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.

Originally Posted by Bruno

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.

+1 on all that for my take on it.............

Originally Posted by cotdt

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

Short answer: Yes.

Take it with a grain of salt.

Regards,
EL