New razor I got for Christmas- flaws?

Sorry if this should be in a different section, thought this would be best. I got a new Thiers-Issard for Christmas. Here's how it was packaged: The blade was oiled, the razor was wrapped in wax paper, put into a simple leather sheath, more wax paper, then into the razor's box and sealed with plastic. I opened it a few times, took the razor out to get the feel for it and practice holding it. I thought I might try shaving with it today, and noticed a couple flaws.

I did not remove the oil before today, and kept it inside the layers of wax paper and such as I received it. One side of the blade, with the logo, has a small brownish mark near the back (heel?) of the blade. Not sure if it's rust starting, a flaw in the steel, a burn mark of some sort, or what. On the other side there is a scratch or something, not sure if it's from honing or what. Tried to scrape it with my fingernail, doesn't appear to be something that will come off (I could be wrong).

Any ideas? Something I should try to do to remove the marks? Should I contact the site the blade was purchased from and complain/return it (it's from straightrazor.com)? Any help would be appreciated, since I don't think I should shave with it until I know for sure it will be ok to do so.

Hopefully the images give a good enough idea what I'm talking about.

Thanks in advance!

Ryan

Attachment 152351Attachment 152352Attachment 152353Attachment 152354

That bevel is horrible,send it back

When paying that much for a new razor I'd be rather disappointed to receive it with such a brutal bevel and flawed. I'd try to get a refund or an exchange at the very least. :gl:

Wow is that the honing from them? I would not hesitate to send it back. That edge looks horrendous!

It's a grim situation! :dropjaw:

Sorry, but I can just second what have already been said.

A razor should not look like that straight from the vendor, it will require soem work and skills to fix that bevel, so IMHO they have ruined a new razor.

Send it back and issue a refund or and exchange.

Definitely glad I posted on here, I wouldn't have really known the bevel was bad. I thought the edge looked a bit uneven, but wasn't sure if that mattered/made a difference or if it was beneficial somehow. One side looks better than the other I think. I will have to see what to do about it, get in contact with the company. I have no problem keeping the rest of the kit, strop/brush/soap/razor case, but the razor is definitely the most important and something I want to be satisfied with.

It's too bad really, I know Thiers-Issard are good blades, maybe it was just a rush job because it was a Christmas gift.

Honing a razor is a job never to be rushed.

Not sure what that brown spot is, but there looks to be a bit of pitting on the back, and the bevel near the heel looks uneven from font to back, like the steel is bent towards the rear.

Thiers Issard - The Blades Grim 6/8" Straight Razor - Black Acrylic Scales - Vintage Straight Razor
Was this your blade?
If you return it be sure to post about your experience with the vendor so we can all learn how well they deal with it.

vintagestraightrazor.com has one that's near identical, it seems like both businesses are owned by the same person and their business practices are pretty shady.

Here's a thread about it:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...zor-legit.html

Am shocked that a manufacturer and a vendor can allow a blade like that to be sold:(

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Am shocked that a manufacturer and a vendor can allow a blade like that to be sold:(

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These are the same vendor(s) that sell GB Buckinghams and other paki razors.

I guess their ice skate sharpening device was a little off that day!

Send it back. That heel looks like bad news and that brown spot looks really concerning......

When the blade gets heated up to much the temper gets blown, ruining the blade. That brown is one if the colors the steel turns when the temper is ruined. It looks like some one ground off the stabilizer at the heel, and did a poor job at that.... Either that or it was the guy at TI's 1st day on the job.
The bevel looks really bad too.

I will do my best to get my money back, for the razor anyway since nothing wrong with the rest of the kit. Just in case I can't get a refund from this, is the blade salvageable? Would sending it to Lynn or someone be an option?

Without seeing the blade it is hard to say, but from those pics it looks to me the blade is twisted at the heel, causing the odd honing along the edge from front compared to the back. Lay the blade on a flat surface, like a granite counter top , and lay it on both sides like you were going to hone it. That should tell you if the blade is flat or a bit twisted as I suspect. If it is flat, a Hone pro should be able to get a good edge. If it is not a flat piece of steel I would not shave with it. I bought a razor once, a vintage E Morris prosperity, that was actually bowed. Fortunately I was giving it away to a guy named E Morris who will never shave with it. (He knows why too) I just gave it as a lark since his name was on it.

Make sure you don't get a replacement from a different manufacturer, which you may be offered - the TI is the only razor worth buying from that place, so in exchange you'd want another TI that is not defective. It's best to get your money back and buy a different razor from another vendor.
If it isn't sharp enough you could have that fixed with further honing, but there's 99% chance that the bevel would remain uneven and ugly.

Too bad the edge is uneven, seemed more than sharp enough. Was able to cut some arm hair with it, although I don't know if that's a sufficient test to see if the blade is worthwhile.

It makes no Diff if its twisted, rusted, can be repaired or not,The blade is junk out of the box brand new.
That blade should be a factory reject and thrown into the scrap bin.
How it came to market from a 1st class maker eludes me.

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Originally Posted by mythyk

Too bad the edge is uneven, seemed more than sharp enough. Was able to cut some arm hair with it, although I don't know if that's a sufficient test to see if the blade is worthwhile.

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No it is not a sufficient test. The unanimous opinion, including mine, is to return it and either get a refund, or a replacement if you want to take another shot with the same vendor. Ask him if he will unpack and visually inspect a replacement to make sure it isn't a repeat performance. :gl:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

It makes no Diff if its twisted, rusted, can be repaired or not,The blade is junk out of the box brand new.
That blade should be a factory reject and thrown into the scrap bin.
How it came to market from a 1st class maker eludes me.

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I think it was most likely a fine razor when it left the factory and it's the vendors "honing" that's the problem here.

I could get better results honing with a dewalt angle grinder, js.

Every time we think TI has improved their QC we see something like this.

Absolutely nothing to do with Thiers Issard.

It is not impossible that the bevel came that way from TI. I have seen a few brand new TI's with a factory bevel that is not even. The edge is typically pretty close to shave ready requiring usually just some stropping on chromium oxide to be to my satisfaction.

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Originally Posted by Badgister

It is not impossible that the bevel came that way from TI. I have seen a few brand new TI's with a factory bevel that is not even. The edge is typically pretty close to shave ready requiring usually just some stropping on chromium oxide to be to my satisfaction.

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Thats not the point,That blade is tottally fubard,Chrom Ox will not make it right,it may shave,but who would want to own a blade like that for the money spent,would not pay 20 bux for that razor.

I can't understand how anyone would ship a blade in that condition. Whether manufacturing defect or a vendors poor attempt at honing, there has been more than one set of eyes looking at that blade. Someone should have scrapped it.


Send it back without delay.

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Originally Posted by DennisBarberShop

I could get better results honing with a dewalt angle grinder, js.

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Hey, I resemble that remark! Lmao

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Originally Posted by souschefdude

Without seeing the blade it is hard to say, but from those pics it looks to me the blade is twisted at the heel, causing the odd honing along the edge from front compared to the back. Lay the blade on a flat surface, like a granite counter top , and lay it on both sides like you were going to hone it. That should tell you if the blade is flat or a bit twisted as I suspect. If it is flat, a Hone pro should be able to get a good edge. If it is not a flat piece of steel I would not shave with it. I bought a razor once, a vintage E Morris prosperity, that was actually bowed. Fortunately I was giving it away to a guy named E Morris who will never shave with it. (He knows why too) I just gave it as a lark since his name was on it.

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I tried this on my dresser, the top is flat with no grooves or anything and is only a few months old so shouldn't be warped or worn. Laying the spine and tang fully flat, the blade does not lay perfectly flat, the heel is raised. I can try another surface if testing in this way is unsatisfactory, but really with the other flaws the blade possesses I don't think it's even worth it.

I am getting the emails sent to me by my parents who bought it, and will contact the company. They don't even have contact information on their website, seems odd. Went to their facebook page and posted to ask why that is, we'll see if I get a response.

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Originally Posted by mythyk

I tried this on my dresser, the top is flat with no grooves or anything and is only a few months old so shouldn't be warped or worn. Laying the spine and tang fully flat, the blade does not lay perfectly flat, the heel is raised. I can try another surface if testing in this way is unsatisfactory, but really with the other flaws the blade possesses I don't think it's even worth it.

I am getting the emails sent to me by my parents who bought it, and will contact the company. They don't even have contact information on their website, seems odd. Went to their facebook page and posted to ask why that is, we'll see if I get a response.

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I'd contact the credit card company and dispute the charge. They want their customers happy, so they'll almost attack this.

They know what they are doing is why you can't find a contact. You think they would come to a razor meet as a vendor ? Not hardly. Keep after the return and use what ever means it takes to get in contact. If your card company has to help then use them. Maybe the better business bureau ?

If you look and read closely, they have a no return policy….hmmm:hmmm: There's a reason why this is the best "Place" to come and research. I just wish that people would come here BEFORE they buy :(

I have indulged myself in eight TIs in the past year. Their quality is all over the map and that blade looks factory fresh. I have one bought on line every bit as bad... With TI buying in person is best, on line tends to be a bitter/sweet experience, even dealing with the most respected vendors and requesting inspection and quality assurances prior to purchase/shipping. I think their QC might be getting better as I was at Min NY after Christmas. They had a new TI shipment in and the razors were excellent. Thus number eight. Here it is:

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Hope the OP finds satisfaction. They are great shavers once you address (or adjust to) their character and flaws.

Interesting,why would anyone pay TI price than have to adjust the character and flaws??

Assuming we are talking about the website I found the link too, they do allow returns for material defects according to their policies page. Interesting though, I see they have a policy of no abuse.:
"If your abusive (use foul language, threatening, hostile or un-professional) we will fire you. That means we will cancel your order and refund you your payment. "

Never saw that before, guess this has been a problem?

They do have a link to a Twitter....perhaps we can use the power of social media to contact them and get a response?

This thread is reminding me of the disappointing online retail , e-bay and forum classified purchases I have made. The best way to buy a razor is up close and personal. See what you are buying before you drop your dollar but that only happens in the ideal world. In the real world of the www we need to investigate the vendor's return policy very carefully. Try to develope a one-on-one with the vendor so he understands your concerns about the razor in question.

I should practice what I preach, ha!

I was at a fellow members shop today, someone dropped off a AOS TI to be honed. We noticed uneven edge and spine wear. I laid it on a stone and saw the spine was bent. Interestingly, the edge was bent in the opposite direction. This thing was all over the place. When I got home I looked at my AOS TI and it too had a curve, though not as bad. I am very skeptical of TI from now on until someone proves me different.