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Good morning: I am new to this forum! I am about to purchase a Thiers Issard, and I wonder if you have experience with how two different types of blade will shave? I am hesitating between a Chatellerault and a La Legende. My beard is fairly tough and I usually need a close shave.
I will appreciate your input?
You don't need a specific blade type or size to get a good result or to match with your beard. You can get an equally good shave with a 5/8s hollow grind as with an 8/8s full wedge.
It's more about your skill. Over time you will naturally prefer one size and/or type over the other.
For now just get something middle of the road. As to the razors you are considering just buy the one you like the most. You won't go wrong either way.
Most important is make sure it is shave ready. Theirs-Issard come with a factory edge and still need a professional honing.
So, two different blade designs, both full hollow grind. It is the grind that will give you a bit of a better shaving edge, with a heavy beard, or better said can give a better shave…
The blade styles may give you more problems/benefits, one is spike point the other round. Spikes will take a bit more attention, but spikes are more useful, and will teach you to shave with a light touch, not a bad thing…
Additionally, the sharp heel of the Le Chatellerault, can be problematic and will most probably, cut you. Yes, it looks cool, but… not functional, IMO. The heel can be reshaped, easily.
Really they both should shave about the same. Of Razors of the same grind, how the razors are honed are more important in terms of heavy beard performance.
A very keen, aggressive, highly polished edge, seem to work well with heavy beards, SG20 edge, stropped on .50um and .10um, CBN, Ark, or Jnat edge.
You also have to take your skin type into consideration, not just the beard. So it is more of, an experimentation of edges, until you find one that suits your skin, beard and blade type and design.
Blade width, style, grind, steel hardness, and how they are honed and maintained, are all personal preference issues. Of the two you have selected, in terms of shaving ability, they should shave about the same.
The Le Chatellerault has better looking scales, the La Legende, a nicer blade, the scales do not, do the blade justice.
Some say vintage Thiers Issard steel is better than new. I collect Vintage TI’s and hone a lot of new TI’s. There is no question that Vintages TI’s are finished better than the new, but there are way too many factors involved to say one is better, or will shave better, that the other.
And that is both the benefit and quandary of the straight razor, that it can be tailored specifically to an individual. And that many of us are left looking for… more.
Personally, I prefer, a Spike point. You also may want look at Vintage TI’s, you can buy a pristine Vintage, for less that you will pay for a new TI.
And as said, there is a learning curve, no matter the razor, a year from now your shaves will be infinitely better.
Enjoy, and welcome to the forum. Check the Vintage TI’s in the Razor / Razor Club, Forum, (The French Foreign Laceration).
Euclid: Thank you for the detailed reply: it is very helpful to me! And I will follow your advice :)