Menu from Morihei

Today I completed second purchase from Japan, I’ve bought Ozuku Karasu from them. You can see that Karasu spots not only on the top, but also at the back of the stone. First Shoubudani mizuasagi was for knifes, and this one strictly for razors.

Also, you guys might like to see what they offered to me to choose from. I am not going to discuss prices here, just for you to see what was on the menu.

Ozuku Karasu

http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...rasu-front.jpg

http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...arasu-back.jpg

http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...arasu-side.jpg

Stones for razors
Nakayama Jyunshin-shouhon-yama Razor (Nashiji)中山　純真正本山　レザー砥　（梨地）

http://traskrom.users.photofile.ru/p.../140825768.jpg


Nakayama Jyunshin-shouhon-yama Razor 中山　純真正本山　レザー砥

http://traskrom.users.photofile.ru/p.../140825758.jpg

Stones for knifes


http://traskrom.users.photofile.ru/p.../140825774.jpg

http://traskrom.users.photofile.ru/p.../140825783.jpg

My stone arrived yesterday. Tokyo-Moscow in just 5 days. As recent thread suggested, you can compare stone color to CMYK chart. (to be honest I can take a picture and show this stone in totally different color and CMYK chart with correct colors still will be there :D)

Haven't tried it yet, but initial feeling that stone is extremely hard and fine. Fully lapped and ready to go. Some kanji translation and information about the stones from Morihei

"大突山合砥(Ouku-yama Awasedo)---Ozuku-yama is "Higashimono". It is said that stones coming from certain quarries have generally good quality and called Higashimono. (Nakayama also belongs to this group.) Of course, not all of the "Higashimono" stones have good quality. But many good quality stones are coming from the area. "Awasedo" means finishing stone.

カラス (Karasu) ---Karasu generally means crow, a kind of bird. But it means to us, the pattern of stones just like you see on the back of the stone.

最高級品 (saikoukyuuhin)---Best quality products.


Regarding Nagura, it is not necessary to use Nagura with your Ozuku. But you do not need to keep using the Koma-nagura from beginning to the end. It would probably enough to use only at the beginning little bit (5 or 6 strokes). "

http://traskrom.users.photofile.ru/p...140942402.jpg?

http://traskrom.users.photofile.ru/p...140942398.jpg?

http://traskrom.users.photofile.ru/p...140942394.jpg?

http://traskrom.users.photofile.ru/p...140942377.jpg?

http://traskrom.users.photofile.ru/p...140942382.jpg?

And some Koma Nagura

http://traskrom.users.photofile.ru/p...140942333.jpg?

http://traskrom.users.photofile.ru/p...140942341.jpg?

http://traskrom.users.photofile.ru/p...140942346.jpg?

Would you please tell us how you got on with these hones?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kees

Would you please tell us how you got on with these hones?

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Kees My English plays some tricks on me sometimes. ;)
If you asking how I found them, about 2 month ago I bought 2 "pretend to be Nakayama" stones off eBay. They were king of "ok", but in reality nothing special. I decided than, that I need a proper supplier. I wrote to couple of stores, looked at what they have to offer and picked one. Since than I never regret about that.

Bit if you asking how these stones perform - can't tell you yet, but this Ozuku was especially recommended to me for razors.

My Shoubudani is just amazing for knifes and works exactly as Mr Morihei said. That's works for me.

nice looking stone, let us know how it performs.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Traskrom

Bit if you asking how these stones perform - can't tell you yet, but this Ozuku was especially recommended to me for razors.

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That's what I meant. The hidden agenda being: do I want one as well?

Our man in Moscow

Fantastic stones, and the seller is providing really clear photos. Higashimono means eastern stones or eastern mines.

The Nakayama kamisori toishi you have in the menu is from the current owner to the rights of the Nakayama mine, Hatanaka-san. He is from Kyoto and markets his stones through limited and selected outlets in Japan and also sells some directly from his stone boutique in Kyoto. The quality of this kamisori toishi razor stone is especially attractive and I am pretty sure that it is a Hon Suita stone with nashiji spots.

If possible I would like to see photos of the backs of any of these stones. Well Done!

Alx

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alx

If possible I would like to see photos of the backs of any of these stones.

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Sure, here it is

Nakayama jyunshin shouhonyama back

Description from them

Quarried around 1960. Little hard. This stone is specially for razor. Quality of stone is even, therefore it is easy to use.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...nyama-back.jpg

Nakayama jyunshin shouhonyama Nashiji back

Quarried around 1960. Hard. This stone is specially for razor. Nashiji is rare pattern of stone. Nashi means pear. (because it looks like skin of pear, a fruit. Ji means pattern.) The pattern does not help or impair sharpening blade. But this is rare pattern.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...shiji-back.jpg

This looks like a really sweet and pure stone and I bet it is fast cutting too. There is not substitute for quality. Have fun with those beauties. And thanks for the view of the backs, typical Nakayama. stay warm, Alx

Thank you alx

I got only one stone from them, Ozuku karasu plus koma nagura. When I saw note to Ozuku stone "strongly and especially recommended" it was enough for me :)

That actually means that probably they still have others in stock :D

I have a karasu that I use too, and you cannot go wrong with a good one, and they are usually pretty hard. I thought you had bought that little Nakayama for razors too. I think I have a pertty good idea what they might be asking. Very steep number. Alx

Please stop posting pictures in this thread, my bank account is begging you. ;)

I'm trying to decide between two of his stones: both Ozuku. One is harder than the other, but he says the slightly softer stone is very fine and especially good for razors...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by alx

I think I have a pertty good idea what they might be asking.

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Fun part is, that price for Ozuku was absolutely in line with others 2 :D Morihei has his own vision on what stones should be used razors. As Seth said, he strongly believe that Ozuku karasu is the best http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...tml#post682981

Most likely today I will test the stone. I will let you know

Her is one of my Oozukos
Namito Karasu, very buttery feel, very hard stone barely absorbs any water. Not from Morihei though.

http://i56.tinypic.com/5v101d.jpg

I am curious about this stone dealer. I tend to be cautious when it comes to the naturals. So far the buzz is good. Those are gorgeous stones guys.
MIke:D

What can I say.. that hone is expensive and ugly.. don’t buy it. Don’t even think about it. You might end up like me…

Yesterday I got some time to check this stone out. I took 3 razors, Wostenholm pipe razor, Roxo by Marsh brothers and Imperial. I used distilled water and koma nagura. I did exactly as old guy advised. Started with 5-6 strokes with koma slurry and then diluted it with water and ended up with pure stone. In about 30-40 strokes razor was absolutely shave ready. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I did more passes on my TM strop than on the stone. I said to myself, wait, see if you can repeat it. Wostenholm, quarter hollow is quite hard razor, however story was exactly the same, maybe a little more passes on stone. Third razor shoved exactly the same performance. I honed 3 razors in less that an hour with stropping, cleaning the stone and making all kind of tests, hanging hair, standing hair and everything I can think of. What it means, that I, with honing skills slightly above average, got results I never dreamed possible!

Hone itself absorb water, and feeling on the stone is kinda “silky”. Interesting, that water doesn’t work as lubricant, I can admit that I needed more “force” to slide razor compare to my shoubudani. Almost no slurry from the stone itself. I remember Alx article “sharp ws shiny” I can confess that I read all of it and did my best to understand it. Edge that I got was sharp and shiny at the same time.

Completely shocked I took my higonokami knife. I am using it to test all my stones. I got perfect and gorgeous kasumi on it and also sharpness I am absolutely happy with. Later that evening, my wife told me that I should stop walking around the house with that stupid face. I believe I was expressing joy, happiness and deepest shock at the same time. :D :D Shave this morning proved that razors (I tested 2 of them) was perfect for shaving.

Coming back to Mr Morihei, if you follow his advice, you get perfect result. If you do something on your own, you can get unpredictable results. That doesn’t mean that they will be bad, may be slightly worse that if you follow his advice. That was with my first stone, and with this one.

I'm with Jim... ARRGGHH!!!!

Drool worthy pics just kill me :):popcorn:

Friend of mine asked me if I can buy some stone for him for his razors. I asked for specific price range (not high) and this is what I got as an offer. As you can see, it is not limited to the Nakayama.

http://traskrom.users.photofile.ru/p...141047895.jpg?

http://traskrom.users.photofile.ru/p...141047899.jpg?

http://traskrom.users.photofile.ru/p...141047905.jpg?

http://traskrom.users.photofile.ru/p...141047912.jpg?

http://traskrom.users.photofile.ru/p...141047918.jpg?

HAD coming back sometimes… damn..:aargh: I don't need more stones, I already have enough absolutely great stones for a lifetime, bad thing is, I just WANT one.
Say hello to my “new” Ozuku suita with karasu layer in the bottom of the stone


http://traskrom.users.photofile.ru/p.../144867136.jpg

http://traskrom.users.photofile.ru/p.../144867135.jpg

I will have an excuse to post better pictures later :)

Shouhon Suita-yama Ozuku 正本巣板山　大突

http://traskrom.users.photofile.ru/p.../145034784.jpg

http://traskrom.users.photofile.ru/p.../145034794.jpg

http://traskrom.users.photofile.ru/p.../145034783.jpg