Thread: Nakayama Maruka jnat. Genuine or Fake?

I have spotted one seller on e-bay who offers a lot of cheap jnats claimed as Maruka.

Here he is: eBay Feedback Profile for japanathome

Honestly speaking I am doubted that all these stones are not fake.

For example here it is Nakayama Maruka bought in Japan:

hi-res image: http://imageshack.com/a/img196/4372/ymh0.jpg



hi-res image: http://imageshack.com/a/img844/8116/r7ok.jpg





One more example of Nakayama Maruka from Maxim: http://japanesenaturalstones.blogspo...houbudani.html


And these are the stones bought from that seller:

hi-res image: http://imageshack.com/a/img30/1544/9w94.jpg


Any ideas?

Impossible to prove one way or the other though. I assume any stone that is too good to be true as fake. The bottom line is there are many stones that can put a great edge on a razor and can be had for under $300. Regardless of mine or origin but from a reputable source. Where they come from will dictate that the stones at least have the characteristics of what they are being called and many times that is good enough. Unless you are looking for a museum piece or some very rare stone that cant be had easily. Stamps can be faked easily. The reputation of the seller IMO is more important than what the stamp says. And there are sellers who will let you try the stones out, if you dont like it, send it back and try another one.

In Japan real Nakayama with the stamps cost a ton of money, on ebay 20-50 usd. You know the saying: " If it is too good to be true then it probably...is"
Original Maruka stamps are blue or purple-broun, and applied on the narrow side of the hone.

This guy fake stamps stones, many in Japan do.

Originally Posted by mainaman

In Japan real Nakayama with the stamps cost a ton of money, on ebay 20-50 usd. You know the saying: " If it is too good to be true then it probably...is"
Original Maruka stamps are blue or purple-broun, and applied on the narrow side of the hone.

This guy fake stamps stones, many in Japan do.

Sad, but true.
I hope not that many in Japan do. But some a few.
Even Nakaoka Tomonory AKA 330mate AKA fujibato have never dared to fake Maruka stamp.
He just mimic it with his own stamp resembling to Maruka, but not the same.

Anybody can mimic or fake the stamp, but nobody can provide the same quality and particular constellation of properties of stones mined from Nakayama.
Color patterns, texture of surface and hada of genuine Nakayama stones are impossible to fake in every detail.

Did you try the stones you bought from him? I see he have a accurate description of stones, so it will be easy to check if they are what he claim.

Originally Posted by bill3152

Stamps can be faked easily. The reputation of the seller IMO is more important than what the stamp says. And there are sellers who will let you try the stones out, if you dont like it, send it back and try another one.

That is it. Thank you for words of wisdom.

Originally Posted by Nikolay

Sad, but true.
I hope not that many in Japan do. But some a few.
Even Nakaoka Tomonory AKA 330mate AKA fujibato have never dared to fake Maruka stamp.
He just mimic it with his own stamp resembling to Maruka, but not the same.

Anybody can mimic or fake the stamp, but nobody can provide the same quality and particular constellation of properties of stones mined from Nakayama.
Color patterns, texture of surface and hada of genuine Nakayama stones are impossible to fake in every detail.

Nakayama have that very specific feel to them while honing, that only may be Wakasa come close to. That is why always is good to try the stone before buying it.

Originally Posted by livio

Did you try the stones you bought from him? I see he have a accurate description of stones, so it will be easy to check if they are what he claim.

No I have never neither bought nor tried these fake Maruka stones.
The image with the bunch of stones is from another person.

The images with stamp and surface of Maruka Kiita above are my.

The description is accurate indeed, but have you ever seen Nakayama Maruka with such an ugly suji ( streaks and cracks ) like these one http://www.ebay.com/itm/131065746454 ?

Originally Posted by mainaman

Nakayama have that very specific feel to them while honing, that only may be Wakasa come close to. That is why always is good to try the stone before buying it.

I think some good Ozaki stones are close to that too.

Admittedly, I purchased 2 of these stones (no decent pics at the moment). These are my first Jnats. I did me research and could see some of the stones have seams and pits. I had to try at that price.

My purchases:

Maruka Orange Suita Japanese Natural From Kyoto City
80 mm x 142 mm x 20 mm
weight is 434g
medium hard stone


Okudo White Suita Japanese Natural From Kyoto City
61 mm x 147 mm x 25 mm
weight is 407g
super hard stone

I could never afford some of the finer Jnat stones. So I looked carefully at the pics and chose the two that I saw with the least flaws. The flaws that I could spot were far enough apart that I felt I could work with these.

I was satisfied with my purchase. The Maruka had more flaws, but being the softer stone I felt I could use it for slurry if all else failed.

After lapping the flaws on the Maruka improved greatly. I have only honed two razors with these stones, but am very satisfied so far. The Okudo White is actually a great finisher.

I feel these are genuine, but with flaws that make them less desirable. Hence the lower asking price.

It'll take me a few months to get a feel for them, but I am already satisfied with my inexpensive minor upgrade.