Thread: I dropped a razor

A katana/wakizashi from Yoshihara runs about 35,000 USD for only the blade the last time I saw one for sale which is extremely rare, even for his older work when he was younger. Then again he's considered a living national treasure by the Japanese government & on his own rediscovered many techniques that were lost over the centuries. If you want a lacquered & decorated handle/scabbard it can easily add another $10k to the price.

That sword polisher I met was at a dealer shop there in Tokyo. I forget the name of the place but it's only a couple of blocks from Sengaku Ji if anyone is familiar with that area. They had one of his that he made back in the 70's & it was asking $32k.

Depending on the skill/popularity of the smith a newly crafted sword in a plain white saya can run between $5k and $25k I believe. Add another $5k-$10k for the decorations. The $5k swords won't have any fatal flaws, but they will be pretty boring to look at compared to others.

I've been a little out of touch the last 4-5 years though, so things may have changed.

Edit: Does your brother have any info on the sword? I'd love to see some photos if you could email or pm me.

Originally Posted by unit

This has a very happy ending, but I wanted to share.

I was returning several razors to storage after honing (right after) and I dropped one as I stood there barefoot.

The good news is that my reactions were instant and decisive. I jumped back and out of the way keeping my parts away from harm.

The better news is the razor closed itself on impact as the handle touched down first.

The best news is the room where I store my sharps has thick padded carpet overlain by a thick oriental rug...so nothing took on any damage!

Word to the wide guys, you can buy new razors, you can have damaged carpet replaced, but your body is not that easy to fix if you damage it badly.

Good luck to all. May you never get clumsy...I would have said it would never happen to me, but it did

This works also for the narrow guys...
Sorry...sometimes I just gotta' do it
Stingray

Originally Posted by KenWeir

A katana/wakizashi from Yoshihara runs about 35,000 USD for only the blade the last time I saw one for sale which is extremely rare, even for his older work when he was younger. Then again he's considered a living national treasure by the Japanese government & on his own rediscovered many techniques that were lost over the centuries. If you want a lacquered & decorated handle/scabbard it can easily add another $10k to the price.

That sword polisher I met was at a dealer shop there in Tokyo. I forget the name of the place but it's only a couple of blocks from Sengaku Ji if anyone is familiar with that area. They had one of his that he made back in the 70's & it was asking $32k.

Depending on the skill/popularity of the smith a newly crafted sword in a plain white saya can run between $5k and $25k I believe. Add another $5k-$10k for the decorations. The $5k swords won't have any fatal flaws, but they will be pretty boring to look at compared to others.

I've been a little out of touch the last 4-5 years though, so things may have changed.

Edit: Does your brother have any info on the sword? I'd love to see some photos if you could email or pm me.

I'll dig up the images...I got a new phone...and they are on the old one.

It has the tang rubbing and some paperwork that I cannot read (I only read English ). It has the wrapped handle with (I think) a gold dragon in the wrapping. The stubs is not highly ornat but is interesting regardless and patina renders it black. The pommel? is more ornate and has gold inlay and appears to be a dragon or some other beast.

The scabbard is black lacquer with bits of shell/mother or pearl mixed in like glitter. And the whole thing has a silk bag that it goes in with a sash that probably is supposed to be wrapped a certain way...but none of us know how.

It is impressive. I'll try and find the pics and send them to you.

Originally Posted by stingray

This works also for the narrow guys...
Sorry...sometimes I just gotta' do it
Stingray

It was supposed to say "wise guys" which would certainly apply to you.

Originally Posted by unit

I'll dig up the images...I got a new phone...and they are on the old one.

It has the tang rubbing and some paperwork that I cannot read (I only read English ). It has the wrapped handle with (I think) a gold dragon in the wrapping. The stubs is not highly ornat but is interesting regardless and patina renders it black. The pommel? is more ornate and has gold inlay and appears to be a dragon or some other beast.

The scabbard is black lacquer with bits of shell/mother or pearl mixed in like glitter. And the whole thing has a silk bag that it goes in with a sash that probably is supposed to be wrapped a certain way...but none of us know how.

It is impressive. I'll try and find the pics and send them to you.

The paperwork is a sort of certificate of authenticity. It means the sword was examined by an authority in Japan, probably NBTHK, and determined to be a true Japanese sword, made with traditional methods using tamahagane. It may tell the name of the smith who made it, but not always as the mei (tang signature) is sometimes fake. Many times they can at least narrow it to a certain family, within a generation or so just by looking at the sword's features.

Now you've got my curiosity piqued

It is a really cool piece. He and I both would never buy or even display such a thing, but now that he has it and its s heirloom, he has to figure out what to do. I am sure he will never part with it...or display it. He also has no kids of his own...so I wonder where it will be passed.

I'm jus interested in it because it is one of those items that when you hold it you feel it's power and significance...and the potential value and history really makes you speak with a church voice

Like I said, I felt blessed just to handle it once.

I dropped, and absent mindedly reached out and cought a razor once... Bad idea... I cut the crap out of my hand.. It didn'tjust cut in one place the scales caused it to spin in the air greating a gyro effect.. It was like sticking my hand in a garbage disposal.. I still have all my fingers, but my pride was definitely hurt.. Which in the long run is not as bad as the alternative.

Please forgive me. I just send an 80-page pm, but every word is important.

Ok, it's more like 2 or 3, but it looks like 80 on my phone....

I got some very wise words at one time from a funeral director, "remember, skin will grow back metal won't", as we were carrying a casket through a door. Inferring that we should scrape the skin off or hands instead of banging the casket on the door as we carried it through, that being said i have caught a falling razor before and my hand had healed and i still have the razor

Originally Posted by sinnfein

I got some very wise words at one time from a funeral director, "remember, skin will grow back metal won't"

Sounds like he was promoting his business

There are many opinions, I sometimes live dangerously, but I have spent a lot of my life around very sharp blades...and some of them very very valuable. I have also sustained injuries that have left nerve damage...and nerves don't generally grow back if cut.

I can tell you that I have gained enough experience to make my mind up...it is a decision everyone needs to make for them self...hopefully an informed one