A very horny, and terribly expensive French Shave... [Archive]

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joel

11-02-2006, 03:00 PM

Today I decided I wanted to get as absurd as possible... sure some week we'll do a themed SOTD, but why not really go overboard, and REALLY show just how terribly addicted some of us are? Well my friends... the challenge is set - how absurd can ya go? Let's see the most absurd "themed" SOTD's you can conjure up. Here is my submission to start things off - my $1,000+ "French Horny Shave." ALL of the products you see below are made in France - a Pierre Thiers Hammer Forged limited edition (god the build quality on these is pathetic for such a pricey item) a Plisson #16 HMW Horn Handle shaving brush, Pre de Provence shea butter shave soap, CADE aftershave splash and shea butter balm, and lastly - to finish things off - 2 sprays of Creed Green Irish tweed to the chest. The whiskers just seemed to RETREAT off of my face :lol: (French members - please don't kill me) All kidding aside... you often hear me talk about products, efficacy, etc... but it is quite rare I will point out a really memorable shave - and I have not yet once said "This was the best shave ever" - at least that I can remember. Well here goes... this was the best shave I have ever experienced. By god that TI hammer forged is a bear to tune up to perfection - and I simply couldn't get it perfect without using my incredibly rare and remarkably soft/gummy Skute hone... which excels at sharpening blades with weird spines like this hammer forged TI. Hands down - the best TI I have shaved with (and I have owned the damascus model). Absurd SOTD's featuring Maestro razors.... to come :wink:

EDIT: Please note - a TI paddle strop was used as well - however it is not pictured.

Today's SOTD....
http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=4283

ouch

11-02-2006, 03:11 PM

The whiskers just seemed to RETREAT off of my face :lol:

That may just be the funniest line I read all year.

Darkcloud

11-02-2006, 03:17 PM

:biggrin:
Seems to be the start of a perfect day.
:thumbup: :biggrin:

Lyrt

11-02-2006, 03:25 PM

God the build quality on these is pathetic for such a pricey item
Is it the handle or the blade? The blade was supposedly forged by Pierre Thiers while the horn handle is only 30 years old.

Mama Bear

11-02-2006, 03:29 PM

What effect has this shave had on the women? :wink:

boboakalfb

11-02-2006, 03:38 PM

The whiskers just seemed to RETREAT off of my face :lol:
:lol: :lol: :lol:

joel

11-02-2006, 04:00 PM

Is it the handle or the blade? The blade was supposedly forged by Pierre Thiers while the horn handle is only 30 years old.

No - the handle is quite nice. The blank was forged by ole Pierre - but the majority of the work was done by Mr. Fayat, a current & long time employee of TI. The gold wash is really pathetic - the "Thiers Issard Made in France" is not stamped in properly and is crooked etc... I'll post pics tonight.

crackstar

11-02-2006, 04:01 PM

achhhh, Cade cream? That stuff is pathetic....The soap's good, but the cream's rotten to the core...

Jeff

Dinder1

11-02-2006, 04:08 PM

The Pre de Provence is one of my faves though.
Cheers, DJ.

boboakalfb

11-02-2006, 04:09 PM

Relax Jeff...that is the ASB...he used Pre de Provence Soap...:wink2:

crackstar

11-02-2006, 04:10 PM

DJ, I never saw Pre de Provence here in Montreal, isn't that strange?

Jeff

Dinder1

11-02-2006, 04:17 PM

DJ, I never saw Pre de Provence here in Montreal, isn't that strange?

Jeff
Hey Jeff, I am going to Vancouver BC for the weekend, is there anything you think I should pick up?...besides a $$$$ Plisson. Oh and if you have not tried that soap, you should.
Cheers, DJ.

joel

11-02-2006, 05:17 PM

Is it the handle or the blade? The blade was supposedly forged by Pierre Thiers while the horn handle is only 30 years old.

On a $50-120 razor... I might be able to excuse these defects, but on a $430 razor? Come on... that's pathetic.

As Promised pictures of poor build quality....

http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=4285

http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=4286

http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=4287

http://www.badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=4288

crackstar

11-02-2006, 07:10 PM

ok, the balm, I stand corrected! :smile: But I still DESPISE the Cade shaving cream, it's totally unlatherable. I tried 3 samples of it, and I binned each one of them. I do agree the Cade soap is very good, however.

Jeff

crackstar

11-02-2006, 07:12 PM

DJ, if they sold it here, believe me, I would. :smile:

Jeff

Lyrt

11-03-2006, 12:42 AM

On a $50-120 razor... I might be able to excuse these defects, but on a $430 razor? Come on... that's pathetic.

As Promised pictures of poor build quality....

Indeed, these photographs show poor craftsmanship. That specific straight is not on my wish list anymore. I just add that I was equally disappointed by the gold escutcheon of my Bergischer Löwe, but the price is not the same. (Nota Bene: When it comes to blades, I hold German craftsmen in higher esteem than their French counterparts).

TimmyBoston

11-03-2006, 03:55 AM

I don't know why, but I thought your shave was going to be a lot dirtier than that! :biggrin:

doctorsimon

11-03-2006, 04:10 AM

Indeed, these photographs show poor craftsmanship. That specific straight is not on my wish list anymore. I just add that I was equally disappointed by the gold escutcheon of my Bergischer Löwe, but the price is not the same. (Nota Bene: When it comes to blades, I hold German craftsmen in higher esteem than their French counterparts).

Same goes for cars, electronics.

However the French do make good cookware. (I'd still get German knives, or Japanese come to think of it.)

Italian stuff looks great, but is as tempremental as the women.

Best wishes,

Simon. (Still trying to start a flame war with my European friends!)

Lyrt

11-03-2006, 04:21 AM

Same goes for cars, electronics.

However the French do make good cookware. (I'd still get German knives, or Japanese come to think of it.)

Italian stuff looks great, but is as tempremental as the women.

Best wishes,

Simon. (Still trying to start a flame war with my European friends!)
I don’t think I own a single French (or at least made in France) electronic device. As far as cars are concerned, I have to say I think the quality of German cars has dropped quite a bit. I agree Italian stuff looks great, but according to my experience, they are more than that. All the Italian products I own are beautiful AND reliable (coffee maker, dynamometric tamper, coffee grinder, SLR tripod, clothes, stove, etc). People often joke about Italian products but I think it’s unwarranted.

doctorsimon

11-03-2006, 04:39 AM

I don’t think I own a single French (or at least made in France) electronic device. As far as cars are concerned, I have to say I think the quality of German cars has dropped quite a bit. I agree Italian stuff looks great, but according to my experience, they are more than that. All the Italian products I own are beautiful AND reliable (coffee maker, dynamometric tamper, coffee grinder, SLR tripod, clothes, stove, etc). People often joke about Italian products but I think it’s unwarranted.

I've owned an Alfa Romeo (new gearbox at 6000 miles, needed new suspension to 3 wheels before she was 3 years...)
My Smeg stove is rusting and the thermostat is inaccurate.
My Smeg washing machine needed a warranty repair at 8 months of age.
La Pavoni espresso machine sprang a leak at 13 months.

However, my Mazzer coffee grinder is a beaut.

Don't get me wrong, I'd buy Italian again but one has to be aware that whilst it will be very pretty (like any Italian girl) or handsome (like any Italian boy) she is also prone to get angry at any moment in time and demand that you spend some money on her or he is prone to feel underappreciated and go on strike until you spend some money on him. They also like prolonged lunch breaks....

The German stuff on the other hand costs a fortune to buy in the first place and then refuses to stop working because he has a wife and child to feed (only one child these days mind you.) Their employment laws also make it damn hard to make any worker redundant so they close down the factory in England instead.....

Oops, I'm ranting again. I need to get out of here...

Lyrt

11-03-2006, 04:49 AM

To be more specific, here are the Italian brands I own I have no problem with: Macap, La Pavoni, Elektra, Manfrotto, Sholtès (property of Indesit). But we are speaking of strictly personal experiences. We need statistics to continue that petty, groundless, Euro-centrist debate. :biggrin:

ouch

11-03-2006, 04:57 AM

(Nota Bene: When it comes to blades, I hold German craftsmen in higher esteem than their French counterparts).

I agree, and I hold the Japanese higher still. :thumbup:

Wolverine

11-03-2006, 05:05 AM

I always thought Creed was a British perfume house...

moses

11-03-2006, 05:11 AM

Joel,

How do you find the build quality on the Wacker razors?

-Mo

Lyrt

11-03-2006, 05:11 AM

I agree, and I hold the Japanese higher still. :thumbup:
Yup, my knives are Japanese. As well as my Feather AC.

I always thought Creed was a British perfume house...
Founded by James Creed in 1760 in London, but it moved to Paris in 1854. The master perfumer of the house is now Olivier Creed.
http://parfumscreed.com/e_history.html

kozulich

11-03-2006, 06:47 AM

boboakalfb

11-03-2006, 08:59 AM

Tribe

11-04-2006, 06:59 PM

I will have to try the French products since I will soon be relocating to Paris ...

joel

11-04-2006, 09:17 PM

Joel,

How do you find the build quality on the Wacker razors?

-Mo
Well - the wacker branded horn handle 1/4 hollow I had was nice... but was just an "ok" shaver - there is another one on its way to me that should be in my hands Monday. The Friodurs (which I think wacker grinds) are medeocre at best in my opinion... I surely would not buy another. My new 8/8 friodur with snakewood handles is really sad looking, scratched up blade, and just about the cheapest/crummiest scales I have experienced. For $180.... I think i'd go with a 7/8 TI.