Thread: Thiers-Issard

I am new to straight razor shaving. Getting better at it each time. I want a great razor and keep seeing where Thiers-Issard is one of the best. The problem I am running into on making a decision to buy one is the different types of Thiers-Issard straights. Does it make a huge difference in types? Some are really beautiful.
I want a great close shave from a damn good razor.

I love TI razors and all of them I have shave well. But so do most of my vintage and the other brands I bought new.
I think you'll find more difference in grind and blade shape than model or even make. With a year into straight shaving I know what I like and many different brands and models can deliver it. But, with that said, I like my TI's over all other new production brands I own. I think it is more asthetics, than shave quality though.

I like my TI's also & the older ones with "69" on them are some of the best ones.

Thiers Issard are great razors.I love the evide sonnant 5/8 that I own.
But I must point out that for me this is the 8th Thiers to pass through my hands. I have owned some of their higher end models & the shave is no different to the cheaper models I've owned.In my own opinion.
The only difference has been the shave experience between the carbonsong steel &the old silver steel.
My own prefernce is for the carbonsong steel. But although I like this steel the shave can be very harsh & my own experience has been that the steel is very hard & it took me quite a while to tune the blades in until I am happy with the shave.
If you choose Thiers make sure you get it from someone who truly supplies shave ready razors.
I would personally advise you to go for Ralph Aust or Dovo. For a beginner. I would caution against the New Bokers as I found these to be a bit harsh as well.
The alternative choice would to go vintage but again choose a razor from recommended sellers on this forum or a member selling in the classifieds.
Sorry for the lenght of this post but I wouldn't want you to buy a razor that gives you a negative start as this can be terribly frustrating. Cheers Mate & welcome.
Paul

I need to aquire a vintage french blade. All mine are c135 and I love that steel.
Once I learned to hone them without micro chipping the edge, I get great edge retention and they are super easy to refresh and maintain. Good balance between stainless and carbon, IMHO.

If you are looking at new production the blades themselves are all the same quality. The difference is in the grind on some of the models. I have not looked at them for some time, but when I was looking at them it did not seem like too many had the grind listed. Most of the models will be full or extra hollow with the odd half hollow in the mix and they may have one or two quarter hollow razors. I am not a big fan of full and extra hollows but there are some in my rotation and they are nice occasionally. It is tough in the beginning to make decisions because you never know until you try them what is going to be super and sometimes you need to develop a little extra skill and then the so so shaver will be amazing. I think having some small variation in your collection is good. If you have a full hollow look for something different. If you buy vintage razors from a reliable source they tend to be a lot cheaper and you can often get your money back on them if you decide that one isn't for you.

Pretty doesn't make it shave any better than a plain Jane model of the same make. Make sure whomever you buy it from supplies it shave ready.

Bob

If you do go for one of the new Thiers Issard razors the grind is quite stiff compared to my other full hollows ,this my be because of the high hardness of the heat treatment of the carbonsong steel. I believe that the Hart razors have similar issues because of the high Rockwell hardness of the heat treatment.
( although a Hart razor is high on my wish list)
Cheers Paul

As mentioned, I've got three of the newer C135 steel razors, very stiff grind, not the flex I'd normally expect from a full hollow.

I also have several TI framebacks, #69 and #19, and AFAIC, they are much nicer to shave with as I find with most razors made from vintage/antique steel.

Originally Posted by Sharp&Shiny

Thiers Issard are great razors.I love the evide sonnant 5/8 that I own.
But I must point out that for me this is the 8th Thiers to pass through my hands. I have owned some of their higher end models & the shave is no different to the cheaper models I've owned.In my own opinion.
The only difference has been the shave experience between the carbonsong steel &the old silver steel.
My own prefernce is for the carbonsong steel. But although I like this steel the shave can be very harsh & my own experience has been that the steel is very hard & it took me quite a while to tune the blades in until I am happy with the shave.


If you choose Thiers make sure you get it from someone who truly supplies shave ready razors.
I would personally advise you to go for Ralph Aust or Dovo. For a beginner. I would caution against the New Bokers as I found these to be a bit harsh as well.
The alternative choice would to go vintage but again choose a razor from recommended sellers on this forum or a member selling in the classifieds.
Sorry for the lenght of this post but I wouldn't want you to buy a razor that gives you a negative start as this can be terribly frustrating. Cheers Mate & welcome.
Paul

Originally Posted by RezDog

If you are looking at new production the blades themselves are all the same quality. The difference is in the grind on some of the models. I have not looked at them for some time, but when I was looking at them it did not seem like too many had the grind listed. Most of the models will be full or extra hollow with the odd half hollow in the mix and they may have one or two quarter hollow razors. I am not a big fan of full and extra hollows but there are some in my rotation and they are nice occasionally. It is tough in the beginning to make decisions because you never know until you try them what is going to be super and sometimes you need to develop a little extra skill and then the so so shaver will be amazing. I think having some small variation in your collection is good. If you have a full hollow look for something different. If you buy vintage razors from a reliable source they tend to be a lot cheaper and you can often get your money back on them if you decide that one isn't for you.

Originally Posted by Sharp&Shiny

If you do go for one of the new Thiers Issard razors the grind is quite stiff compared to my other full hollows ,this my be because of the high hardness of the heat treatment of the carbonsong steel. I believe that the Hart razors have similar issues because of the high Rockwell hardness of the heat treatment.
( although a Hart razor is high on my wish list)
Cheers Paul

I have one of the newer TI straight's which I acquired a couple years ago & it gives a superb shave although the bevels from what I heard are initially done by machine. I don't know how accurate this information is, if so I think they finish by hand. I could be wrong though. But like I mentioned, the shave was excellent. I still love my older ones, the "69"'s. Here is the newer on in a SOTD:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/shave...ml#post1511151