Thiers Issard, from GW?

[jdX]

I've got a French made Thiers Issard straight razor that I bought brand new from a mail order tool vendor known as Garrett Wade. I got it about ten years ago. They were selling a limited amount of them and they stated that this razor was high quality and had collectible aspects to it. Out of curiosity I went ahead and shelled out about $90 for it.

I was wondering first of all if any of you other guys might have that same razor? Also I'm new to this game and I'm wondering if indeed that particular make of razor is a good one. I do know that it is made in France. It has gold leaf work on the blade and it says "Sheffield Silver Steel".

I have another question. I've been hitting a few garage and estate sales here lately and I've been seeing a few straight razors for sale. I've heard that almost all of the straight razors made in Solingen Germany are usually made with good steel. Is that true? And what should I look for when checking out these garage sale and flea market razors?

[JimmyHAD]

Theirs Issard is a darn good razor IME. I would say that most Solingen razors are made of good steel.... again, IME. I like to have an eye loupe in my pocket and check the condition of the edge. If it is badly pitted in the honing zone I pass no matter what the rest of it looks like. .

I look for full bladed razors with no cracks or large chips and with scales that are solid with no cracks around the pivot or cell rot. None with a lot of hone wear, particularly uneven hone wear. A little hone wear is acceptable if it is even. Condition is the main thing I look at and I like a blade to be at least 5/8.

[Otto]

Hi

The WIKI has lots and lots of usefull info.

What you should look for buying a razor:

The straight razor - Straight Razor Place Wiki


Good razors to look for:

Good Straight Razor Brands - Straight Razor Place Wiki

[decraew]

I recently talked to a guy who has a shop that sells, amongst other things, straight razors made by Dovo, Thiers Issard and Puma.

His opinion about Thiers Issard was that the quality varies a lot, you could have good ones but also not-as-good-ones. He made a joke about it: it depends on whether it was made before or after lunch (including wine...).

[jdX]

I recently talked to a guy who has a shop that sells, amongst other things, straight razors made by Dovo, Thiers Issard and Puma.

His opinion about Thiers Issard was that the quality varies a lot, you could have good ones but also not-as-good-ones. He made a joke about it: it depends on whether it was made before or after lunch (including wine...).

When I first got this one back in 1999 from Garrett Wade I mainly just got it to add to my growing knife collection at the time. After I had it about a year I started doing research on straight razors. I got the name of a guy out in Phoenix AZ who at the time had a razor business out in Phoenix and he sold razors and other items. I sent the razor to him for his expert opinion and he said that it was a very good razor in his opinion. He actually tried to buy it from me. Because at the time I sent it to him Garrett Wade had completely quit selling them. Garrett Wade sold these as a promotional type deal. Because they said that razors of this quality were kind of a dying breed and at that time there were not many really good quality razors being made ( so they said).

The fact that this guy offered to buy it from me for what I paid for it indicates to me that he really must have thought it was a fairly decent piece. I would be more than happy to send it to anyone here on the Forum who also has expertise on razors to see if his opinion is valid. Now I had read an article on one of the knife forums about a year ago concerning Sheffield Silver STeel. Which is what this razor is supposed to be made of. The guy who wrote the article said it was very good steel indeed.

Well anyway I hope that's the case because I would hate to discover that I shelled out $90 for something that is not of good quality . If any of you other guys know anything about this razor I would sure like all the input I can get. Because if I'm going to learn how to hone, shave and maintain this razor I want to know 100% for certain that I've got a good quality tool to use. If not I'll find another one. I have a cousin who is a barber and he told me he uses a Dubl Duck and has used that brand for years. I don't see or talk to him very often but I'll make it a point to contact him again around Christmas time.

[decraew]

Why don't you post a picture of it ?? What are the scales made of ??