A very horny, and terribly expensive French Shave...

**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

(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

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

Today's SOTD....

**ouch** · 11-02-2006, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by joel

The whiskers just seemed to RETREAT off of my face

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

**Darkcloud** · 11-02-2006, 03:17 PM

Seems to be the start of a perfect day.

**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?

**boboakalfb** · 11-02-2006, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by joel

The whiskers just seemed to RETREAT off of my face

**joel** · 11-02-2006, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by Lyrt

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...

**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

Originally Posted by crackstar

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

Originally Posted by Lyrt

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....

**crackstar** · 11-02-2006, 07:10 PM

ok, the balm, I stand corrected!

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.

Jeff

**Lyrt** · 11-03-2006, 12:42 AM

Originally Posted by joel

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!

**doctorsimon** · 11-03-2006, 04:10 AM

Originally Posted by Lyrt

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

Originally Posted by doctorsimon

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

Originally Posted by Lyrt

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...