Thiers Issard

[3][4] Along with DOVO Solingen, it is a leading manufacturer of straight razors in Europe as well as the rest of the world.

[1] The "Chart of the Jurande" or the Professional Guild Charter of the time lists at least three "Thiers" as master razor makers.

[1] After his death, his son Pierre Thiers Jr. (1884–1962) assisted by his mother continued the family business.

[1][7] Thiers Issard is allowed by special exemption in French law to continue using this lead hardening process, while health concerns prohibit its use by any other manufacturer.

[1] Following the materials science processes of hardening and tempering, the blanks are hollow ground, according to one of the two fundamental blade profiles.

[1] Some of the company's cheaper lines are of half-hollow grind, such as the Super Gnome series of razors.

[1] Some of the more expensive Thiers Issard razors carry hand worked spine decoration to designs which date back to the 19th Century.

[12] The rivets are peened by hand to ensure stable movement of the razor blade while folding into the handle.

The wood is impregnated with resins and pressed under high pressure to create a stable and water resistant material.

Finally the cutting edge is finished on a two-sided leather strop using a special paste on one side and natural oils from the human hand on the other.

Flexibility, sharpness as well as special tone tests for singing razors take place at this stage.