4 Attachment(s)
Maruichi "Maruka" (Nakayama Asagi)
Over a month ago I ended up buying this stone from So. THAT was an experience in itself, he is amazing. I have held off posting because of the pictures that were needed. I had a horrible time taking photos of this thing. It is an Asagi and should be pretty grey but it is really a grey,greenish blue, if that makes sense. My grey card would not fix the problems that I had getting good color balanced pics. The resulting pictures don't come close to relaying how beautiful this stone is.
Stats.
1485 grams
200mmX 70mm x 40mm thick
It is very hard, dense and very smooth despite the lines that run deep into the stone. It is speckled with black specks.
The cutting speed is really quite amazing because it will bring out a steel slurry quickly with no visible slurry from the stone when using just water. Using this stone gives me the best edges that I have ever had with almost no effort. It is almost like I can do no wrong with it, like it has a mind of it's own!
The color is gray with an emerald blue green tint depending on how the light hits it. Very hard to describe really.
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Here is the Maruka stamp. So said it means nothing if the stone is not meant for a razor. I don't understand it all.
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Finally the side
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and bottom.
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Another reason that it has taken a while to post pics is that I wanted to use and learn it a little before posting...who knows I could have sent it back!;)
Well anyway I use my Naguras on a medium fine Okura stone that I have and save the final finishing for this stone. I only have 6 razors so it is tough to get enough time on it. It is very hard yet when I put the steel to it, with its own slurry, it is oily smooth. I have found that there are a couple of different edged that I get from it. Stop at light slurry and get a very forgiving smooth edge or I can go to just water that has a very smooth feel to it yet is very responsive. It cuts very fast and it gives a very finely polished bevel that has a diamond bright reflection. The resulting edge is very smooth and one would think that it is not very keen at all but alas I will get a weeper once in a while that will remind me just how keen the edge is.
For me it has always been about the shave and I tend to buy good gear and stick with that and this stone does "good enough" that I am pretty much done with HAD. The price for me was a lot but I knew by talking to So and his father that it was the stone that I have been looking for. His father gave this stone top reviews and after working with So for a while, and the rep he has on this and other forums, it was not a very hard sell.
Thought it was worth a post. I think it is a keeper!
Take Care,
Richard