Fourteenth Day of TabOKtoberfest - Belgian Travel Season Finale
Brush: Mühle Travel Brush
Razor: Thiers Issard Le Dandy
Lather: Mäurer & Wirtz – Tabac Original Stick
Post Shave: Mäurer & Wirtz – Tabac Original
Fragrance: Mäurer & Wirtz – Tabac Original
I’ve channeled my inner SHAVE⭐DANDY in this first shave with yesterday’s acquisition, the white Thiers Issard “Le Dandy”. It was a nice experience to go to a real brick and mortar wetshaving store, even if their straight razor offering only includes Dovo and Thiers Issard. This dandy came in a simple cardboard box and flapless leather pouch.
I now have one more data point to add to yesterday’s discussion of relative quality w.r.t. other manufacturers of Thiers Issard razors: The factory edge on this Thiers Issard is not great, certainly nowhere near what I got on my Ralf Aust razors. But you get what you pay for, I guess, and this razor wasn’t pricey. I have to believe that it’s a bad strategy to sell entry-price straight razors with anything other than a stellar edge, but I’m no business person. On the other hand, I really enjoy the whole maintenance aspect of using straight razors, so I’m looking forward to getting this edge to sing.
The geometry of the blade and point reminds me of a scaled-down version of the Koraat Sparschweinchen including the sharp corner in the point. It’s a geometry I’m well familiar with, and I felt right at home. Good shave, albeit a tad tuggy. I think I will enjoy this razor quite a bit after I’ve given it a good edge.
Now I’m sitting in the Paris-bound high-speed train to meet up with @PorkButtsNTaters666. We have never met before, but I went extra heavy on the Glorious Old Man Stank® (++), so he shouldn’t have any trouble finding me in the crowd 😊
Curious to hear how the honing goes, some say the steel is noticeably different and I’ve seen a fair few pictures with crazy looking bevels that imply a challenging geometry. My only TIs have been vintage and fairly straight so I’ve yet to explore these.
Oh the Kismet blades arrived, thanks again! Recently did a control shave with what I had in there and will try it next.
Congrats on the TI! Though I would have been surprised if you didn’t buy a razor at that store :)
The geometry on my two TIs has not been an issue. I had both of my razors honed by their respective sellers because I wanted to get experience of edges done by someone other than me. So no experience with a TI factory edge. That said, the only factory edge I have liked so far is Koraat’s.
I would have been surprised if you didn’t buy a razor at that store :)
Yeah, same 😅
The geometry on my two TIs has not been an issue.
That’s reassuring to hear!
That said, the only factory edge I have liked so far is Koraat’s.
The only other factory edges I’ve tried were on my two Ralf Austs, and those were great. Did you not like yours?
I know that Brad Maggard hones Böker razors before he sells them, but not Ralf Aust, which leads me to suspect that Böker factory edges might also not be great.
I did not give my Aust edge much of a chance because I bought that razor about a month after buying my high-powered microscope. I had already honed my TI Le Grelot when I received my Aust and its factory edge was not as clean as what I could produce. At that time I was relying far too much on visual results and had far less experience interpreting edge condition at very high magnification.
I also can’t understand why some manufacturers sell straight razors with anything less than a perfect edge. It’d certainly detract beginners from ever shaving with one again. Compared to DE razors, where you just pop in a blade and you’re good to go, most people (myself included) lack the proper skills, time and funds to get straight razor honing right.
I think that’s why Böker offers a honing service for their straight razors.
Fourteenth Day of TabOKtoberfest - Belgian Travel Season Finale
I’ve channeled my inner SHAVE⭐DANDY in this first shave with yesterday’s acquisition, the white Thiers Issard “Le Dandy”. It was a nice experience to go to a real brick and mortar wetshaving store, even if their straight razor offering only includes Dovo and Thiers Issard. This dandy came in a simple cardboard box and flapless leather pouch.
I now have one more data point to add to yesterday’s discussion of relative quality w.r.t. other manufacturers of Thiers Issard razors: The factory edge on this Thiers Issard is not great, certainly nowhere near what I got on my Ralf Aust razors. But you get what you pay for, I guess, and this razor wasn’t pricey. I have to believe that it’s a bad strategy to sell entry-price straight razors with anything other than a stellar edge, but I’m no business person. On the other hand, I really enjoy the whole maintenance aspect of using straight razors, so I’m looking forward to getting this edge to sing.
The geometry of the blade and point reminds me of a scaled-down version of the Koraat Sparschweinchen including the sharp corner in the point. It’s a geometry I’m well familiar with, and I felt right at home. Good shave, albeit a tad tuggy. I think I will enjoy this razor quite a bit after I’ve given it a good edge.
Now I’m sitting in the Paris-bound high-speed train to meet up with @PorkButtsNTaters666. We have never met before, but I went extra heavy on the Glorious Old Man Stank® (++), so he shouldn’t have any trouble finding me in the crowd 😊
Stank ++;
Curious to hear how the honing goes, some say the steel is noticeably different and I’ve seen a fair few pictures with crazy looking bevels that imply a challenging geometry. My only TIs have been vintage and fairly straight so I’ve yet to explore these.
Oh the Kismet blades arrived, thanks again! Recently did a control shave with what I had in there and will try it next.
Brad Maggard mentioned that about the modern Thiers Issard production.
I’ll report back here how it goes with this particular one.
Glad you finally got them! It took long enough 😅
Congrats on the TI! Though I would have been surprised if you didn’t buy a razor at that store :)
The geometry on my two TIs has not been an issue. I had both of my razors honed by their respective sellers because I wanted to get experience of edges done by someone other than me. So no experience with a TI factory edge. That said, the only factory edge I have liked so far is Koraat’s.
Yeah, same 😅
That’s reassuring to hear!
The only other factory edges I’ve tried were on my two Ralf Austs, and those were great. Did you not like yours?
I know that Brad Maggard hones Böker razors before he sells them, but not Ralf Aust, which leads me to suspect that Böker factory edges might also not be great.
I did not give my Aust edge much of a chance because I bought that razor about a month after buying my high-powered microscope. I had already honed my TI Le Grelot when I received my Aust and its factory edge was not as clean as what I could produce. At that time I was relying far too much on visual results and had far less experience interpreting edge condition at very high magnification.
I’m still using the factory edge on mine. They’re really good!
Time to get serious and use an AFM to take 3d measurements 😅
I’ve considered this (as you might have guessed) :)
I’m glad to hear you caved and went into the store 😀
😊
I didn’t stand a chance
I also can’t understand why some manufacturers sell straight razors with anything less than a perfect edge. It’d certainly detract beginners from ever shaving with one again. Compared to DE razors, where you just pop in a blade and you’re good to go, most people (myself included) lack the proper skills, time and funds to get straight razor honing right. I think that’s why Böker offers a honing service for their straight razors.
Dovo had that, too, but they take it one step further, and in the first year after buying one, you can send in your razor for a free honing
My TI was used, and came with a good enough edge.
By the way, now I can’t post with Jerboa m, but Voyager seems to work.