Thread: Buying from "The Art of Shaving" retail store... good or bad idea?

I have been bouncing around alot and I feel like I have settled on a razor that I want from SRD, It's a dovo bismarck 6/8 ebony solingen.

I also normally do not make purchases unless I can see and feel it first, and I have had a VERY hard time finding a retail outlet in the south Denver suburbs. In fact, the only place I have found is in the mall.

the last time I visited I asked the lady who worked there what type of leather the strops they sold were and she didn't have an answer, she also did not know who manufactured their straight razors. Since they are branded for the retail store, I don't know who makes them. I wound up walking away.

So I guess my question is has anyone bought from The Art of Shaving retail outlet and if so, how was the hardware? did the blade hold an edge?

Also if you have heard any secondhand stories about them, good or bad I would like to hear before I make up my mind.

Thieres Issard makes their razors, and yes the Dovo or art of shaving will make great shavers. However, the Dovo from SRD will be ready to go out of the box (Lynn hones them), the one from the mall will have to be sent out to be honed, it will have a pre-bevel, maybe even a good bevel, but will not be "shaving sharp", as it won't be comfortable and will most likely grab and tug at the hair. I don't know about their strops, but SRD has great strops (I have the 3" black latigo), most likely the art of shaving strops are latigo, but I would look around to make sure.

Oh just remembered, alot of guys here do a Denver meet up, keep your eyes peeled for that. No matter what razor you go with, you could attend and get some first hand pro help at honing, and even get to try out different hones before buying if you decide to hone yourself. Great way to learn if you get the chance to go.

Oh wow, so they are manufactured by TI! that is really neat to know, they said they offered both French and German razors so I am assuming that covers the French ones.

I was going to ask at the store if they had a honing/sharpening service. I would like to have a good out-of-the-box shave which is why I was so heavily favoring SRD. I have sharpened many blades to "razor" sharp but never a straight razor and never for the purpose of shaving (although I did have to shave with my divers knife a few times overseas, it wasn't terrible but not pleasant either.)

Originally Posted by tiddle

Oh just remembered, alot of guys here do a Denver meet up, keep your eyes peeled for that. No matter what razor you go with, you could attend and get some first hand pro help at honing, and even get to try out different hones before buying if you decide to hone yourself. Great way to learn if you get the chance to go.

I will keep my eyes open, I have already had some contact with someone from the area who seemed very helpful.

As far as I know they don't offer a sharpening service, but there are plenty of guys in your area that will do it for a low price, maybe close enough you could watch them do it as well. Check the classifieds and vendors forums, find someone in your area or close to you, PM them, and go from there.

My vote goes for SRD as well. I wish when I first started I listened to everyone and just got an SRD blade and the Lynn Paddle. Would have saved me a lot of time and money.

I have mixed opinions about Art of Shaving. On one hand they are one of the only companies out there with retail stores promoting wet shaving in many areas of the US. On the other hand, I don't care much for procter & gamble and their products tend to be priced up a bit high.

I agree with the above, I like the fact that their razors are made by Thieres Issard, so it's a trusted razor company, and the fact that you can walk in and buy one; however, they are not ready to go out of the box, and their creams and aftershaves are pretty standard stuff just overpriced to me. I've tried some samples of their creams and balms and for the price, it wasn't there at all, lot better stuff for cheaper out there, but that goes to brand recognition and advertising as well.

The more I think about it the more I think I will go with SRD, because I can probably get some shaves in before I have to develop any really good stropping techniques.

I was told to steer clear of latigo, but I figured since I would most likely butcher my first strop to just get that. I was going to upgrade the cloth portion from webbing to wool felt.

Any advice on carbon vs. stainless? I am not concerned with rust as I will take care of the equpitment, I just want a blade that will hold a better edge in between stroppings

Hmmm...

If I had to take a guess you were shopping at the Park Meadows location. I have gone in there and purchased soaps and have offered honing service to the Cherry Creek location. If you decide to get a razor from SRD you will be pleased, to say the least. If you purchase one from AoS at either Cherry Creek or Park Meadows give me a shout (PM) and I'll hone it up for ya at no charge.