Odd name. Aren't Narutaki & Nakayama 2 different quarries ?Quote:
Originally Posted by rideon66
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Odd name. Aren't Narutaki & Nakayama 2 different quarries ?Quote:
Originally Posted by rideon66
It depends I guess if the name Narutaki is used to describe the mine Narutaki or the area Narutaki, of which Narutaki and Nakayama are mines in that areaQuote:
Originally Posted by onimaru55
regards
Narutaki is also a type of stone used in the final stage of sword polishing and can come from different mines this particular one came from Nakayama.Quote:
Originally Posted by onimaru55
Just saw Fikira's post and I would also guess that they name this final finishing stone which comes after Uchigumori for the region it comes from too, but not sure on that. I just recently found out that it can come from various mines.
Seems a generic term as well as a quarry.
Quote:
Originally Posted by alx
Ok Alex just wanted to give both you and Steve a little more point of reference on these Narutaki Koppa from Nakayama mountain. First according to everything I have read on Jizuya the Narutaki stone is supposed to be harder and finer than the Uchigumori in Hazuya. With that said these from Nakayama are twice the cost of the norm per kg and much harder than the Narutaki tomo I got from Steve. So the hardness can really vary with these stones and I think these may be at the higher end, but I do not have enough points of reference to say that as any absolute just my gut feeling.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve56
Now with what Steve said before about hardness and fineness usually going hand and hand I think that is maybe more of a bound particle finishing ideal. I do hope this is true with these Narutaki stones and seems to be so far. I find with my softest iro, which I would call maybe a lv4 or 4- it is more about not allowing any pressure which would allow unseen particles to come loose dulling vs polishing like in a harder stone. It doesn't mean the stone is less fine. Now I do use this stone more for knives, but the edges can be very sharp and smooth done right. It is easier to use my other iro stones that are more in the 4.5 lv -5 +++lv for finishing though and to truly answer your question Alex yes I get edges just as sharp or sharper than ones from the hardest of stones, only more skin friendly for that level of keeness. I was actually very impressed at the level the Okudo iromono kan stone I posted a few pages back achieved. I think it maybe one of my finest stones. I haven't quite decided on the level of hardness to that stone, but I would say it is in the lv5 up range.
With all that said I am not as much of a fan of scary sharp bite you if your game isn't on type of edges. I love a smooth forgiving edge that will cut you if you are dumb and just in a hurry, but leave you bbs with one pass and still not irritate with an ATG pass to finish.
Enjoy,
Tom
My Narutaki koppa are one step away from dried mud ie very soft. Must be from Narutaki Quarry rather than Nakayama. Really nice for darkening the Ji on modern swords btw.
The postman was kind to me this afternoon - a new barber-size boxed karasu. I wanted to give this one a try because it has a couple of features in common with another karasu that I have, namely nashiji which is usually considered a tomae strata feature, and a large patch of karasu on the back.
Anyway, the first out-of-the-box test with a Gold Dollar test razor is very promising! Looks like a winner. You just can't complain about a pretty, boxed razor-grade karasu with all 4 corners.
Cheers, Steve
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Two Marukas, bench size. These babies are the real deal, it’s like paradise for razor users. They hit it out of the park every single time, even though I would personally prefer it if they were just a bit softer. I know lots of people may disagree, but hey, I’m just weird like that ;)
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Koma I obtained from various sources over the course of last 6 months. The square shaped ones marked KY are vintage, as well as the striped orange one.
I have different mejiro's but this one is probably the most beautiful. Came in a box sitting in a little nest.
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Wow Alex, that mejiro is like orange sorbet. I have a pretty one, I'll have to get a pic.
In the meantime, from Alex G., my Shobudani Kiita, super fine and hard hard, no self slurry at all, not a great pic, but it's what I have while traveling /working.
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2nd is Narutaki, a little softer, easier to bring up slurry with tomo or mejiro. Pretty colors showing, but look at what's waiting! One tiny cracked corner, otherwise perfect on top, pretty skin on the back. Of each, actually.
Thank AG!
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My last acquisition from Japan:
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Para7452
Glad you like it,
Alex
Strangely enough these stones are now also sold through a Japanese seller, although the style of pictures and letter type in the listings, stone stamps, ... are the same as the Russian seller who sold/sells such stamped stones...Quote:
Originally Posted by Fikira
I don't quite understand...
Nice stones though...
Not sure, but I do know he is also selling these on yahoo.jp under the same as his one of his ebay listings. Plus there there have been alot of stones that look just like his sold on there.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fikira
Oh and one last thing his original ebay said he was in Japan, but the stones actually shipped from Russia.
Counterfeit Japanese stones, not just maruka, is a potentially big thing. Not only because of people stamping "unworthy" Japanese stones, but because of the existence of stones looking like Japanese as well.
Here is an interesting example;
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And a disclaimer; I don't own any of them. Nor the photo, it's from the seller. I would want to have one or a few of these stones, and probably will, but as of this moment, I don't (seriously China, we need an English version of your sites! I know about your fears on this case, but still!!)
Don't some of them appear strikingly similar to Japanese stones? Especially in a world where our purchases are made by images.
I have seen photos of stones looking like Japanese from a few places already, and I expect I'll see more of them.
What I'll write is obvious, but we do have to remember it,It's about trusting the sellers, not the stones or stamps. before purchase.
As was expected... Sneaky...Quote:
Originally Posted by rideon66
Thanks for the info!
Just remember guys, we have the eBay 101 thread to advise newbs on how to shop safely.
Try not to overlap too much here.
Thanx !
Once again, great details for someone still acquiring hones.
Thank you.
Myron
Striped Botan. 295 gr or so. Fairly big chunk.
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Beautiful!Quote:
Originally Posted by alex1921
hi,
you can tell me someting about this jnat?Attachment 301761
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All one can tell from those stamps. It's a 330mate stone. Some love him, some hate him. Never bought anything from him so I can't judge.Quote:
Originally Posted by mihai
My suggestion. Forget about mines and names and use your stone. The more time I spend playing with Jnats the more I am growing allergic to the BS name game.
I'm still playing with her, it's not the hardest and the finest stone, but the work is working, I have not gotten a very good finish, but I just got into her possessionQuote:
Originally Posted by alex1921
Unknown finishing stone I picked up. I think it is 7x4, not really sure thoughAttachment 301912Attachment 301913Attachment 301914
Last picture is wet, so you can see the contrast. Anyone have any ideas what it is? Or is this a futile guessing game?
Yeah I would say futile guessing game.Quote:
Originally Posted by moardie
Very nice size! Shape! and thickness! Keep on honing!
At some point, it doesn't even matter. If it's good, just enjoy a good stone. If it's not that good, well, life ain't that long to lose time on it for razors. From the image, it could be from a various number of mines.
I am going to try my Nagura progression on it and get back to everyone.
2 kiitas added. Both very hard, rather unexpected for stones of this color, at least I was surprised.
First is a small stone, I added a pic with a razor on it for comparison. Well whatever it lacks in size it makes up for in power. That little rascal can wipe 1200 atoma scratches like nothing. It's probably the fastest kiita I have, just unreal speed. Shave is pending. I am curious if this hyper speed translates to a good finish.
Second kiita, full size. Some nashiji in the corners. Lovely hard rock that has an amazing feeling when honing. It took a razor from bevel set to finish and gave a nice shave.
Overall pretty happy.
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Part of the club! Attachment 305555
Very nice addition.
Myron
Very nice basil!
Thanks!
First time using the jnat last night. Took the le grelot up on a coti and finished on the Ozuku with some light slurry down to water.
Great feedback on the jnat. Very different to what I’m used to on the coti. But the shave was amazing. Best I’ve had ever I think.
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It will get better by getting to know your stone. Coti to Jnat can produce a fast and very nice shaving edge.
Yeah figured some time on the stones will help me figure them out better.
The hardest suita in the house so far. It's behaving more like a hard grey asagi when you lap it. Doesn't want to give up slurry. Did a full Mikawa progression, koma did kick up base stone, and finished on asagi tomo. Nice shave. Tried to catch the color of the stone so first pic it's wet.
One side of the the stone has these speckles, almost like nashiji but that's not something I would expect to find on a suita. Don't know.
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Beautiful. That speckled pattern reminds me of a coti I used to have. Glad it gives such a nice shave too.
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Got a new nagura after a mixup in my last order.
