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SOTD TUESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 11, 2022
Genco, Geneva, Case and Thistle Cut straight razors all use this amazing fine grained New York steel extracted from hematite ore. I used to spent my summers with my cousins in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State (NYS). My uncle worked for Republic Steel managing the iron ore mines that had been in continuous operation there since the Revolutionary War. The mines closed down in the early 70s when it was no longer cost-effective to drill as deep as required to extract the ore.
Hematite can be up to 70% pure iron, lowering the cost of extraction, and allowing for easier conversion into the pig iron used in blast furnaces. In any case, the beneficiaries are those of us fortunate enough to own straight razor blades made from the fine grained New York state steel extracted from this NYS hematite. One of the first straight razors I acquired was this sweet Genco 35 5/8. My son thoughtfully blunted the square point after yours truly generated a few red racing stripes on his initial shave with it..
The razor was prepared for me by my son, Ben, who honed it after I obtained it in a trade for two vintage Gillette safety razors. He reset the bevel and honed it on his Shapton progression from 1k through 16k. The razor and Ben’s work spoiled me, but also taught me as I began to acquire more straights that one man’s “shave ready” does not equate to another’s. As my honing skills developed I now routinely set my own bevels on all new-to-me vintage straights. The two and a half pass mug shave with the Genco this morning was a delight as always and left me delightfully smooth.
Thinking to follow up on my great mug shave I grabbed one of my favorite vintage safety razors, the Barbasol Floating Head (BFH). Madame Barbasol is a fickle, jealous lady who demands the shaver’s full attention as I was reminded this morning during my follow-on noggin shave. My attention wandered as I was ironically enjoying the Traveling Wilbury’s “Handle With Care”, while shaving the back of my noggin, and she bit jarring me away from the music to reach for my styptic gel. I finished the two pass ATG shave with my full attention. Smooth, but chastened, I put Madame Barbasol away, but will use her again tomorrow to ensure she understands she’s my best shaving girl!
RAZOR: Genco 35 5/8 (Mug), Barbasol Floating Head (Dome)
BLADE: Feather DE (Dome)
PREP: Cold water rinse followed by a heavy scrub with Argan Oil
BRUSH: Rooney Ebony Pure Badger
SOAP: Mitchell’s Wool Fat
POSTSHAVE: Cold water wash with brush squeezings followed by a rinse with Humphreys Lilac WH. Finished with Cremo Cooling Post Shave Balm.
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