Thread: My first Japanese straight razor

Japanese razors are available in both Western (symmetrical) and Kamisori (asymmetrical) grinds. They are some of my favorite razors, now comprising about 40% of my collection. The Kamisori grind does take a bit of learning in regards to both shaving and honing, but the techniques are easily learned. Glenn (gssixgun) has posted a video on YouTube on honing them that makes it easy. Shaving technique is straightforward, you just keep the edge at the proper angle to the skin - which means holding the blade at a higher angle on one side and lower on the other. As with any razor, you feel when the angle is right and adjustment becomes automatic very quickly. Every one of my Japanese razors, no matter what grind, give absolutely first rate shaves.


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Originally Posted by BeJay

That one looks to be a western grind. The majority of the Japanese folding razors are western grinds, but there are many with asymmetric Japanese grinds as well.

OK, that makes sense the ones I have been looking at are not folding razors. I really like the look of them (almost miniature Samurai swords ) I was wondering if the technique for using them is very different.

Originally Posted by sqzbxr

Japanese razors are available in both Western (symmetrical) and Kamisori (asymmetrical) grinds. They are some of my favorite razors, now comprising about 40% of my collection. The Kamisori grind does take a bit of learning in regards to both shaving and honing, but the techniques are easily learned. Glenn (gssixgun) has posted a video on YouTube on honing them that makes it easy. Shaving technique is straightforward, you just keep the edge at the proper angle to the skin - which means holding the blade at a higher angle on one side and lower on the other. As with any razor, you feel when the angle is right and adjustment becomes automatic very quickly. Every one of my Japanese razors, no matter what grind, give absolutely first rate shaves.


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Haha, you must have posted this as I was typing my question. Thank you for the clarification. I will definitely look for the Gssixgun video, I have learned a lot from his other videos.

Originally Posted by Porl

OK, that makes sense the ones I have been looking at are not folding razors. I really like the look of them (almost miniature Samurai swords ) I was wondering if the technique for using them is very different.

See my post above. The traditional asymmetric razors you are describing are called Kamisori. They come in both simple straight handle and Western folding style with scales. I have both types. I hold the straight handle types differently because I'm not comfortable using a regular straight razor grip with them. The grip I use is similar to holding a toothbrush.


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Nice score, should clean up well.

Have bought from that seller, he has some smoking deals, some times.

The heel is starting to square off just a bit and will get sharper. A few strokes on the 1k will re shape and make it safer to shave.

If you double click the link it will take you to the Ebay post, then go to the photos, double click and you can copy the original photos and download them to your computer.

Nice find. Enjoy.

Very nice blade, and for that price it is pretty good. The old looks adds manliness to it, so it's not a problem, I'd recommend to still give it a nice polish, and when finished it will look fantastic. I've been looking to buy a nice Japanese straight razor for my collection because I've heard a lot of good things about their blades. When I started out, I've got myself a FEATHER Artist Club SS Straight Razor basing myself on this article about good quality straight razors, because I love the classy old looking straight razors. Right now I want to add one more to my collection, because you can't have many, right?

Originally Posted by SharpMind

Very nice blade, and for that price it is pretty good. The old looks adds manliness to it, so it's not a problem, I'd recommend to still give it a nice polish, and when finished it will look fantastic. I've been looking to buy a nice Japanese straight razor for my collection because I've heard a lot of good things about their blades. When I started out, I've got myself a FEATHER Artist Club SS Straight Razor basing myself on this article about good quality straight razors, because I love the classy old looking straight razors. Right now I want to add one more to my collection, because you can't have many, right?

Hi, welcome to SRP!

I skimmed through that article and thought it wasn't particularly great. The AP Donovan it recommends would take a skilled hand to make shavable, if indeed at all.

Check out the SRPs library https://shavelibrary.com/ its a great source of backed up information.

Odd, I have a very similar response to a posting in the ATG forum linking to this very same site. Wonder what the odds on that are?

Bob

Another shaving forum you say? Judas!

All razors point to Amazon....

Originally Posted by markbignosekelly

Another shaving forum you say? Judas!

All razors point to Amazon....

Makes you wonder when you see newbies who joined days apart, with different forum names of course, on different forums link to the same site. Is there a vested interest? Wanna bet they do not post anymore?

Bob