Thiers, no more Tears

I got the SR in the attached photo from Invisible Edge for about 90 GBP, this is they call "basic black" or "basic townsend razor", based on Le Grelot form, made from C135 carbonsong steel. I had other 2 Thiers before this: a 7/8 with a with beautiful stabilized curly maple and a barber's notch blade, and another 6/8 snakewood neck, decorated spine "historic blade" series. Very good and smooth esperience with the 7/8, but on the opposite side the 6/8 historic blade was catastrophic.

So I concluded to accurately avoid every "historic blade" and preferring the C135 carbonsong, so I bought this cheaper 11/16 razor, the blade is without decorations and it is not mirror polish (just like a Puma, Kama or other normal german razor), the neck is a good quality "plastic" (maybe acrilyc). I was expecting that this str. razor working at least like my wonderful 7/8 TI, and no more tears with the "historic" 6/8.

Just received this new Thiers form the postal office, it was packed accurately with oil on the blade. The finish is appearing accurate and no issue with it, but the geometry of the blade is not so precise. But this is a characteristic of Thiers razors, because all my 3 TI have inaccuracies related to the geometry of the blade, after all it is an handcrafted blade so I like this aspect, but compared to the blades from Solingen is a shock!

The bevel appears uneven and rather high and evident (like my other TI), but the edge is well polished and the razor appears perfectly shave ready.

I have choosen this razor because I have thick wiskers on a very delicate skin, and my previous 7/8 TI gave me perfect results from this point of view, so after a short stropping I had a first shave with it. The blade is not singing at all, this is a perfect deaf blade, like a wedge, but the shaving was smooth and perfect. So I cannot complaint anymore and I like this "essenzial" and basic straight razor from all the point of view and I want share my experience with you guys.

lovely looking blade that one I have to say. The thumb notch and round point is just my type of razor :beer1:
The thing that has me puzzled about thiers issard razors is the pricing. Is there a difference in the actual blade between this one and another one costing double? Or are you paying for spine work and scales?

Thank you for posting your observations. I have been thinking about that model for a bit now.

Bob

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Originally Posted by Damo

lovely looking blade that one I have to say. The thumb notch and round point is just my type of razor :beer1:
The thing that has me puzzled about thiers issard razors is the pricing. Is there a difference in the actual blade between this one and another one costing double? Or are you paying for spine work and scales?

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You pay extra for a bigger size, a higher polish on the blade, for the spine work and fancy scales. The basic steel of the blade is the same. Given equally good edges and grind they should shave the same. That has been my experience with DD razors. The bottom of the line DD No.1 Special shaves like my DD Goldedge.

Bob

May be they put in the €1 scales the blades that are ground by the less experienced grinders?

I have the special editions (oakwing?, somethingelse-wing?) and the grind is much more hollow than the original legrelots (I've had 6-7 of them so I am pretty familiar with them), but I really haven't paid too much attention to the bevels so they're most likely fairly narrow and even.

I want to say the thumbnotch curvature is a bit different too, but I really should take a picture of one of the vintage legrelots next to these new TI razors.

Ive got the basic Thiers 11/16 too and as bob said it's the same c135 carbonson steel as used on the more expensive razors, your just paying for more time spent making it look pretty! The only different steel also used is damascas but your going to pay through the nose for it!

Very nice. A minimalist's delight.

I love the minimalist, understated look, better than some twice the price and still the same blade. Mine came with an uneven bevel too though.

thats very interesting gents, thanks. I've always liked the aesthetics of these blades but been put off by my confusion over the price differences and the occasional sniping I hear about quality control.

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Originally Posted by Damo

thats very interesting gents, thanks. I've always liked the aesthetics of these blades but been put off by my confusion over the price differences and the occasional sniping I hear about quality control.

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I believe there has been some sniping on here about the quality control on their more expensive models also. Nobody has 100% quality control unfortunately and price does not seem to be an indicator of the level of QC either.

Bob