Post Your Pictures: Japanese Razors

[TstebinsB]

Coral - Whoever bought this from me probably sold it to Henry because it has some of the same spots.

Hoshi Tombo

King Pelican

Manaslu

R. Saito / Kikuboshi

Success No.1

Suzumasa

Tanifuji - Very highly respected razor smith; pure class

Kinsyo

 

[Woodash]

^ and ^^^^^^^^ Game over.....








.....TILT!....

 

[superbleu]

My advice -- when Telly writes a PM and asks if you want to buy something, for Pete's sake, say YES first and then, when you get around to it, ask him what it is he's selling!! --Jeff

Haha, great advice Jeff, pretty much how it goes!

 

[TstebinsB]

I was actually watching the one from the guy in greece

To be far though I think a thuringian was included in that auction as well

Oh OK. That makes sense. It's funny that these JP razors have become popular because when I offered them here, nobody was interested.

Telly,
Gorgeous blades, as usual ...I love these Iwasakis.

Question to all in the know:
With the asymmetrical grind that these blades carry, do you have to shave with one face of the razor or can you shave with both. I bet honing these has a whole different regime to them (probably complex and asymmetrical)

Traditionally, Japanese razors are used with one specific side against the face at all times. The side with stamps is called the ura. The side without stamps is called the omote. You're supposed to shave with the omote against your face - never with the ura against your face. I use both sides though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBDRP6tSOWo

 

[BladeRunner001]

This thread is PURE Evil and I should stop looking at it. Something told me when I first saw Henry's post/request for pictures that this is not going to end well (not for me, at least).

Henry: if I end up buying blades, I attribute ALL of the blame to you

 

[azmark]

Hanasama - For the price, nothing beats this razor.

New Azuma - Similar to the Hanasama

Henkotsu - One of Japan's great razor smiths.

Ichihara - He was a close associate of Tosuke.

Iwasaki - Swedish steel

Iwasaki - Tamahagane steel

Shizu Saburo (not the real maker's name) - Tamahagane steel

Tomoyuki - 8/8 blade, 2.6 ounces of steel

Tosuke

Tadashi Machida - Damascus steel

 

[BladeRunner001]

Oh OK. That makes sense. It's funny that these JP razors have become popular because when I offered them here, nobody was interested.



Traditionally, Japanese razors are used with one specific side against the face at all times. The side with stamps is called the ura. The side without stamps is called the omote. You're supposed to shave with the omote against your face - never with the ura against your face. I use both sides though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBDRP6tSOWo

Telly,
Thanks...that is very interesting ...So, I imagine then that I will use one hand to shave entire face, as opposed to both hands (as I am used to now).

Also, wouldn't that create an unequal wear on the omote side vs. the ura?

 

[azmark]

I had my eye on a Kinsyo on the bay and lost it in the last few seconds

 

[BRuhling]

Here are a few shots of my J-Steel:

Solgen

Manaslu M-55

Kikuboshi Special

Akamatsu Tombow

 

[Skrymr]

I read somewhere that left handers can't use Japanese style straight's, but there was no explanation given as to why. Can someone clarify this for me please?

 

[TstebinsB]

Telly,
Thanks...that is very interesting ...So, I imagine then that I will use one hand to shave entire face, as opposed to both hands (as I am used to now).

Also, wouldn't that create an unequal wear on the omote side vs. the ura?

The wear isn't supposed to be equal. Traditionally, you're supposed to hone the omote more than the ura. Some people hone both sides equally and haven't had any issues though.

Here's a link to a Japanese man showing his technique to honing Japanese razors. His English isn't perfect but you get the gist of it.
http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~bjb52646.../razhoning.htm

I had my eye on a Kinsyo on the bay and lost it in the last few seconds

That was my listing.

 

[BRuhling]

Henry: if I end up buying blades, I attribute ALL of the blame to you

But will Liza?

 

[BladeRunner001]

The wear isn't supposed to be equal. Traditionally, you're supposed to hone the omote more than the ura. Some people hone both sides equally and haven't had any issues though.

Here's a link to a Japanese man showing his technique to honing Japanese razors. His English isn't perfect but you get the gist of it.
http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~bjb52646.../razhoning.htm



That was my listing.

That is great and thanks for the video link

 

[BladeRunner001]

But will Liza?

Who? Oh yeah...no worries there. I will tell her it's all Henry's fault anyway . When she sees this thread, she'll understand

 

[DrColossus11]

I read somewhere that left handers can't use Japanese style straight's, but there was no explanation given as to why. Can someone clarify this for me please?

Please tell me this is NOT true! If so, I'm going to have to get better with my right hand.

 

[TstebinsB]

I read somewhere that left handers can't use Japanese style straight's, but there was no explanation given as to why. Can someone clarify this for me please?

That's if you use it in the traditional sense. You're supposed to shave with one side and to hone with predominantly one side.

However, people hone and shave with both sides without issues. It's not the traditional way to do it but people do it all the time.

 

[DrColossus11]

That's if you use it in the traditional sense. You're supposed to shave with one side and to hone with predominantly one side.

However, people hone and shave with both sides without issues. It's not the traditional way to do it but people do it all the time.

So would I be better off looking for a Western style Japanese blade? or maybe a traditional and have it re honed?

I love the shape and look of the traditional Japanese blades, but would be ok with a Western style that has the same shape if I have to.

 

[professorchaos]

Henry: if I end up buying blades, I attribute ALL of the blame to you

Feel free. Really, though, Telly is the true enabler.

 

[TstebinsB]

So would I be better off looking for a Western style Japanese blade? or maybe a traditional and have it re honed?

I love the shape and look of the traditional Japanese blades, but would be ok with a Western style that has the same shape if I have to.

You can get a traditional JP razor but just make sure that you get it professionally honed by someone who has experience honing JP razors. Just because someone hones Western razors doesn't mean that he can hone traditional JP razors.

 

[BladeRunner001]

Feel free. Really, though, Telly is the true enabler.

Sure, sure ...blame it all on Telly .