Thread: Folding Style or Kamisori?

I found this blank that I cut out from a leaf spring about 5 years ago and decided to finish it. I forged the tail long with the original intent to make it a folding style razor. Now that I have it rough ground I was about to drill the pin hole, but thought that it is long enough to make a kamisori out of it. I was thinking of using thin orange G10 with black liners on the tail just to give it some more "handle area". What are your guys thought?

What is the grind and the length of the blade ??? That would have a bearing on my personal thoughts on the idea of a folder or not

I tend to think of razors a bit like pocket knives. While a fixed blade knife is arguably better, folders are just way too practical.

A kami doesn't have any user advantages other than the simplicity aesthetics IMO, and then there is the need of having to have a way of storing it with a separate sheath, box, stand, or whatever, which kind of nullifies the simplicity aesthetic.

Just my thoughts. Do it how you feel it, you can always make another.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

What is the grind and the length of the blade ??? That would have a bearing on my personal thoughts on the idea of a folder or not

Thanks for the comments guys.

Here is the measurement. It is still rough ground, but you can get an idea of what the final grind will be like. I could make the blade shorter as well to change the proportions.

To my eye it should be in Scales

Doesn't mean anything other than one person's opinion, keeping in mind I tend to have a weird negative reaction Non-Traditional "Kamisori" I don't know why either

A folder it is! I went ahead and drilled the hole and made up a set of scales. They are still just rough cut, but you can get an idea of what it will look like. Now to heat treat the blade and finish grinding. My forge is outside and it's supposed to rain for a week though

As Victor says: regardless of what you choose, you'll need to make scales anyway if you want to be able to store it properly.

I always HT and finish grind the razor before I make the scales as the finish grinding changes the depth that the razor rides in the scales. I've always assumed that everyone does it in that order, but I don't know that for sure.

Originally Posted by bluesman7

I always HT and finish grind the razor before I make the scales as the finish grinding changes the depth that the razor rides in the scales. I've always assumed that everyone does it in that order, but I don't know that for sure.

Yep
Scales are last.

Originally Posted by bluesman7

I always HT and finish grind the razor before I make the scales as the finish grinding changes the depth that the razor rides in the scales. I've always assumed that everyone does it in that order, but I don't know that for sure.

Yep it does change the depth. I take them both to about 95% and then do the final fitting at the end. This was done without any pattern. I simply adjust the shape as I go to where it looks "right" to my eye.

Here it is all assembled. I still need to seal the wood and hone the edge. I've got the bevel set, but it's nowhere near shave ready yet.