Unsure whether to post this here or in Japan forum but hey, that's what mods are for :)
I've been wanting to try one of these critters & after asking So from Japan-toool if he had access to any that weren't bearing Iwasaki prices he turned this one up for a tryout. He did most of the initial restore work on it but it rusted overnight so after a quick cleanup while I watched, it went home with me for final rust busting & a hone. The edge was a bit of a mess but honed up well. You can still see a few black specks just up from the edge on the last pic but they're of no consequence. I know the blade is not Tamahagane but I gave it a rub with some some jizuya (Narutaki chips) just to color up the omote a little.
This is only the second kamisori I've honed. The first was an Iwasaki which had a small chip I removed very gingerly under So's watchful gaze but it turned out well as did this one. Although chipped & rusted at the edge it progressed with such a familiar feel that I'm thinking, or maybe imagining, these aren't so tricky to hone ~ I've yet to be critiqued by So on this one. Fingers crossed my confidence is not unfounded :)
Had to take it down to 1k to get the chips off the edge but after finishing on the Asagi it gave me the kind of shave I'm used to from my best western str8's.
Altho the skinny tang & short blade (45mm) felt strange on the first shave, second time round felt quite familiar. Even found myself using the omote for most of the shave. I found no drama using the ura in a couple of tricky spots but it does require close attention to angle.
In any case the whole kamisori honing, shaving thing just really clicked with me & I'm sold.
btw I have no idea who the maker is or what the Kanji says. I was too excited to get it home & forgot to ask :gaah:
