Thread: Custom-scaled Kikuboshi

Originally Posted by WW243

In general, I like the cheesy scales that come on Japanese Westerns....but, you kind of present an awesome alternative. And late Happy Birthday!
As an aside, I also like the occasional Engrish as on the reverse side of my K-3 Fon Golden Star shank which reads:
MADE BY AMOST SK-
ILLFUL TECHANIQUE
Just like that, 2 lines.

Yeah! I know what you mean! Here is another one!

Originally Posted by mainaman

Very cool, both razor and scales.
I am big sucker for Japanese razors, just some of the best out there.

Thank you, sir! So far, they seem to be excellent to me as well!

Originally Posted by RoyalCake

That's one nice looking razor - let us know how she shaves!
Great job.

My thanks. I figure Sunday's shave will tell the tale!

Those scales really make your Kikuboshi stand out! I love Japanese westerns, and must like yours seem to be 7/8s. Would love to get my hands on a vintage Japanese strop. Is it cordovan?
Great catch

I don't know why but to me Japanese razors are the only ones that can pull off those sometimes very flamboyant scales that many of them have. I really like how that blade looks dressed up in its new scales.

As it so happens I just picked up my second Japanese western a few days ago, that I coincidentally also bought as a birthday present for myself, a Nos Hayashi Diamond 888.
It's a very nice blade but I fear that the scales might be in the early stages of cell rot, originating from the wedge, since there were some black spots at the toe-end of the razor. Maybe I'll dress mine up in abalone too if my suspicions are confirmed(I really hope I'm wrong because the current scales are very nice)

Berry Jelly Tom, berry jelly.

Very nice. Bling bling!


Mike

Originally Posted by markbignosekelly

Those scales really make your Kikuboshi stand out! I love Japanese westerns, and must like yours seem to be 7/8s. Would love to get my hands on a vintage Japanese strop. Is it cordovan?
Great catch

Thanks. The strop was made in 1966 according to the seller. The leather is shell. Exquisite stuff!

Originally Posted by Baxxer

I don't know why but to me Japanese razors are the only ones that can pull off those sometimes very flamboyant scales that many of them have. I really like how that blade looks dressed up in its new scales.
As it so happens I just picked up my second Japanese western a few days ago, that I coincidentally also bought as a birthday present for myself, a Nos Hayashi Diamond 888.
It's a very nice blade but I fear that the scales might be in the early stages of cell rot, originating from the wedge, since there were some black spots at the toe-end of the razor. Maybe I'll dress mine up in abalone too if my suspicions are confirmed(I really hope I'm wrong because the current scales are very nice)

If it was made in the 60's/70's, I think the plastic was used. Hopefully not rot-prone cell!

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Berry Jelly Tom, berry jelly.

Originally Posted by mglindo

Very nice. Bling bling!
Mike

I know, guys! I know! I just got done stropping it good. Everytime I look at it, I think 'What the?????"

Originally Posted by sharptonn

If it was made in the 60's/70's, I think the plastic was used. Hopefully not rot-prone cell!

Could it be that they'd use a celluloid wedge on scales that were made from some other plastic? maybe I could try unpinning and keeping the scales and the wedge in separate bags(with sacrificial steel) to see if it's only the wedge and not the scales.

I really don't want to risk damaging the scales in case they're alright so that will have to wait until it starts showing signs of rot again(If it does)

-------------------------------------

A thing that I've been thinking of.
Since it's nitric acid releasing(?) that is cell rot, would it be possible to develop a sort of litmus test to check if the PH of the celluloid is in the same range as previous samples of known to be healthy celluloid?
I'm not a chemist so if someone here is I would be interested to hear how or why not this would work.

Baxxer, I know that was a common occurence back in the older celluloid days. Cell rot has been discussed in depth in many threads here. A search will yield more than you want to read! Why not post pics of the Diamond Hayishi 888 in the workshop? Others with the same razor may chime in on their's and get some eyes/opinions on the spots. You may be worrying needlessly?
Let's hope so!

I've been planning on taking pics since I got it but there's often a lot of time between when I decide to do something and when I actually do it, I'll hopefully get around to it sometime this week.

Also, sorry for hijacking your thread and a late happy birthday.