Thread: Is it true that TI makes the best straight razors for shaving?

So what is the best performance straight razor?

I have some vintage straight razors that I've honed/stropped and they perform extremely well. My Carl Schlieper "German Eye" razor is the best I've used so far, it seems to hold a super sharp edge and shaves with an effortless smoothness after stropping with CrO paste.

So now I want to go one step further, and try the very best modern razors. Are they better than the vintage ones? Who makes the best, and which model? Are there any razors that distinguish themselves from the crowd?

You can't go wrong with Dovo's. Thiers Issards are nice from what I hear, although I don't have one... If you're looking for a superb modern razor, you cannot go wrong with a custom. The only ones I can think off-hand are Tim Zowada and Mastro Livi...I'm sure there are others I don't know about. But if you're looking for a decently priced modern razor, I would go with a nice Dovo personally.

Dave

But Dave, I heard that the Dovos have quality control issues...

But if Dovo, carbon steel or stainless?

Ultimately, I want something that is better than my vintage razors, which seem to be pretty damn good already. But I want even better!

Sorry to burst the bubble, but when it comes to the actual shaving performance (sharpness, smoothness) it doesn't make any difference whether you use a vintage Joseph Rodgers, a modern Dovo or TI, a custom made razor or a 9$ Wapienica.

Some razors keep their edge a bit longer, due to being a bit harder / tougher, but as far as shaving itself goes, it doesn't make much of a difference.

What you are paying extra for with high end razors is the effort that went into making a stylized razor, brand name, scale material and steel type, and availability. Most well known vintage razor brands floating around today are as good as it gets, and no amount of money thrown at it will get you a better shave.

Of course, the shaving experience itself can be vastly different, but not the actual hair removal process.
Shaving with a custom made razor that is honed to perfection is a wonderful experience, because it has been made specially for you. It looks great, it feels great, the scales look just the way you want, and the razor radiates an aura of quality and beauty.
But I shave with every razor I restore before sending it back to its owner, and I have gotten equaly fabulous shaves with vintage razors and wapienicas.

So long story short: find out what you like, and then spend money on it to get that. The shaves will be great and enjoyable (given good honing) But don't expect the actual hair removal proces to be much different from what you get with vintage, dovo, ti, wapienica, or any other quality razor.
One of our members (Iwan) is / was into high end straights. But he once said the best shave he'd ever got was with the 9$ wapienica that put all of his other high end gear to shame.

I think Bruno summed it up about as perfect as possible......

As for QC problems on the new razors, I would rate Dovo slightly higher in that department then TI, both are good shavers but TI's problem with scales, puts them a step below Dovo in my book...

Again this is JMHO after honing and test shaving quite a few of them...

Bruno seems to be saying that he never met a razor he didn't like. I can't agree with that. Probably for their type of beard, most people have razors that give good shaves and others that don't. It's a personal preference and differs from person to person. For example, I had a couple of razors that gave me lousy shaves. I decided to send them out to be honed. The honemeister said they gave him great shaves but when I got them back the shave was still lousy. I have others that give me fantastic shaves, so I don't think its merely a question of technique. That said, of the razors I have used, I got the best shaves in this order:

Wapienica
Le Grelot 3/4 full hollow
Livi regrind
Ross "Vienna French"
Bancroft
Filarmonica 13
Kaufman Worldmaster

I guess the main problem I have with what Bruno and Gssixgun are saying is that they seem to be implying that it's your fault if you don't get a perfect shave from any given razor. There will be razors that won't give you a good shave because they aren't the right type of razor for you and that's allright.

Nono that's not what I am saying.
There are razors that give better shave than others. But -given quality steel- that has more to do with style, grind, size and weight.

I've had razors I didn't like. I refuse to hone, restore or shave with anything < 11/16 because I don't like them and I don't like shaving with them.

But given the same size, honing, grind, ... the removal of hair from the face will be the same, or as near as possible. And if you have a properly honed quality razor, failure to get a good shave is indeed your own, and probably caused by wrong technique (or technique not suited to that razor).

If you can't get a good shave from a well honed wapienica or vintage razor, you will gain absolutely nothing by buying a multi 100 dollar custom razor or TI. You can't buy your way into a smooth shave.

Possessing a "quality" ,"the best", "modern, or anything other RAZOR is only part of the shave equation.

Pre shave preparation, actual shaving skill and the ability to maintain an edge is all important.

A razor I enjoy shaving with, may not satisfy your needs. Beard type plays a role too.BRUNO,IMO says it perfectly-You cannot BUY your way into a smooth shave!

Buy what you can afford and hope it is what you REALLY WANT.Then learn the skills that are required. It isn't easy, it is an acquired skill. It takes practice and patience. An ebay special or $1000 custom both can deliver wonderful shaves-the razor is only a TOOL- you have to learn how to USE it.

I've owned about an equal number of razors from Dovo and TI. While my experience is limited to my purchases, I have to say that Dovo seems to have better QC than TI. That said, I no longer own any Dovo razors, but continue to own and use both a 6/8ths Super Gnome Extra and a TI scaled 6/8ths quarter hollow Le Grelot. I did have to sand the wood scales on the Le Grelot to even them out, however, and I once had a 5/8ths Super Gnome Extra that had a "ding" on the end of the blade. Didn't have any effect on the shave, but it should not have made it out of the factory. I've also owned TIs that had the trademark stamped and others that had the trademark printed. Both Dovo and TI make good shaving razors.

My favorite razor is still a green scaled union cutlery spike $4.50 at the flea market.

Don