Thread: Hello, checking in from ... ?

First let me introduce and explain the ?: I'm italian, but travelling a lot and spending most of my steady life in Paris, so ...
I'm not new to straight razors, I'm using it since few years, same as I'm reading this forum since months.
Now, I'm going to need some advice and would ask to you expert guys.
I own and use some new (Dovo 101, my preferred) and vintage (bismark, revisor, thiers issard 69) razors. I'm not an expert shaver, because in my travels I'm often in a hurry and use a 2 blades gillette sensor. The straight is for week end use only and holydays. I would buy a new GOOD razor and in doubt between Wacker and Thiers Issard, which one do you suggest? And which model?
I've always been using 5/8 and 6/8 and would like to try some 7/8, i wonder if it's worth risking in 7/8 with what will be my new best razor. Your opinion?

Hello and welcome. Bienvenuto, is that right?

Both razors you mention have good reputations. The TI may be harder steel than the Wacker. I can't recommend one brand over the other, but I think you should try to handle the 7/8s in a store before you buy one. It'll be a little harder to find a blade that wide, too; they're not as common as 5/8 and 6/8s. But find the one that feels most comfortable in your hand, that balances best with its scales and is easiest to steer. That, regardless of brand, will be the best blade for you.

If none of your current blades have a thumb notch, try out something with a thumb notch--maybe it will be perfect for you. If you've never used a singing hollow, maybe that's your best new thing. Or a full wedge, though you probably won't find a brand-new full wedge unless you go into the custom market.

Good luck and happy shopping!

Benvenuto.
Thanks a lot for your suggestions. I already heard about singing hollow, but am not sure what it is: a holllow blade, so thin that it sings? That was used in the past, but I had the idea that it's not such common in current production, never found in actual models names. Is it the same as extra hollow?

Benvenuto, connazionale! :-)
I too started with a Dovo 101 - almost eight years ago - but I soon started collecting vintage razors and, thanks to that, I found out vintage razors were light years away from the Dovo 101. I still have it, but it definitely is not my favorite, although I still use it in "rotation" with the other ones (54, exactly).
In my experience every size is an experience on its own. A 4/8 is great for some areas of the face, whereas the 8/8 is great for others. The same consideration is true for grinds, steel and - last but not the least - the maker of the razor.
If you want my opinion, go for the 7/8 and even a 8/8: you will not regret that and you will certainly keep on appreciating your 5/8 and 6/8. Just enjoying shaving from a different point of view/technique.

Buona rasatura! Viva il rasoio a mano libera! :-)

(for non Italian speaking gentlemen: Enjoy your shave! Hurrah for the straight razor! :-) )

Sterm--I think Dovo's Prima Klang is a singing hollow, and TI has some. Look at The Superior Shave; the owner there favors singers and writes a lot about all his products. I'm not sure if a singer is hollower than an extra hollow; I only have one blade that sings a little, and it's not the one that is labeled Extra Hollow.

About handling the razor first, I was very interested in TI's Oakwings that came out a year or two ago. Very expensive, very pretty. I had a chance to handle one at a meetup and that cured me of the temptation. For my hands it was not a good razor, just was not comfortable. It would have been a very regrettable purchase.

razorguy--I'm picking apart the phrase for straight razor, and though I haven't studied Italian the straight-across translation seems to be something like "free-hand razor." Is that right?

Originally Posted by roughkype

About handling the razor first, I was very interested in TI's Oakwings that came out a year or two ago. Very expensive, very pretty. I had a chance to handle one at a meetup and that cured me of the temptation. For my hands it was not a good razor, just was not comfortable. It would have been a very regrettable purchase.

That's a very interesting point that I had not considered at all. I was thinking that the only difference could be the size of the blade 4/8 ... 7/8.
Correct, "rasoio a mano libera" literally translated is free hand razor.

Originally Posted by razorguy

In my experience every size is an experience on its own. A 4/8 is great for some areas of the face, whereas the 8/8 is great for others. The same consideration is true for grinds, steel and - last but not the least - the maker of the razor.
If you want my opinion, go for the 7/8 and even a 8/8: you will not regret that and you will certainly keep on appreciating your 5/8 and 6/8. Just enjoying shaving from a different point of view.

That's exactly my concern, as I shave only once a week with a straight, I'm worried about the learning time with a new size larger blade.

Originally Posted by roughkype

razorguy--I'm picking apart the phrase for straight razor, and though I haven't studied Italian the straight-across translation seems to be something like "free-hand razor." Is that right?

First of all, congratulations for your Italian! And second, yes, you are right. Your translation is how it "sounds" in Italian. And, in case you find it "odd", don't worry, I too find it the same although I am Italian! :-)
I once tried to understand the etymology of "rasoio a mano libera" and the most probable reason depends on the fact you do not follow any fixed scheme. In Italian (and the same is for English) you apply this concept to any "hand made" thing following no fixed scheme or predefined "way", such as "disegno a mano libera", that is "free-hand drawing".

However, no matter how it is, viva il rasoio a mano libera! :-)

Originally Posted by Sterm

That's exactly my concern, as I shave only once a week with a straight, I'm worried about the learning time with a new size larger blade.

This is not a concern, or, at least, it was not for me. It just takes a couple of minutes to feel and understand the razor as you hold it in your hands. You have to assess its weight and how it fits in your hand, then, how to use it on your face.
But I am talking about my own experience and, as noted by roughkype, you may find out a 7/8 or 8/8 is not the ideal razor for your hand or you may just not feel comfortable with that.
This happened to me the very first time I tried a kamisori (the classic japanese razor) and I had the feeling I could not use it at all, so different in style and "mental approach" than a regular straight razor. I did not know how to start, how to hold it in my hand. Not to mention, the very first attempt on my cheek resulted in a bleeding cut.
I understood the problem was me, not the kamisori. I was just trying to use a kamisori the way I would use a straight razor, and this is not the case. That reminded me when I was studying the long sword in my Kung Fu school and the Master told me "think of the sword as an extension of your hand. You will never master the sword as long as you don't feel it part of you. It is not a sword, it is just the extension of your arm and of your hand. Use your mind to feel it, not your hand". It worked for the long sword (and for any other Kung Fu weapon I studied) as well as for the kamisori and straight razors.
That's how I basically use a razor now, including the kamisori. You have to feel it or it will never work. And you will never feel it as long as you don't try or give it a chance. This is just my experience of course.