I don't own one, but I have a small variety of English, French, and German.
Can anyone recommend one (or more) that has good steel at an affordable price?
Can anyone recommend one (or more) that has good steel at an affordable price?
Thinking about getting a Japanese straight
- Thread starter JGKC9AYC
- Start date
EclipseRedRing
I smell like a Christmas pudding
I am no expert on straights but I have a Derby Aiku made by Matsukura in Tokyo; it is an excellent shaver, easily keeps a keen edge, and by the standards of Japanese straight razors is very affordable. I suspect all Japanese straights are made with good steel.
rbscebu
Girls call me Makaluod
What is your budget?
The cheapest SR of Japanese steel (ground and finished in Taiwan) is about USD 30 not shave-ready + shipping from Hong Kong. For ones ground and finished in Japan, there is no upper limit.
- Thread starter
- #4
Around $100 (or less), maybe? Would that get me something decent?
Are these vintage blades or new?
Is there new quality straight being produced i Japan (not counting Iwasaki kami)?
If yes, were are they sold?
rbscebu
Girls call me Makaluod
They are new blades - blanks made and heat-treated in Japan. Many are put off because they are not expensive and finished (ground, scaled and "honed") in Taiwan.
I don't know what new SR's are being produced in Japan. They would probably be beyond my pay scale.
- Thread starter
- #7
What about vintage (i.e. used) Japanese razors? What's a good name brand?
rbscebu
Girls call me Makaluod
If you want something fully produced in Japan, new or used, I think you would need to go to USD 200 or more for anything reasonable.
For under USD 100 new, I would suggest one of the Titan SR's - Japanese made blanks, finished in Taiwan. Their ACRM-2 T.H.60 (about USD 30) is a good budget model and their ARCO T.H.70 (about USD 80) is a good top model.
- Thread starter
- #9
I guess I have a problem with Chinese stuff.
rbscebu
Girls call me Makaluod
Yes, it's mainly a US thing due to what their media feed them. I sometimes wonder how Walmart can stay in business there.
BTW, last time I checked Taiwan is not yet part of the PRC.
If you want a pure Japanese vintage blade, which is what I recommend, you have:
Tanifuji
Ribbon Extra
Ribbon 1000
Rosette
Hone
Sankan
Diamond Hyashi
Kyoei
Iwasaki
Some can be had in NOS condition for about $130 (Kyoei)and a good condition Iwasaki will be $1000 or more. That is just a short list. There are many more. I have all but the Iwasaki and they are great shavers. My Ribbon 1000 was shave ready out of the box.
Tanifuji
Ribbon Extra
Ribbon 1000
Rosette
Hone
Sankan
Diamond Hyashi
Kyoei
Iwasaki
Some can be had in NOS condition for about $130 (Kyoei)and a good condition Iwasaki will be $1000 or more. That is just a short list. There are many more. I have all but the Iwasaki and they are great shavers. My Ribbon 1000 was shave ready out of the box.
Kikuboshi is a good one. Most any vintage Japanese razor is good, though.
Steve56
Ask me about shaving naked!
Cape Swedish Steel can be had very reasonably new or in good shape.
Kikuboshi (usually hard steel IME)
Hayashi
Tanifuji (but will not be as cheap)
Check out April7th1987 (?) on the bay, he has a LOT of Japanese razors at all price points and condition. Look at the images carefully, he has some junk too, but it’s always there to be seen, and he doesn’t hide anything.
Kikuboshi (usually hard steel IME)
Hayashi
Tanifuji (but will not be as cheap)
Check out April7th1987 (?) on the bay, he has a LOT of Japanese razors at all price points and condition. Look at the images carefully, he has some junk too, but it’s always there to be seen, and he doesn’t hide anything.
Hone should be Hoken.
Where do you find these? Anyone in North America sell these? Or is there a direct seller from Japan?
Auctions like eBay, flea markets, tag sales, Etsy, etc.
Steve56
Ask me about shaving naked!
eBay has lots of them, both US sellers and Japanese sellers.
My experience buying SRs from that site has not been positive. Pass.
It depends on which eBay seller you deal with. Most are scrupulous, some are not. There are no more Japanese razor artisans so you have to buy vintage. You can buy through someplace like Etsy but you will pay a lot more.
There are many very good Japanese razors. IMHO Cape razors are one of the best values. They come from Nichiri (who also made King Pelican and Manaslu) and they have a Tanifuji-like grind, even though Tanifuji stamps only appear on a fraction of these razors. Look for a good one and you will be rewarded will a fine shaver.
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