Thread: Clarification - Kamisori Razors

Originally Posted by amykamisori

he compared it to a TI which is a different manufacturer but regardless when comparing a $60 razor and a $160 razor, the various aspects of material and craftsmenship on the actual blade matter to make a difference on the shave, even if its from the same manufacturer i think.http://www.kamisorishears.com

And we can easily see how a simple comment can be misunderstood and carried away. Amy is trying to almost discard "quality of shave" as valid determinant bacause of the mention of the TI. I know both why Randy mentioned it (we have high standards, we want good shaves) and why Amy is defensive (she coudn't hope to compare with most details of the TI, even though only one was mentioned). Let's forget that, we'll only find reasons to continue to disagree.

X

Originally Posted by xman

This is also unfair since we're out of the category again comparing apples to oranges. The DD is a vintage blade restored to useablity (usefulness?) and the Kamisori is a line product.
Not that those comments are incorrect, just hastily put. I put every stock in the opinions of these gentlemen even if the reasoning process is a little loose. Whose isn't.
X

My comments were not hastily put. I made them from a shaver's perspective. For a much lower price I got a SUPERIOR (can't stress this one enough) shaver that looks great. I don't want to pay $60 for a piece of hardware that I can't make shave ready after an hour on the Japs.
The bottom line is that if it can't be turned into a good shaver, the $60 price range is unrealistic. Who'd pay much for just a decorative piece of hardware, which is not THAT decorative to begin with? I'd rather give up on 3 cases of beer and buy a $160 TI.

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

My comments were not hastily put. I made them from a shaver's perspective. For a much lower price I got a SUPERIOR (can't stress this one enough) shaver that looks great. I don't want to pay $60 for a piece of hardware that I can't make shave ready after an hour on the Japs.
The bottom line is that if it can't be turned into a good shaver, the $60 price range is unrealistic. Who'd pay much for just a decorative piece of hardware, which is not THAT decorative to begin with? I'd rather give up on 3 cases of beer and buy a $160 TI.

Well, this is not the typical buyer's situation. You cannot expect for the typical straight razor user to be able to go on e-bay and (recognize) pick up a descent Sheffield or Solingen blade, clean it up, replace the handles, and hone it's coroded edge to a shaving sharp. The same case can apply on other goods, like for example, someone can pick up vintage tube guitar amp for 250$ on e-bay, replace the old tubes for 100$ and get a sound in a range of 3000$ handmade boutique ams. Some guys are simply not knowledgeable enough to recognize a good deal...

Nenad

b.t.w. I see you like your Taylor very much...

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

My comments were not hastily put. I made them from a shaver's perspective. For a much lower price I got a SUPERIOR (can't stress this one enough) shaver that looks great.

Perhaps "hasty" is the wrong word. Inappropriate? All I mean to say is that while what you say is true, you got a better shaver all over for less, and what Randy said was true, his TI gives better shaves, it's stretching the comparison a little too much. We are trying to rate a new line product and as similar a product as possible would be the most appropriate comparison. We see already that Amy is asking for something more similar in comparison. I'm saying she would have less cause to feel slighted (not that she is, not that we are trying to make her) and more to feel she has been give something closer to her own experience which would be more useful to her. As we have seen regularly on the BBS's on the net, its very easy for people to misunderstand anothers' intent/meaning and the general response is to irrationally defend oneself rather than consider more deeply. Reason then breaks down and no progress gets made.

X

Different people will have different expectations. This is how the company will get a feel for what their prospective consumers want. Bluntness, in my opinion, will be much more valuable to helping them than sugarcoating will be.

Everyone is speaking truth here gentlemen. And I think it's more than fair to compare the less expensive kamisori razors to a similar product, such as a $60.00 dovo, versus a $150.00 TI.

Though I still hold to my personal opinion. a $60.00 Dovo gives a decent shave according to many members on here and also according to several of these same members the main difference between a $60.00 dovo and a $100.00 dovo is the frills package.

Just like a 12,000 car. I don't care who the manufacturer is, I'm going to go for the one that gives me the most reliability for my money. I could care less if it's got 12 wheel drive if it doesn't get me where I'm going with the same comfort of other 12g cars.

Likewise with a $60.00 razor If it doesn't compare to the current leading manufacturers $60.00 razors then it's not worth it. Thus let's compare it to the leading manufacturers.

BTW I think both Bill and Randy had this in mind when they made their recommendations, but we shall see. As others have said, Lynn still has to weigh in with his opinion of the blade

Glen F

Its nice to do a comparison of different razors and whether there is a price differential between the razors is immaterial to me. The only thing I am interested in is knowing is that since this company is producing a straight and its for shaving it should be able to give a good comfortable shave. Either it does or it doesn't. To me its as simple as that. As they say sharp is sharp and a good shave is a good shave.

I'm not going to comment about the work required to get it into shaving condition because I have a Damascus TI I have almost two years and I'm still working on it to get it to give the best its capable of and it didn't cost no eighty bucks or so.

So, whats the bottom line here with this razor?

Hello all,

I certainly did not expect this number of comments on this.
Now for some clarification:

1. I mentioned the TI because thats what I was shave testing at the same time. Nothing more than that.

2. Compared to other Dovo razors that I have honed and shaved with the Kamasori was harsher in feel on the skin.

3. I will be honing and shave testing this razor at least twice more and posting comments as it happens.

4. I do feel that there is a difference in steel from the other Dovo's. It is not a difference in kind of steel but rather it's processing. The overall impression is that it is more brittle.

5. I would suggest that Kamasori engage in some quality control testing of the razor steel to make sure they are getting their moneys worth. I would have it analyzed for Rockwell hardness and grain size and other relevant metalurgical tests.
Whomever is peforming the grinding of the bevel is doing a very poor job. This really needs to be corrected as does the problem with warping. The faults that I have mentioned can be corrected with a minimum of effort. There is no excuse for them. It appears that to many corners are being cut at the factory.

6. I will be offering this razor to anyone for testing once I am finished. Just let me know if you want to try it.

7. My expectations for this razor are the same as I have for any razor. I expect that the razor will give me a close comfortable shave. This one was not comfortable.

Originally Posted by Locarius

I wonder if this is all news to Kamisori, and they are just now finding out that they are getting 'seconds' or castaways from Dovo at a discount price?

Unless you know this to be fact, I don't consider this a fair statement, regardless of what the "honemeisters" have to say about the razors.

RT

What I am trying to say is that spending $60 on a blade that won't give me a close comfortable shave is a waste of my money. In all honesty, I wouldn't use one even if I got it for free. This is coming from a cash-strapped person. Being low on cash doesn't mean that I am not willing to spend more on an item that will do the job reliably.
Straight razors are a niche market. On one hand you have collectors and on the other hand you have shavers. I can't see a $60 razor becoming a collectors' item and a person willing to spend 30-90min daily on shaving will not want to buy a product that does not perform particularly well.

P.S. In my previous I was referring to the Satinedge. Taylor's is a whole different story.