Thread: Thiers-Issard from The Art of Shaving (TAoS) shop

Hello everybody,

My first post here, I'm quite excited! This is a great community, thanks all for making it so wonderful and for sharing your knowledge and experience!

I received a Thiers-Issard as a xmas present (I know, how lucky!) bought from The Art of Shaving. The model is Le Grelot 5/8 275, with rams horn. Quite beautiful apart from "The Art of Shaving" black logo on the blade; and quite expensive at almost $ 300.
My question is: is TAoS a reputable vendor? Why on earth would TI put the black logo on the blade? Would it diminish its value, should I choose to sell it later? And, of course, I presume it will need some honing (not offered by TAoS).

Cheers!

Satom

Hi and welcome. That is a nice razor. As to shave ready it may be factory edges vary a fair bit. Probably safer to get it pro honed and know for sure its shave ready to take out the quess work. Cant comment on the logo but sure someone will be able to help. Check out the library for the starter info basics. Good luck. Ed

Welcome to Straight Shaving!

I bought an AOS TI before discovering this site. It is a decent blade, had an edge as good as the Dovo I got from SRD. Whether yours needs a honing or not is not determinable from afar. The only true way would be to find a mentor and let him check it out. As far as etching? I doubt it will change the value of the blade. You'll never recoup what was paid for it, logo or not, but not because of the logo, IMHO.

Thanks, Ed! I find it hard to determine whether it is shave ready or not (tried on the edge of a paper sheet, but can't really tell -mainly due to my ignorance).

Thank you Souschefdude (if you love cooking, so do I, by the way!).
Do you know whether the etching can be removed? I have seen other TI with badger, rose de france, a patina of gold... they look quite better than the TAoS logo to me...

I'd have to take a look when I get home. If it is truly etched, then no, not without removing metal.
AFA cooking, I am an ex-chef, but I do enjoy cooking.
Oh, and please keep the edge of the blade away from the paper. It should only ever touch whiskers/skin, or a hone, under the guidance of some who knows how to do it.

Hey and welcome to the forum. As others have said factory edges are hit and miss as to being shave ready. The only real answer is a shave test but unfortunately you have nothing to compare it to. I would not use a straight to cut paper with as doing that may dull the edge. As far as I know the AOS TI is the same as any other TI blade except for the TI logo. If you order enough straights from TI I am sure they will make up a model to your specs.

Bob

As stated above, keep the edge away from paper, as this can dull the blade. A better test would be to see if it cleanly shaves a small bit of hair on your arm. You could also read up on the hanging hair test a bit and give that a go, but when all is said and done, the only way to see if it will truly shave is to try it. That said, you're probably better off to send it off to a professional to have it honed, especially on that brand new pricey blade of yours. Plus, then you know you have a shave ready razor, which takes some variables out when trying to improve your shaves and technique. Poor stropping can also dull your blade. You didn't mention if you have a strop, but if you do be sure to take your time and keep a close eye on your technique. I found it helpful to lay the strop flat on a table or counter top while stropping at first.

My experience with the AOS logos was that they were not etched and were easily removed with Maas and 0000 steel wool.

Welcome to SRP,

The truth is that the razor has already lost a good amount of value the moment it was bought, so I wouldn't worry too much about it. The last time I had AoS razor the logo was lightly etched, so removing it would take work removing decent amount of steel.

It's a good quality razor though, made by Thiers-Issard from c135 steel (they bought the LeGrelot brand, but as far as I am concerned they do not make LeGrelot razors). The factory edges vary quite a bit, even though TI claims they are shave ready, the chances are that it isn't, or it's barely there. Best course of action is to have it honed and follow the practices that all of us here do, and not from that paper that Thiers-Issard puts in the box. I.e. strop before every shave (for best results on canvas and then leather), touch up the razor with abrasive (pasted strop/hone) only when it needs it, likely after about 20 shaves.

Have fun