Dovo or Thiers Issard

On this moment i am a saftey razor guy. Soon i will buy a straight razor.
Tell me, Dovo or Thiers Issard. I have no idea, i have found a shop that sells both razors and before i visit this shop i like to know your favorit straight razor.
Peer.

In my mind, both are quality products. The big question is do these razor's come honed? If not, you would need to send it to someone to have a good hone put on it. Scratch that, even if they do come "honed" you might be best served to send it to someone to have it honed anyway to allow you to start the journey with a great edge vs a so-so edge that may hinder your progress as well as your enjoyment.

This post might be best served in Newbie's corner as more folks will get a look at it and be able to provide their thoughts as well. One of the Mods might be able to provide an assist here.

Enjoy and good luck

Joe

Hi Peer, welcome to the site.

I think most here will recommend you purchase a shave ready razor from the classifieds rather than a new one.

I know it will be a bit of a hassle with overseas shipping, but there are members in Holland, and all over Europe for that matter, that might help out.

You will save money, and receive a razor that is ready to shave. Shave ready is very important, and almost no new razor is going to be shave ready.

There are many things to learn about shaving with a straight razor, and the process takes time. Most, if not all,shops that sell straight razors don't know how to hone them and the staff doen't use them anyway.

More that a razor is needed anyway. A strop is a must before each shave. After a few weeks a razor will need to be honed.

So I would advise you to purchase a vintage, shave ready razor so you don't become discouraged from the very beginning. It can be difficult enough just learning to use a straight and you should not be handicapped with a dull blade.

I post it in the wrong forum i guess, anyway thanks for your reply.

I have visit a lot of internet shops that sell these razors, they show a nice picture and a price.
Maybe its very dificult to tell me what is the right one for me, but every one has his favorit.
I hope that before i enter the shop (Antwerpen, Belgium) i get some good advise.

There is a Thiers Issard in the classifieds now and it is a very very nice razor at a good price. $200 for this one would be well worth the money.
Thiers Issard ‘Eagle’ 6/8 round point with Red Stamina scales and fancy file work spine. - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

Moved thread to correct forum so it will get the attention it deserves...

Thank you.

I have and shave with both. I feel TI takes a better edge and gives a closer shave more consistently. The TI also has more heft and feels better in my hand.

ditto on the shave ready advice.and i would be carefull abought buying a shave ready on ebay some ( not all) are anything but. as to dovo or ti buy what appeals to your hand and eye. straight razor shaveing takes time to learn not only the shaveing part but the upkeep on the razor ,stroping honeing exc.

Less expensive to get you started. TI's are nice too, but requires more money to play if you go with new as well as the more expensive Dovo's.

Dovo Shavette - inexpensive and you can straight shave for a weeks before you make your big investment decision. No honing or sharpening issues to worry about as well.

Pabster

I like both but I like TI better. As noted by Gunner there are a number of them in the SRP classifieds right now. They appear to be in new condition and at a great price compared to new from a vendor. Get one while they last. :) They are not mine BTW and I don't know the seller.

Out of 70+ razors I currently have, there are only 4 razors in my rotation. One of them new TI and no Dovo :)

I have a very decent Dovo and recently also acquired a 1/4 Le Grelot by TI and I prefer that one over the Dovo. If the straights from TI are any similar to their Grelot, then I can definitely recommend them. Dovo does quality products, but, as some members here have already pointed out, the TI's seem to be giving a better result. But keep in mind, what works for some might not for others.

I'd echo the advice above to go for a shave ready vintage. If straight shaving's not for you, you'll get your money back (or thereabouts) when you sell it. Having said that, I have a new TI that's lovely, can't speak for Dovos, don't have one..

I was looking at potential new razors. I looked at TI's because I don't have any yet. I learned 2 things. a) there weren't that many models that thrilled me and b) for about the same money I can get into a Wacker who does some very nice things with Spanish points (and French points). He has some nice round points and square points, but the Spanish points are really attractive.

There was one I missed out on that was called "special grind" - a faux frameback. I wish I had pulled the trigger on that one.

To all that send a reply, thanks.

I think Thiers Issard is the winner, But my choise can be changed when i enter this shop.
I think there is not a big difference in quality and both razors looks great.

Peer

Hi Pyment, i found a site with Wacker razors, they look great.
When i buy a razor i will do this in this shop, www.koordenwinkel.eu
They sell DOVO and TI.
Peer.

Do get them honed/sharpened by someone who knows what they are doing. Mine came 'shave ready' from the factory but it took me months with a lot of help from this place before it really was.

You won't go wrong with either brand in the end. TI probably has better blades but that doesn't always translate to a superior shaver. I have both and I could not say one is consistantly better that the other. If you go for the TI make sure you check it over very closely before you leave the shop because their QC can be very hit or miss.

I can not speak about the TIs but the Carbon Steel Dovo that I have does maintain real easily. It does need to be stored dry, because it turns color real easy when stored not fully dry.

I have both dovo and TI and they both give good shaves. My favorite is the Historical 1/4 Le Grelot black scales and satin polish, this did come shave ready and is by far my best shaver. I also have
Thiers-Issard Straight Razor "Le Petite Francaise" 4/8" Blade Plastic Handle France

and this is the hardest razor I have to hone, I don't know if its the small blade size or what but it is a pita. I have a 6/8 dovo best quality that gives a very good shave and was far less money.

Bottom line I like both the dovo and the TI but the dovo are somewhat easier to hone in my opinion but I an not a hone master maybe one will chime in on there experence.

The dovo are less money.

The Le grelot is a does give me a better shave, but the thumb notch makes it a little harder to strop, the balance is off while stropping but easier to hold when shaving.

I hope this helps a little

Crom

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Peer

When i buy a razor i will do this in this shop, www.koordenwinkel.eu

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De Koordenwinkel Complete scheerset DOVO cellidur zwart looks like a very reasonable offer. However, I could not find a comment on the site whether the razor will come pre-sharpened. If that's not the case, it's a show stopper, cf. Frequently Asked Questions - Straight Razor Place Wiki.

If I were you, I would go for a bottom line Dovo (or a razor from the Classifieds) for your first razor. Most of us have damaged, in one way or another, their first razor, and you probably don't want to have that happening to a EUR 250 Wacker or TI.