Thread: Pearl Iwasaki

Have had this one done for a while, yet with my pledge to post only shavers, I waited to get to it, on and through the stones, as I posted it. More of these coming, I suppose!


Anyway, I have observed Iwasaki razors are highly regarded, yet they are quite pricey.
I found this one with broken plain black scales. Still pricey, but not so bad.
Then, this pair of solid MOP scales from an old Keenkutter razor. Have had them for a long time. The blade had been badly rusted, so I dissembled everything and began the search for a blade. Solid pearl bends very little, so nothing I tried would work. The Keenkutter blade was trash and I thought these scales deserved a bit more.
I tried lots until this blade.. Wound up working well, I think!



The blade was a tad too long as test-fitted, yet seemed a better fit than any I had tried, so I went with it.
Since the old Japanese barber-trick had been performed on the tip, I decided to square-point the end and leave the wedge alone. Made it fit perfectly, I think.


The thing actually has some tension as-pinned. Sort of made me nervous. I used some teeny collars and peened the annealed silver over them. They were bolted-up many, many times as-fitting, sanding on the front scale and thinning the inner stabilizers finally got clearance everywhere. Was a chore.

Like to see these work in progress photos,,,,,,

Some more pics;


Talk about jewelry in the hand, this one is sweet. Lightly sanded and steel-wooled/polished the scales. Lots of Renwax.
Original to the blade stainless spacers used. Saving it for Sunday's SOTD!

Sweet work there, sharptonn! I'm eager to hear how it shaves.

I think the end result is awesome. I'm sure it cost you some time, but that razor looks really, really good.

Awesome scales and razor. Iwasaki is my favorite of all makers.

Solid MOP one piece scales with no liner. A bit of a rarity I would expect. Nice choice for a blade for them.

Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

Sweet work there, sharptonn! I'm eager to hear how it shaves.

Thanks! Shure to be a good one? Lots of strop between now and Sunday!

Originally Posted by coachmike

I think the end result is awesome. I'm sure it cost you some time, but that razor looks really, really good.

Means a lot! I am truly afraid to divulge what has been spent. Not to mention the work!

Originally Posted by mainaman

Awesome scales and razor. Iwasaki is my favorite of all makers.

Thanks! Makes me feel better!

Originally Posted by RezDog

Solid MOP one piece scales with no liner. A bit of a rarity I would expect. Nice choice for a blade for them.

Rare to see one piece MOP, Rez. Thanks for the kind words!

That is a wonderful project brought to a perfect fruition.
KeenKutter was about the only Manufacturer I have spotted in this country that used a lot of MOP. I do have a Swede in it also. Finding the scales has been a long mileage and luck type endeavor. Haven't seen any in a hundred mile radius of home since about 2010 except once on the 'bay for about $ 170 when I decided not to watch anymore and cried!

~Richard

You're gonna love it. My all time best shaver (for some reason I prefer the shave it provides to my tamahagane Iwasaki) is my carbon steel Iwasaki.