Thread: Interested in thiers issard 6/8 bison but have questions to those who own it

Hi.
I might be interested in buying this razor but there are some things I would like to ask questions on since I am a beginner. I would like to ask some questions to the many experienced users on here. Thank you very much in advance. Is red stamina considered fake wood and does it feel like wood or plastic-like? I am looking for scales that feel natural like my Dovo Forestal. Is the blade shorter than most other 6/8 razors and is the razor balanced? Also, not just on this razor but on others as well, if I wipe off the gold wash on razors like the dovo forestal and this, will there be an etching on the blade left over still? Lastly, I heard thiers issard changed their metal recently for a better high carbon blade. Is that true and if so will this model have them? Thanks again guys.

Stamina wood is a laminate. Some look nice and some look a little artificial. Depends on dye penetration.

There is etching under the gold but sometimes the gold is used to put another shape or design in addition to the etching. If you lose the gold wash you will lose that aspect of the design. Depends on the razor.

I find TI well balanced depending on the model. Some of the 7/8 have an extra spur on the shank which can be annoying.

Btw. Sometimes TI come with wonky bevels and some hone wear on spine. They still lie flat on the hone and shave well.

If all the cosmetics are important have your dealer see if he can send a pic of the one he is sending or ask him to cherry pick one for you.

All modern are C135. Pretty abrasion resistant and may take longer to hone but give you a great long lasting edge.

Hope this helps as as always YMMV

Thank you very much for your help. I'm not really familiar with wood laminates but would you suggest it for a person who likes natural materials or should I consider possibly something else? Is the scales slippery as well like laminated paper?

Originally Posted by Ponypox

Thank you very much for your help. I'm not really familiar with wood laminates but would you suggest it for a person who likes natural materials or should I consider possibly something else? Is the scales slippery as well like laminated paper?

They look nice but hard to determine your likes. I have not found them more slippery than other scale materials. Never factored that into my scale choice since I never handle the scales when shaving.

Thank you for your help.

I've always felt TI Stamina scales are pretty cheap looking. I consider them the equivalent of plain plastic scales.

TI makes a nice razor but they are known for QC issues. I avoid gold wash because in a workhorse razor the gold can be hard to maintain.

Don't think of the scales as a handle because they aren't. They are a cover for the edge when not in use that folds out of the way. To that end, the lighter the scales the less likely they are to upset the balance and handling of the razor. Also, be careful when stropping to control the razor with the tang only and avoid putting any pressure on the scales - this is a sure fire way to crack or even break your scales at the pivot pin.

I have owned two TI razors. I will never buy one again unless it is a vintage model. We had a funny discussion in my building Physics class last week about European countries based on what they are known for good/bad. Turns out France was the worst for technology. After hearing this I laughed to myself because I instantly thought of my razor. If you don't mind a huge bevel, and a potentially warped razor then go for something else.

Portland Razor co might offer the sort of razor for you.

They are a bit more custom than most companies, and they offer 2 solid wood scale options as well at the same price point as the TI.

They offer cheaper 6/8 designs but for the same budget as the TI you can have the 7/8 and 8/8 options and real walnut or maple.

The only problem is the turn around time on getting an order shipped with them since the razors are made to order, and have 11-12 weeks construction lead times.

Portland Razor Co. | Straight Razors and Strops — The Strix

When I first looked at straight razors, I wanted a ralf aust. In fact the first razor I bought was from SRD and was their 5/8 olive wood round. I was completely excited and was rather let down when I got it. This is just from my experience and I absolutely would like for ralf aust to be my favorite razors. My favorite razor Ive seen someone use right now is actually a ralf aust 6/8 olivewood razor with classic handle and round point. Anyways, I took it out and the scale near the pivot stuck out too much for me, the grain that I was drooling over the picture looked bare and someone I knew said it felt like a "popsicle stick". I didn't want to admit it because I wanted to like it but I had to agree. The scales felt really light and felt like bare sanded wood to me. The round point seemed too round and the balance felt totally razor heavy. I remember the scales feeling loose as it would open easily by itself and I was confused if that was normal for straight razors. All in all I recorded it intending for it to be a video I can show to my kids maybe about my first straight razor and total excitement. However, when I look back at the video, I can totally see me hiding my total dissapointment when I took it out and held it on camera. I returned it and since then I've developed a nervousness about buying straight razors I couldn't see. I would love to give them another chance but I'm too scared to try. Today I was considering a ralf aust before this post but am scared off by my first experience.