Thread: Shaving with a spoon

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Like anybody who's in business he's in in it for a profit... or he's out of business.
He's marketing himself thru youtube by doing unusual & clever things with steel.
Whether he rubs people the wrong way or not, gotta admit making shaving spoons out of Hitachi white steel is novel.

I wonder which of the previous 16 Yoshimoto bladesmiths invented the "shaving spoon" technique. He's doing real honor to his master and predecessors by preserving the tradition, I reckon...I'm sure his teacher is proud of the circus sideshow his student has created.

But yeah, I guess he's paying the bills or whatever.

I have little interest in sideshows, so for me "there is no spoon".

I'm also convinced "the cake is a lie" but my waistline disagrees with me.

Originally Posted by JimR

I wonder which of the previous 16 Yoshimoto bladesmiths invented the "shaving spoon" technique. He's doing real honor to his master and predecessors by preserving the tradition, I reckon...I'm sure his teacher is proud of the circus sideshow his student has created.

But yeah, I guess he's paying the bills or whatever.

Sometimes breaking with tradition can lead you full circle back to the roots or principles on which it is founded, making tradition secondary.
And no, not saying that's what he's done, just that he might

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Sometimes breaking with tradition can lead you full circle back to the roots or principles on which it is founded, making tradition secondary.
And no, not saying that's what he's done, just that he might

Breaking with tradition in terms of investigating new techniques, materials or products and the like is a good idea in general. But using someone else's tradition as a tool for shameless self promotion is a different matter. He has taken the smithing techniques he learned and wrapped them in a veneer of glitz and hucksterism. Having looked at his newsletter archives, I can see that he sold dignity and humility for money pretty early on. I guess that's what the American dream is all about, though, so...congratulations to him?

Not every westerner ascribes to that kind of "ethic".

Originally Posted by Sailor

It is not a rocket science to sharpen a spoon (or even a shovel if you so prefer) and shave with it.

The question is why? To show the world in 10.14 minutes how cool and manly you are?
O tempora o mores!

The only 'manly' alternatives to straight razors are actual knives (combat knives preferably) or axes. I've shaved with both. The Axe had an edge that passed the HHT. Spoons are for sissies.

Originally Posted by JimR

He has taken the smithing techniques he learned and wrapped them in a veneer of glitz and hucksterism. Having looked at his newsletter archives, I can see that he sold dignity and humility for money pretty early on.

I'm surprised he hasn't been killed by ninjas before now Sorry Jim I just couldn't resist mate. "My hypocrisy knows no bounds"
I do see your point tho. After visiting his website I can see I wouldn't fit his marketing demographics as a potential customer..

Originally Posted by onimaru55

I'm surprised he hasn't been killed by ninjas before now Sorry Jim I just couldn't resist mate. "My hypocrisy knows no bounds"
I do see your point tho. After visiting his website I can see I wouldn't fit his marketing demographics as a potential customer..

I don't even understand what you mean...if the hypocrisy you imply is mine, you'll have to be more specific.

Nahh mate was referring to myself. I'm quite the traditionalist but found myself defending MC's approach.
The quotation marks are there because I stole the quote from a movie

Oz, I guess I missed that particular flick.

Anyway, I'll stick to craftsmen who let their work speak for itself.