Is this a good deal? Buying my first razor and thinking of these used ones...

Local person is offering two razors for sale for $250 here are all the details I can get at the moment and all of it is per the seller:

Razor #1:
Thiers-Issard 3/8 Full Hollow Round Point
barely used and shave ready with some stropping
bears an elegant "Evide Sonnant Extra" black mark
TI Carbonsong C135 Steel

Razor #2:
Thiers-Issard 5/8 Full Hollow Round Point
barely used and shave ready with some stropping
bears an elegant "Evide Sonnant Extra" black mark
TI Carbonsong C135 Steel

Attachment 83959

That is the biggest picture I can get from the seller at the moment.

I was thinking of getting this for my first razor until I came across these: Dovo 4580 "Silver Steel" Straight Razor

Bottom line...I am trying to make the leap and want to know if these two Thiers-Issard blades are a good deal, a great deal, or bad deal. Considering that I am buying something to use regularly and am not a collector at this point I need some input. Any would be greatly appreciated, or advice about what I need to check for or ask the seller so I don't get in over my head. I am not afraid to pay for quality but I am not looking to go pay retail for something either.

Oh yeah, Both shavers are supposed to look the same except for different blade sizes.

I have a TI and love it. I didn't pay that much but they are sweet razors!

Read this. Thiers Issard make great razors but you really do not need to spend that kind of money. Research is your friend.

That's a decent price for the 5/8 TI, but it's not exactly a beginners blade. You don't even know if you like straight razor shaving yet. Look for a 6/8, half-hollow, round point that's under $100. Spend the other $150 on additional equipment you'll still need to get. Dove Best Quality is a good beginners blade.

First, we do not provide appraisals. This is deep into subjective territory, so you should figure out your own priorities, what is important for you and what isn't and make a decision based on that.

BTW I wouldn't trust that 'should be shave ready with a bit of stropping'. If somebody tells me something is so easy I can do it in no time, the immediate question in my mind is "if it's so easy why won't they do it themselves instead and provide me with something perfect".

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Originally Posted by Altruist

Bottom line...I am trying to make the leap and want to know if these two Thiers-Issard blades are a good deal, a great deal, or bad deal. Considering that I am buying something to use regularly and am not a collector at this point I need some input. Any would be greatly appreciated, or advice about what I need to check for or ask the seller so I don't get in over my head. I am not afraid to pay for quality but I am not looking to go pay retail for something either.

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I think you're looking the wrong way about this. A 'deal' should not be the primary motivation selecting a razor to shave with. I can give you tons of links with razors shaped objects for a fraction of their 'retail price' yet they would be completely unsuitable for shaving.

I'm going to chime in with my 2 cents and agree with just about everyone else here in saying SRD or the classifieds here are your best bet for your first blade but I do have a TI as well that is a great shave. Though I bought mine from the classifieds here. So I walked in certain I had a truly shave ready blade no stropping required, though, I still did.

Gugi has nailed it, I always recommend buying from a SRP member via the classifieds or a SRP community based vendor.

That Dovo you have linked is the same razor I've been using for over a year and I love it! But I can't comment on the Thiers-Issard, never used one. Also, have to agree with dewey81, You will most likely enjoy the 5/8 much more than the 3/8.

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I am not afraid to pay for quality but I am not looking to go pay retail for something either.

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IMHO, that's a bad attitude. A search for a bargain often leads to disappointment.

"Full retail" can be $20 at an antique store for an old blade that needs honing, $50 in the Classifieds for a good honed vintage razor, $80 from Straight Razor Designs for a honed Dovo, $200 for a Hart Steel razor in O-1, . . .

None of those is a bargain; each represents 'fair value' _for what it is_ in an open, competitive market.

Larry, at WhippedDog.com, sells inexpensive, but very workable, vintage razors, at low prices. Many of them have cosmetic flaws. If you want "bling", they won't be satisfying. If you want something to shave with, they're fine.

I am very suspicious of "shave ready with some stropping". I think that translates to "dull", in English. And a 3/8 blade is very unusual -- there's something funny going on. Most vintage razors are 5/8's - 6/8's, because that's what _worked_ for the people who used them.

Charles

Thank you everyone for all of your input! I now have a lot of data to crunch and look forward securing something here in the near future.