Debating a Kamisori as my first SR, good idea or crazy stupid?

I have been shaving with a DE for about 2 years now and love wet shaving. Recently my wife bought me a royal shave at a local barber shop and it roused my curiosity about straight razor shaving. After creating an account on the site and looking up several videos, I have found an interest in the Kamisori razors. I am wondering if any of you would suggest them as a first razor or if I am crazy to even think about trying one before getting some experience on a western style razor?

If a Kamisori is a good choice, I come to my next roadblock. I can find plenty of information on where to find western style razors, but I cannot seem to find very many places to buy Kamisori Razors....

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Wish I could help, but subscribing to hear the advice to come - trying to get proficient with a regular folding straight I've ended up with the scales straight out in a number of places, and it has occurred to me that in those areas a kamisori might be shorter overall and thus more nimble?

Crazy hehehe

Honestly if you start with a Kamisori that will be what you know, and you won't have to re-learn like most of us have :p

The only advantage I could see to Western first has over the last few years mostly diminished to nothing, as there is plenty of info now on honing and shaving with a Kamisori

Since you have to learn from scratch, using a kamisori will be easier because you will just learn. It's like someone learning to drive a car with a manual tranny. It may seem harder to someone who never drove a manual before but you just learn.I think after you have it down, when you later use a western it will seem like child's play.

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Originally Posted by ka0s

If a Kamisori is a good choice, I come to my next roadblock. I can find plenty of information on where to find western style razors, but I cannot seem to find very many places to buy Kamisori Razors....

Any help is greatly appreciated.

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kaOs,

I'll go with the where to get one. I think most would recommend an Iwasaki. SRD carries them but they're currently out of stock. You might email and check status.

The other source and I have bought from them several times with no problem, and they ship out of Hawaii, is Aframes Tokyo. They have the 45mm and 60mm in stock.

JAPANESE RAZOR

I have two, and can't shave with them worth spit. It's not the razors, it's me! I just can't seem to master the one hand shave and I've tried shaving with both sides of the Kamisori, but just doesn't do it for me.

Hope you enjoy it!! Kind of paraphrasing from above, 'you don't have any habits to unlearn', so it may come very easy for you.

:gl:

Best Regards,

Howard :)

There are also some cheaper newly made Tanaka & Takahashi blades on eBay. I use & recommend Iwasaki but any mistakes you make will be on an expensive razor if you take that path. You can get both down the road.

I have never tried a Kamisori but recently, in anticipation of a local Meet, I picked up some of these to give out to people who may want to give it a shot:

New 12 Pcs Sayuri Japan Shaving Knife Straight Razor Blade Men Woman Cut Barber | eBay

They seem like fine enough quality to just attempt the mechanics with and the price is definitely in the 'Fuggheddaboutit' range.

Shawn
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I too really like the look of the kamisori as well, always have... Shaving with them may be a completely different experience though. The asymmetrical grind can be tricky to figure out how to use correctly...

+1 on the SRD recommendation. They are located in the custom straights section and seem reasonably priced. Kamisori's tend to be a little more expensive side so that could be a deterrent if you have a smaller budget.

Keep an eye on the classifieds here as well! I see them pop up every so often on there and they are always great looking razors. They sell fast though!

Don't forget to look into traditional straights as well. Might not be exactly what you want but there are some great ones out there

Wait, on a real Kamisori I can't switch hands? I do both sides of my face with the same hand? Wow, that would be weird. My only experience with one would be my CJB replaceable blade (with which I can switch hands). But as has been said, if it's your first straight razor you have no established habits so it would greatly simplify matters. Even so I'd be real hesitant to throw a ton of money at one. I'd go budget until I was sure about it.

I don't know what to say... I bought one but could never hone the thing. I wanted to love it... but a dull blade is a useless blade. Heck I even thought about selling it, but couldn't bring myself to robbing a fellow shaver out of his hard earned cash only to receive a blade that wouldn't be sharpened!

Then out of no where, I picked it up and tryed again. Butter! I love it now, and i want another!

Finally... and dare I say it? I am not ambidextrous. In the least.

Get one - you'll love it! If you can't hone it, send it out, but keep trying. It'll come.

Have one and use it for special occasions why I am not sure but it shaves beautifully.

There was a learning curve for me as I already used western style blades and both hands to shave.

When the edge got buggered up it was a learning curve all over putting it back to shave ready.

Maintaining it was not bad, I actually think easier than the maintenance on a western.

Attachment 162194

I'm having the same debate...... I love the look of the Westerns with their sexy scales and the Industrial feel of the Kamisori..... choices choices...


Juju

Well thanks everyone for the input. I am still trying to decide which to invest in and I am trying to figure out a budget. I did send an email to SRD and I am waiting to hear back. I will keep my ear to the ground on the classifieds and see if something comes up there before I find something in stock somewhere else.

Also have been debating on a Kamasori style Shavette to learn on and see if I like it as I do not know how to hone yet. Once I learn how to hone and have practiced a bit, I may be more inclined to invest in a more expensive Kamasori.

I think since you're interested in kamisoris, in the end you'll get both anyway. So it probably doesn't matter what you get first :)
I can get some of the closest shaves ever with a Kamisori, but what a bugger to use. Like anything else just takes more practice. I'm right handed so for me the real pain is the left side of the neck. Unless you decide to use both sides, then it's a lot easier.
Just used mine today, and as I was impressing my wife with the closeness, she said "hey, you cut yourself right there". Haha

kaOs,

As you decide, here's a thread w/video of a Kamisori shave. It'll show what you have to do technique wise. Now, he makes it look easy.......and to some, or many, it may be. I know it's not for me, and as much as I'd like to use my Kamisori's...........I'm just not willing anymore to take the cuts that come with the lessons........and......still I have the Kamisori's and drag them out from time to time for another go. :shrug:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...ori-shave.html

:gl:

Howard :)

I know i love using my Kamisori but the left side of my face is definitely a bit of a challenge. I am going to have to watch that video several times.

Has anyone seen the ads in the classifieds from Gregg71? I am wondering if these are quality Kamisoris... I have been tempted to purchase one but as this will be my first, I want to make sure it is a good purchase before I do.

Thanks.

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Originally Posted by ka0s

Has anyone seen the ads in the classifieds from Gregg71? I am wondering if these are quality Kamisoris... I have been tempted to purchase one but as this will be my first, I want to make sure it is a good purchase before I do.

Thanks.

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I saw that too, I was wondering about those as well...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ka0s

Has anyone seen the ads in the classifieds from Gregg71? I am wondering if these are quality Kamisoris... I have been tempted to purchase one but as this will be my first, I want to make sure it is a good purchase before I do.

Thanks.

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They are a western interpretation of kamisori approaching the cost of an Iwasaki but I have no idea how they hone or shave.

Attachment 164714

I have the above Eiko which I would call a Kamisori style razor, every time I use it the thing leaves a little thank you because of the square toe. Its not like I don't have other square toed razors, this one just seems to give me a love bite every time its used as a reminder that its been neglected.