
Tom
I have two Genevas. The first I bought 30 years ago at a local cutlery shop during an earlier foray into SR8 shaving. Turns out the razor was not "shave ready" and that was the end of that adventure. Not knowing there was such a thing as shave readiness, I thought "how on earth does anyone do this?"
Ten years ago, during a later attempt I bought a few SR8s from ebay and got another Geneva --also NOT shave ready. Both have a "7N" in the pyramid.
The first Geneva I have finished honing recently using the instructions found on SRP. It's now a pretty good shaver. The ebay piece has so far proven refractory to my honing attempts but I'm still at it. I consider it my #1 project at the moment but it's not making it easy for me.
A lot of American makers used great steel. I feel most. At the point Americans became serious, many advancements were being made in steel in the U.S. The early American razors were made by English, German, Swedish, and other immigrants trained in the old countries in the old ways. The later ones were made by their predecessors. A last "Golden Age" of old razor production.
Many American made razors of that "golden age" are very underrated!Quote:
Originally Posted by sharptonn
Your Geneva Pyramid is likely a gem. Yes, they can be a little hard to set a bevel on, like most great American razors they're made of pretty hard steel. Keep at it -- but not on the 1k bevel- setter if you can possibly avoid it. Set your bevel on a 4k stone or risk micro-chipping. Get everything you can out of the 4k -- until the blade is just kissing the stone. Finish from there, just try to resist the coarser stones. Your reward for your patience will be an edge that lasts and lasts.
Yeah, I love New York razors.
I'm glad you like the edge!hehehe:wQuote:
Originally Posted by parkerskouson
I find I prefer the Genevas to the later Gencos. Both are wonderful, but the Genevas seem to have beefier shanks for those of us w/ ham-sized paws. You'll find the shave to take a back seat to no maker. One Genco of mine (Red Cross) is .006" thick (Satinedge is .0075) and just loves the stubble off your face. 'Wouldn't trade it for anything. If it isn't making you swoon - get it honed by someone who can make it do so. They're great.
The pyramid has a 23 in it and only says geneva on the tang. I'm not ready to tackle honing just yet so I'll send it to someone to hone.
I think I have the same razor, a 23 in the pyramid with 'Geneva Cutlery Corp. Geneva, N.Y. U.S.A.' on the tang.
It's a great 6/8 full hollow with a horizontal stabilizer. It came to me in dear shape but I cleaned it up as good as I could, put some nice transparent scales on it, it is positively my favourite shaver.
I didn't have a problem honing, bevel setting on a cretan and diluted on my coticule took no longer than most other razors. Bevel setting about 10-15 minutes, dilucot another 15-20 minutes. This was my first NY razor so I don't want to make any generalisations, but I didn't notice it to be any harder than most German or Swedish razors I've honed.
With some good stropping, it'll hold up great.
Quote:
Originally Posted by stimpy52
Thank you very much. I'm getting ready to hone what appears is to be a factory fresh Geneva with the "7N" stamp. You may have saved my day!
[QUOTE=Pithor;1030688]I think I have the same razor, a 23 in the pyramid with 'Geneva Cutlery Corp. Geneva, N.Y. U.S.A.' on the tang.
It's a great 6/8 full hollow with a horizontal stabilizer.
Yep that's the one I got. I'm not sure what the 23 stands for or the ones that have the 7N either.
Stimpy52 is dead on! My first shot at honing was with 1K stone. After working up the pyramids it wasn't shaving so well. I looked at it under 45X on my stereo microscope and...behold...microchipping. Back to the 4K. Stimpy, you know whereof you speak!
I have 2 and they are great. I honed them both with the 4k/8k. They are great shavers and I love the simple design.
Well, this Geneva 23 (I guess the 23 denotes series, type size or something like that) has a double stabilizer at the heel and is in design pretty much the same as the 'fancier' german full hollow spike points. Like many Dubl Ducks, C-Mon's, Henckels, Otto Deutsch, etc.
I've never shaved with any of those, and I very much doubt they could beat this Geneva both for looks and performance.
This is mine by the way, after some TLC and my first set of scales:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...05-2012010.jpg
After reading here about the higher quality razors like dubl ducks, sheffields, etc. I have come to one conclusion. It's like custom traditional bows once you get to that kind of quality they are all good, it's just a matter of fit and finish and what trips your trigger as they should all shave good. I'm new so I might not know diddly squat but that's my impression.