Thread: Jnats, Fake Stamps and Soft Stones

Thats the difference between dealer and reputable dealer.
A dealer is there just to make money and will do anything to make a buck. Fake stamps and soft stones are all good if they can off load them. A reputable dealer is someone like alex from thejapanstone, they have a passion for tennen toshi and can guide someone like myself who dosent have the knowledge to buy a hone that can put a great edge to a razor. Essentially you are paying a premium for their expertise.

I agree. Alex is generally premium price, but the stuff that's super premium is relatively uncommon and you can make requests. Most of the moderately priced stuff is happily unstamped (I see that as a good thing).

Both times I chose to go for unmarked stuff from Alex and asked for performance per dollar over all else, and I got that.

Alex brings his own stuff in. The situations that seem to be worst for the buyer are where there is a distributor in japan and then there is a second distributor who buys the stones. There's two mark-ups, and you get things like ohira 30 type tomae stones for $400-$500 (there are two unsold on the japanese auction site for about 1/3rd of that). They got me early on with those, and I see some unscrupulous sellers on japan still trying to list 30-type stones from that for $500.

I shouldn't say it's just two level distributors, there was also an individual who targeted the tool community and then sold off her stock to a japanese tool dealer who proceeded to sell it off at the same price.

It may be crabby friday for me!! I think I'm going to go buy one of the 30 type tomae stone for $150 and treat this like a stock situation. If I bought a share of stock for $400 and the price level dropped to $150, I'd be looking to buy more shares at $150 to make myself feel better about it!

Unfortunately theres the problem, you spend $150 on a tomae 30 hone and you take a chance or spend $82 on a nani 12k and get a known fine finisher!

I don't know squat about Japanese Stones but what I do know is all the best ones were mined long ago and the supply of freshly mined quality stones has dwindled.

The folks there know Westerners are chomping at the bit to buy these stones so stretching the truth to varying degrees has been the rule for years there.

The bottom line is if you don't want to be taken for a ride in a rickshaw you have two choices, either learn about these stones which is a large undertaking or buy from a dealer with a rock (no pun) solid reputation.

Originally Posted by markbignosekelly

Thats the difference between dealer and reputable dealer.
A dealer is there just to make money and will do anything to make a buck. Fake stamps and soft stones are all good if they can off load them. A reputable dealer is someone like alex from thejapanstone, they have a passion for tennen toshi and can guide someone like myself who dosent have the knowledge to buy a hone that can put a great edge to a razor. Essentially you are paying a premium for their expertise.

We have no way of knowing if what we consider reputable dealers get vintage and authentic stones either.
I see a lot of freshly stamped stones being sold all over the place. The reason I say that is because certain stamps sell the stones for a lot of money.
Getting a quality stone does not have to cost an arm and a leg, even if it is a Nakayama.

Originally Posted by mainaman

We have no way of knowing if what we consider reputable dealers get vintage and authentic stones either.
I see a lot of freshly stamped stones being sold all over the place. The reason I say that is because certain stamps sell the stones for a lot of money.
Getting a quality stone does not have to cost an arm and a leg, even if it is a Nakayama.

I completely agree, and have experienced this. Be careful whom you trust when money is involved.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I completely agree, and have experienced this. Be careful whom you trust when money is involved.

Ditto that. Even trusted dealers can sell stuff that's not that great. The wholesalers pushing some of these things along may be fairly respected, too. But they are in business.

That's why I've got a preference of getting an ugly stone out of a dealer if one wants to. There won't be an argument about a stamp being real or not real, it won't be there, but the stone will be more reasonably priced and if the dealer is honest, it will do wonders for a razor.