Shave Ready & The Art of Shaving...?

Hello everyone, I'm new here and have been reading for a few weeks and recently picked up a nice Thiers Issard straight razor from The Art of Shaving. While reading here at SRP, I've discovered that many resellers will hone their razors to make them shave ready right out of the box. I'm curious whether anyone knows whether The Art of Shaving folks do this? Or should I have my new razor honed?

I am getting a decent shave out of it - and am experimenting with different styles. I primarily use WTG, but have also begun to experiment with XTG as well. I'm only about two weeks into it, and am still not at the point where I can finish the entire shave with the straight razor - I finish up the chin and neck with my Gillette style razor.

I have read many of the "new guy start here" threads and have watched lots of videos here and elsewhere and know that my technique has a way to go and I am optimistic that it will improve over time. I'm just curious whether I should think about putting a bit more of an edge on my straight razor?

Many thanks in advance,

danbrew

Actually TI stepped up their game, and has been trying to send the razors out from the factory with at least some semblance of a shaving edge on them...

As you have already learned "They do Shave"
I will tell you without a doubt that TI's are capable of very good edges, much better than the factory edge, much better than the factory edge stropped on TI paste too....
Shave with it until it starts to pull then find a Honemiester here:

Member Services - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

That can tell you that they know what they are doing with the new TI's, and have that baby tweaked in right...

Well if it has been shaving you without pulling I guess it is shave ready! :p

In general if the vendor had any extra honing done it would be noted in their description as either a free perk, as SRD does, or at an extra charge , as all of the others do AFAIK. Took me about 2 or 3 weeks to put away the DE and finish my shaves with the straight alone. That was with a pro honed dubl duck goldedge , among others. The technique will definitely make a difference as you improve with practice.