Thread: First shave with my Thiers-Issard No 17

Took me two months but this morning I got to put steel to face using this beautiful Thiers-Issard.

Now, I am as much of a noob as one can be when it comes to straight razor shaving so I didn't feel all that confident as I started to lather up this morning.
I've used a shavette 3-4 times (ugh) and my Diamondine straight razor I think 5-6 times but neither of them w/in the past six months.
I've never really felt fully comfortable/confident when using a straight which of course probably has made me more reluctant to pick one up as a daily razor.
But, well, there I was, all lathered up ready to go...

I used Klar Kabinett soap and Myrsol emulsion as pre-shave.

I started out on the throat going WTG - it went surprisingly well. Might I even say 'easy'?

I was especially surprised that it was as effortless as it was around the adam's apple - and area I sometimes need to do some clean-ups when I use a safety razor.

I moved on to the cheeks and it was still pretty smooth sailing. A tiny bit of tugging but nothing too bad.
I felt very Clint Eastwood.

First weeper appeared on the left side of my face due to me being over confident and speeding up.
"Finding the right grip" is still something I am having a bit of a challenge with..especially when switching between the sides of my face. It doesn't feel completely natural.

The real challenge ended up being the area around my mouth - basically where you'll have a goatee. Hardest of it was the area under the nose.
I approached it slowly. Got a second weeper and decided that I had done enough for today with the straight.
My throat and cheeks were actually rather smooth.

I grabbed one of the smoothest DE's I have - a Gillette blue tip and finished it all off with an ATG pass with it.
Smooth and clean shaven.

I stropped the razor (ridiculously slowly I must admit) 20-25 times on the leather and another 10-15 times on the canvas before I put on some Anherb ASB and called it a day morning.

Personally, I think I did pretty well. There was some blood but not too bad.
I'm quite honestly looking forward to tomorrow morning.
Gonna strop it a little bit and then see if I can improve on confidence and grip.

Interesting, I have a number of TI framebacks like that one - 69 and 19...I have never seen a 17.

Must be rare, as the listing here doesn't include it, great find, and I know they are superb razors.

Check it out:

Les Marques des Couteaux de THIERS

Originally Posted by Phrank

Interesting, I have a number of TI framebacks like that one - 69 and 19...I have never seen a 17.

Must be rare, as the listing here doesn't include it, great find, and I know they are superb razors.

Check it out:

Les Marques des Couteaux de THIERS

Thanks and I'm sure its rareness is completely wasted on me - but I truly love the way it looks - and shaves.
I received some great information about it in the thread here: http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...rs-issard.html

There are a few numbered TI framebacks, the #69 is very common, have seen a few #19's, but never a #17, you're #17 has a crown on the blade face and the Thiers&Fils mark as well - great find!


edited to add: I posted the link to the Thiers in the thread you linked to already! LOL!

Here is a TI #69:



Here is a TI #19:

Originally Posted by Phrank

There are a few numbered TI framebacks, the #69 is very common, have seen a few #19's, but never a #17, you're #17 has a crown on the blade face as well - great find!

They look really, really nice.
I basically got this as a freebie when I bought a L'Essor SE razor for $20 so I guess I got my money's worth.

Sounds like a successful shave!
Nice TI, especially for a freebie.

Your grip will settle in over time. You will know when you are doing it right when you have good control and it feels comfortable.

Very Nice and A Great Collectable: Congratulations

Shave Report 2

The shave today with the Thiers-Issard was actually quite a bit of an improvement compared to Monday's shave.
I even did two WTG passes on my cheeks.

Good:
* Felt a bit more natural holding the razor and I think a big part of that came from shifting my finger so that it was placed further out, ontop of the spine. It added a lot of stability to the strokes.
* Very, very little tugging on cheeks and throat.
* Really enjoyed the shave AND the stropping last night.
* Was able to shave around the mouth apart from under the nose.

Still challenging
* Still not able to shave under the nose - it tugs and I don't want to attempt faith too much
* One weeper
* Seems like ATG is a real challenge both in terms of comfort in holding the razor and that it felt tuggy as soon as I even attempted.

Yeah, I can see how this straight-razor-thing can be rather addicting.

​

Progressing...another pretty good shave.