Thread: A Kamistory, starring Jenes Sandor

After acquiring a handful of Japanese razors, I decided I generally liked the fixed blade concept but did not really love the execution and design. I also thought I'd explore a custom razor option, rather than accumulate more of the same style.

I'd been in touch with a few makers, going by those who have an aesthetic that doesn't clash too much with mine. The "Dragon Slayer" (hereafter "DS") concept by Jenes Sandor really appealed to me because it had nice lines and contrast, so I got in touch with him and inquired about a fixed razor based on the same design, but perhaps with a smaller 5/8 or 6/8" blade of about 50mm.



Mr. Jenes (Sandor is a given name like Alexander, IIRC) got back to me a while later with a very rudimentary starting sketch, with a simple straight handle and a blade like that of the DS.



I wasn't sure exactly what direction to take the design, but I felt the starting design ought to be further developed, so I opened up Photoshop and did some quick line drawing and kind of ended up with a fishtail thing that Poseidon would have used if he were a shaver.



Mr. Jenes was encouraging and threw some ideas back at me for adjustments we could make to the design. Big mistake. I got a bit carried away trying to figure out how to tweak it into something interesting, and also started really thinking about ergonomic considerations.

Kamisori are really designed to be used by a barber who can hold the razor in a way very different to the grips of a self-shaver. When I hold my Iwasaki, for example, I either have to hold the sides which are nice and wide, or I have to pinch the thin edges which feels unstable (holding a coin by the edges is a similar feeling).

Robert Williams did a very nice job developing his "Purist" series (Robert Williams Custom Straight Razors – Introducing the “Purist”) to suit the self-shaver, in my opinion. It's not really my style, but I think it's very thoughtful. I continued manipulating my initial icthyosori thing.



Sandor said it was somewhat similar to what he had in mind, and encouraged me a bit more. Gotta stop doing that, because I wasn't really satisfied and there were a few lingering questions about comfort. Did some cardboard cutouts to see how the fingers would sit on the razor and decided to revise it a bit...



The entire time, I'd been imagining the toe to be like the DS (and the whole handle to be etched dark), but out of curiosity, decided to put a more conventional oblique point on it to see how it'd look.



Crap. Both Sandor and I thought it might be sexier that way. I went through a few rounds of working it out, using mostly intuition about how the design would work out in steel, rather than just in a 2D drawing. We shifted to a solid 6/8" design, and I'd toyed with some 7/8" concepts, and got Lloyd Harner to produce a few based on the fundamental shape (http://www.harnerknives.com/wp-conte...dsc06577sm.jpg). I didn't buy any of his initial attempts, but I may have one on the way in the future.

Mr. Jenes and I discussed steels to use, and while O1 was right up there, I thought I'd like something different. We discussed 52100 and a few other steels, then he offered up some Bohler K510, which is referred to as a "silver steel" with pretty high carbon content. I thought it'd be a worthwhile experiment as long as his heat treating guy knows how to work with it.

I opted to not get jimping, since the thickness at the thumb notch would be substantial enough to provide a pretty sure grip. I'd thought about an etched finish or a brushed finish having a tiny bit more traction, but it's not really an issue. Some of my most slippery razors are jimped, and some of my most secure are not. Jimping would affect the clean lines of the razor (Sandor initially said he'd do some filework on the spine like he did on DS, but that changed as well), so they were left off.

The final design I sent him, which had been refined quite a bit both for usability and aesthetics:



It was a long wait, and I didn't really know what to expect. I told him to modify the design as much as necessary/desired. I may have a little knowledge, but I'm not a razor maker, and did not have the ability to test prospective designs in metal before adjusting them. I guessed that blending the grind with the curve of the thumb notch would be a difficult thing to nail, and I wasn't sure about rounding edges or tapering the handle.

Some weeks ago, I got a surprise email from Sandor, with a picture taken by a friend:



I was excited, though I was under the mistaken impression that the body would be etched black, and the tail looked a bit smaller than I expected. After a little back and forth, I agreed that a polished finish would be more durable long-term and really gave the razor a very pure look. The second issue was largely the result of the photographer emphasizing the blade with a little perspective distortion. Sandor took some pics himself after a bit...





At first this confirmed my suspicion that the butt end of the handle was too small, but then glancing at the photo EXIF, I realized that Sandor was doing the same thing: using a wider angle at a shorter distance to give the blade a bit more presence. Turns out it's a non-issue.

I got a package Tuesday evening and was a bit nervous to open it. I've been disappointed a few times in dealings with others (admittedly not for custom razors, as this is my first), but this thing's existence is at least somewhat owed to my brain, so I was excited too.

In a word, impressive! If there were any nits to pick, I'd probably say that the spine hump above the thumb notch might be a tiny bit forward of its placement in the line drawings, but it doesn't affect feel or appearance in any way, really. I could also say that the grind doesn't perfectly flow into the thumb notch, but it's damn close, and better than I've seen from just about anyone else. Several makers have admitted to me that it was a tall order, so I expected worse. His blend is elegant and still looks clean and crisp...not rounded over or wobbly at all.

I have a camera too, but it was night time and I didn't have any natural light, so I used my camera with built-in flash to get a few quickish photos.



The best picture I took in the set was this one, I think:



Mirror finishes can be hard to capture sometimes, and trying to get a good angle that shows proportions accurately while controlling reflections can be tricky.

I don't think this is Mr. Jenes's most difficult, most complex, or most distinctive razor. I do however think it is my favorite. It is heavy; the pics give a good impression of how thick it is, and it is balanced very well, with a little taper to the handle. The blade is a semi-wedge or half-hollow or something or other, which is a pretty big departure from most of my razors, which are either kamisori or 5/8" full hollows. I love it. The mirror finish was not a bad choice at all, and the ergonomics are excellent. Even when I had oil all over my fingers, I could maintain a sure grip on the razor because it's so thick at the notch (I wouldn't twirl it or anything though). I can't opine much on the design since I'm biased, but Mr. Jenes did a great job of bringing it to life and making sure it wasn't rubbish.

My first shave with it was last night, and it went very well. I can try to find ways to make anything uncomfortable, but all the standard grips I use with one-handed and two-handed shaving methods work very well and I at no point felt the razor was anything but comfortable and secure.

Another cheer for Mr. Jenes, and thanks for reading so far!

It is a beauty. It might like a slightly longer handle also, depending on the balance of course.

I like the mirror finish. I suppose if you still wanted it darker you could mask the blade off and blue it.

Congratulations on your dream come true!

It is a beautiful piece of usable, practical, sculpture. A son's friend has studied with a Japanese Sensei in metalworking. Built a Japanese forge in his backyard and his Sensei came over to help get it started. I need to talk to him and see if he would be willing to work on a Japanese style razor. Best of all, he lives around the corner.

Again, a beautiful piece of art in a usable form.

Originally Posted by KindestCutOfAll

It is a beauty. It might like a slightly longer handle also, depending on the balance of course.

The first pics gave me that feeling too...but in my last pics and the final drawings, the handle length is more apparent. It's a few millimeters longer than the handle on my Iwasaki, and much less blade-heavy; the balance point is at the back of the thumb notch, just in front of the maker's stamp...which I think is perfect given the weight. It feels nimble and easy to control, and never makes you feel like you're going to drop it.

Very very nice
Love the lines

Dang, this is frustrating. I can't view any photos posted outside North America. Don't know why. I'd really appreciate it if someone in the US or Canada would post a "reply with quote" of the original posts, so I an see the photos.
Thanks.

Originally Posted by skipnord

Dang, this is frustrating. I can't view any photos posted outside North America. Don't know why. I'd really appreciate it if someone in the US or Canada would post a "reply with quote" of the original posts, so I an see the photos.
Thanks.

Strange. Your provider may have blocked imgur, which is the host I'm using for these photos. Would a link (e.g. http://i.imgur.com/Jap1qYs.jpg) help?

Wow. Impressive work.

Cheers.

Next to the Iwasaki. These are very different razors with very different design concepts, so they're not directly comparable. I'm mostly just showing for scale: