Straight rasor | Thiers Issard

[Kilmeny]

Good morning ! I've seen the Thiers Issard brand, is it a well-known brand in the industry? Are the blades different in terms of quality among all these major brands?
The price difference in the top of the range differs according to the know-how and the material of the handle only I imagine? (Given that the blades must be of similar quality I am mistaken)?

Concerning the lifespan, with a good maintenance I saw that it was possible to keep me at least 50 years, can you confirm ?

The accessory to maintain the blade can be replaced every how many years according to you ?

Thank you in advance and have a nice day!

 

[Kilmeny]

It is possible to start directly with a straight rasor or do you advise to start with a safety razor? (Some of you may have already done this?).

 

[drmoss_ca]

Thiers have made many excellent razors, over many years. Twenty years ago, their quality control was a bit amusing, but their Sheffield silver steel was excellent. In more recent years they have improved QC, but many of their razors are now made with what they call 'carbonsong' steel, though some people claim it is the very same C135 they used before under the Sheffield description. I don't know; I have only older TI razors (but quite a lot of them!) They are generally tempered rather harder than other mass market razors, so they can be a bit awkward to hone, but when they are sharp they stay so for a long time.

As for the safety razor, it is a very different thing to shave with, more like a cartridge razor than a straight. Most of us would use both, perhaps travelling with a DE or using one when in a hurry. There is no reason to think that using a safety razor first will make learning a straight razor easier. So use whichever you like, or both. There are no rules about having to use one first.

 

[Kilmeny]

Okay and you know other brands of the same "standing" as Issard, perhaps better in recent years?

 

[drmoss_ca]

I recent years there have only been two major manufacturers of straight razors - TI and Dovo. Dovo always had good quality control, bit I found their razors a bit less exciting/interesting. Dovo is operating under bankruptcy protection, and may not survive. There are several small volume makers, like Wacker and Hart, and numerous custom makers. But I think it would be poor advice to tell you to buy a new razor as a beginner. It won't arrive "shave-ready" and you won't have the experience yet to hone it yourself. I'd refer you to the thread that Rog started on advice for beginners (here). I hold to that advice; start with a used razor honed by someone with lots of experience. It will be cheaper and sharper.

 

[A CUT ABOVE]

For the money, you can't beat a Ralf Aust.