Great Grandfather's Razor

[iambatman85]

I took my daughter to see my grandparents today. I had always known that my Grandfather had used a straight razor but no longer did due to the upkeep. We started a conversation about shaving and then when it was over and I had started to talk about something else with my grandmother, my grandfather quietly snuck off.

Next thing I know he was saying, "Here I want you to have this, It was your great grandfathers." To my shock he had a straight razor in his hand. I was surprised to say the least. I had thought he had gotten rid of them many years ago. I teared up since one of the things I have wanted most since I started this whole wet shaving journey was an heirloom item that I could hopefully use and pass down to my children.

Once I got home I eagerly opened the blade up to see that it was a Genco. I've been wanting a Genco since I started Straight Shaving since they were made about 1.5 hours away from where I grew up and currently live. Just to know that something was made in my local area and was owned by my family members makes me honor it even more.

My plan is to at least get all the rust off this and either send it out to be honed or to attempt honing it myself once I get better at it but needless to say that it is priceless to me and will always be in my collection. So enough with the mushy stuff and on with the pictures.

 

[AndroiDad75]

That's awesome!!! And nothing mushy about it, the story is what makes it my friend. Don't forget that - especially for those of us who have no way of getting an heirloom. I can't wait to see you get this thing done up and shave ready!!!!

 

[iambatman85]

Well I couldn't wait so since I already knew it wasn't shave ready I busted out the sandpaper. Here it is with a quick progression from 150 to 600.

 

[AndroiDad75]

Wow, what a change with just a little bit of work. That's looks great. You going to keep going with the sandpaper? Or do you like the way it is now, and going to get it honed up now?

 

[Slash McCoy]

You ought to unpin it and get the pivot area. AutoZone carries sandpaper to 3k grit. www.tedpella.com has diamond paste for further finishing up to .1u. from 3k sandpaper go to 3u or 1u grit and work it on out for a nice mirror finish if you care for that.

 

[Gamma]

^
What Slash said.


Definitely - get all the rust out now.

 

[iambatman85]

I haven't tried to unpin anything yet and I was gonna try and save the scales. I think I'll try it with my GD first and see how it goes.

 

[Slash McCoy]

To unpinned and save the scales isn't hard. Stand a file on its tang. Tape the scales for extra protection. Place the peened head of the pivot pin against the file and work the razor up and down the file. Watch the daylight between scales and file and keep it even and you won't dig the scales. When you have filed down into the washer you should be able to gently pry the scales apart because the filed end of the pin should pass through the washer and scale. This is also a good time to clean the insides of the scales.

 

[J Carroll]

To unpinned and save the scales isn't hard. Stand a file on its tang. Tape the scales for extra protection. Place the peened head of the pivot pin against the file and work the razor up and down the file. Watch the daylight between scales and file and keep it even and you won't dig the scales. When you have filed down into the washer you should be able to gently pry the scales apart because the filed end of the pin should pass through the washer and scale. This is also a good time to clean the insides of the scales.

Thanks for that information. I've been looking around at guides to unpinning scales, and this is a good concise set of directives. Doesn't sound too hard. I've been buying vintage razors and have several that need sanding. Not taking the scales off reminds me of sweeping or mopping around furniture, rather than moving the furniture and getting the whole surface clean, or cleaning the dust off a table and not moving the lamp or vase but just dusting around them.

I've read several times that one is likely to break scales while unpinning, but this procedure doesn't seem as if it would put much pressure on the scales. Drilling through the pins would be iffier, I imagine.

 

[dpittman70]

Very nice. And great story.

 

[iambatman85]

So I did end up un pinning the razor. Using Slash's advice I got them unpinned and am currently working on shining it up and putting it all back together. Will update with pictures once Finished.

 

[Toltepeceno]

Very cool having something handed down like that and nice looking razor.

 

[iambatman85]

All finished up and posted into the restoration thread