Thread: Thiers Issard

Some of the T.I issues are shocking but the steel is exceptional when dialled in imo.
A few years ago I bought a T.I from The Invisible Edge , part of the grind on the bevel was so thin that there was a hole there.
I sent it back and swapped it with no problems.
Just make sure you ask them to inspect the razor before sending it out.

Can't say Iv'e had a TI that shaved badly & I always recommend them over Dovo.. A few with wonky bevels or geometry on the entry level but even they shaved well when honed up. Nice steel.

Like you I wanted to try a TI razor but was a little leery because of QC issues I had heard about. About a year ago I bought one of their La Legende series razors when they were on sale. When I got it I did not like the look of the edge, too many sparklies when looking through a loupe, so I re set the bevel and honed it. No problems with the rest of the razor though. Once I honed the TI shaved as well as any other of the razors I have. I can't recall what the bevel looks like now and it is not easily to hand at the moment, just remember that it shaves well.

Bob

I agree with all have said. An uneven bevel seems to be the norm but shaves just fine if you can get past the OCD.
I have 2 TIs from the invisible edge, a basic and high end, both have wonky bevels but are fine shavers. Wether basic or high end they use c135 carbonsong. Send Steve Dempster from the invisible edge an email, he is more than happy to help in any way, he also sends them out shave ready.

You know, I doubt there is a difference in how basic and high end models have their blades ground. They likely all come off the same production line and some are taken for further embellishment to the blade and a fancier scales is added. That is what you pay the extra for not the basic production of the blade. I could easily be wrong though.

Bob

Yup, your paying for fancy scales and spine work. Cant see them having a different grinder for the basic models. I could be wrong though

I hone quite a few TI's some of them have uneven bevels and others are OK, what I will say that C135 carbon steel is bloody hard stuff, but It holds a mean edge I don't own any but I wouldn't turn my nose up If the right one came along.

My experience mirrors Jamie's, I have 4 modern TI razors, two 11/16, and two 6/8. Of the 4, 2 are expensive and two are 'basic black' series. One expensive razor and one cheap have uneven bevels on one side. Both the 11/16 have even bevels, both 6/8 have uneven bevels. All shave very well.

I'd have to caution against the more expensive, fancy TI razors, or at least understand what you're likely to get. You're paying a lot for bling and the chances of getting a razor with an uneven bevel according to my experience is 50/50, and the more expensive ones are not necessarily ground better than the cheaper ones. Inexpert grinding is not exactly what I have in mind for a $300+ razor since it loses a lot of resale value, though not a deal killer on the cheaper razors like the basic black series which The Invisible Edge sells since they do shave very well and hold a good edge. I'd prefer the BB series to a Dovo Best. Another positive for the cheaper TI razors is that you can have them re-scaled much, much cheaper than you can buy nice scales from TI, so unless you just have to have the fancy metalwork, this is IMO the way to get a nice TI and cut your losses if the bevel is wonky.

Cheers, Steve