Thread: Le Grelot, or Bengall?

A Double Evide Sonnant 363 6/8, and a Cadman Bengall 5/8. Both examples in pristine condition, but which would you choose if you could have only one?

Without seeing pictures, I would choose the Le Grelot since I prefer 6/8 to 5/8 blades. However, I would sure like to add a Bengall or Le Grelot to my quiver.

My choice would also be the "Le Grelot", reason being they are just fantastic shavers and given the choice in size would take the 6/8.

It is a tough one for me to answer. I have a beautiful mint condition 6/8 LeGrelot. It is an amazing razor, but I doubt I would buy a second one, however I am certainly glad I bought the first one. Perhaps today I might buy the Bengall, simply because I have not got one, but in days gone buy I did not buy a Bengall.
:-)

I have both in 6/8 size; Le Grelot was not vintage (bought new from theinvisibleedge.co.uk) and the Bengall was bought 2nd hand on this forum from hi_bud_gl a few years ago (honed to superb shaving edge by him, I might add).
Both shave great; on balance, I prefer the Le Grelot as it is a little heftier in the hand (and the scales are nicer), but both excellent razors, IMO.

With few exceptions I'll always take vintage to the "newer" stuff. However you won't go wrong with either.

The thread is from 2017. At this time I would have said 50:50. But nowadays clearly the Bengall (their quality hasen't changed the last years), the TI's are awfully ground these days and there is no sound at all.

Originally Posted by hatzicho

The thread is from 2017. At this time I would have said 50:50. But nowadays clearly the Bengall (their quality hasen't changed the last years), the TI's are awfully ground these days and there is no sound at all.

I don’t dispute that as far as Thiers-Issard current production is concerned, but original Le Grelots (before the acquisition by Thiers-Issard) can be exceptional razors.

As you mentioned, this is a 2017 thread so this is somewhat of a moot point, except for people who do not realize that Le Grelot was not always owned by Thiers-Issard.
I have some vintage Le Grelots and they are oustanding razors.




B.

Originally Posted by beluga

I don’t dispute that as far as Thiers-Issard current production is concerned, but original Le Grelots (before the acquisition by Thiers-Issard) can be exceptional razors.

As you mentioned, this is a 2017 thread so this is somewhat of a moot point, except for people who do not realize that Le Grelot was not always owned by Thiers-Issard.
I have some vintage Le Grelots and they are oustanding razors.

B.

Didn't say anything else. No doubt the the old TI's and Grelots have been great razors!
But the last- lets say two years or so- I get son many TI (incl. Grelot) for sharpening, and this from experienced honers who are not able to get a satisfatory edge on the razors. I sometimes even need to put them in the hollow grinding machine again to get a straaight edge, because the grind is so wavy. Don't know what they are doing at Thierrs at the moment. But same with some Solingen companies, so not limited to TI!
Regards Peter

Originally Posted by TomP30

A Double Evide Sonnant 363 6/8, and a Cadman Bengall 5/8. Both examples in pristine condition, but which would you choose if you could have only one?

The 363 is one of my favorite razors.
It is the most singingest of any singing razor that I am familiar with.
It has a high pitched enduring tone.