Thread: Iwasaki Hone Countdown - A Test

Been in too many airplanes and too many hotel beds lately and using only the materials I take on trips - and haven't had a chance to keep the running total up to date. I'm back home now and if I read this balled-up scrap of paper correctly I can add another 7 shaves to the total count of shaves on the Iwasaki without anything but leather stropping. I'm fairly surprised but at a total count of 10 now, still no pulling or tugging at all.

In fact, as a joke of sorts with my doctor (who wanted to see some good blades) I spontaneously wet down my face with cold water and slapped a bit of doctor's office soap on it then used the Iwasaki to shave in front of him. That had to be really tough on the edge but as I shaved with it last night, it was still as smooth as when it arrived.

So the total now is at 10 and there have been 2 really tough shaves in that count. Tough referring to seriously unprepared whiskers once using just cold water and regular hand soap. The other tough shave was on 3 days of growth and very minimal face prep (just hot water and a thin bit of wool fat soap. Still going strong but 990 more to go to hit 1k....

How is it coming along AC? What shave are you at?

Well gents, sorry for not keeping this tabulation up to date but I've been in a nightmarish series of business trips as well as the holidays and long story short - I haven't posted in a while on this. So, as best as I can recall from my notes, I can add another 8 shaves to the Iwasaki now. That gets us to 18 shaves with it and nothing more than leather stropping. It's somewhat surprising to me, but as I shaved with it last night, I could swear that it was smoother than when I got it! In any event even at 18 shaves now, it's still exceptionally sharp and seems to be even smoother now.

So the count continues. I'm still skeptical as to the claim that it will give 1,000 shaves before needing a honing but at this pace I'm confident that it will take me to 100 before it needs a honing. Regardless as to how many shaves I get from it, I can say with all candor that this particular shaver is by far an outstanding blade, takes and holds an edge as well if not better than any other I own, and I just can't say enough great things about it! Should you get the desire to grab one I'd offer that you should not wait one moment and place the order now! What a wonderful piece of workmanship! The count continues...

On another note, I recently commissioned a very unique custom made Japanese blade that is absolutely beautiful, but I want to play around with it a little more and place more orders before I post about it here. What I will say now is that once you see the photos, I suspect the craftsman that made it for me will be swamped with orders! But I want to ensure first that I have all the blades I want from that maker before I start a stampede :-) Sorry to be mysterious about it but I know how it works here once one of us finds a real gem and gives out the contact info. But I promise I'll do a full writeup about it just as soon as I can get a few more made for me.

Originally Posted by AirColorado

Well gents, sorry for not keeping this tabulation up to date but I've been in a nightmarish series of business trips as well as the holidays and long story short - I haven't posted in a while on this. So, as best as I can recall from my notes, I can add another 8 shaves to the Iwasaki now. That gets us to 18 shaves with it and nothing more than leather stropping. It's somewhat surprising to me, but as I shaved with it last night, I could swear that it was smoother than when I got it! In any event even at 18 shaves now, it's still exceptionally sharp and seems to be even smoother now.

So the count continues. I'm still skeptical as to the claim that it will give 1,000 shaves before needing a honing but at this pace I'm confident that it will take me to 100 before it needs a honing. Regardless as to how many shaves I get from it, I can say with all candor that this particular shaver is by far an outstanding blade, takes and holds an edge as well if not better than any other I own, and I just can't say enough great things about it! Should you get the desire to grab one I'd offer that you should not wait one moment and place the order now! What a wonderful piece of workmanship! The count continues...

Paul are you going to stick to Premium II? I too am at 18 shaves and still shaves great! I figure stick to Latigo rather than other strops.

On another note, I recently commissioned a very unique custom made Japanese blade that is absolutely beautiful, but I want to play around with it a little more and place more orders before I post about it here. What I will say now is that once you see the photos, I suspect the craftsman that made it for me will be swamped with orders! But I want to ensure first that I have all the blades I want from that maker before I start a stampede :-) Sorry to be mysterious about it but I know how it works here once one of us finds a real gem and gives out the contact info. But I promise I'll do a full writeup about it just as soon as I can get a few more made for me.

You've piqued my interest! At the very least please tell us the specs? Cutting edge length and overall length of razor? Thanks

I look forward to your write-up

Update:

Well pretty much lasted total 18 shaves ( 2 test shaves ) plus 1 head shave ( after using 0 with sides and back shave only ). It started to tug on following shave and had to finish with another razor so that pretty much does it.

Paul what about you?

Myth busted?

Gentlemen, the 1000 shave razor is a Tamahagane western straight....so no busted myth yet.

Interesting. I thought the 1000 shave razor was a japanese style one. I've got a Tamahagane western style razor from Iwasaki or one of his students, but was never interested in the japanese style because I really dislike shaving with them. I'm in the middle of a project right now, but once this is over I'll give it a run and see how it compares with some of my others. I've got several western razors with >100 shaves on them, one with >200 and still going strong. I'm using linen very aggressively though. I never got more than about 14 shaves on a razor using just leather.

I have a hard time believing that the japanese-style tamahagane razors are made to a lesser standard than the western-style ones, but maybe the asymmetric grind produces a sharper but weaker edge, or maybe the use of only one side results in faster dulling. Or maybe it's just those whispy Japanese beards, and any well-made razor could have pulled off a comparable number of those shaves.

Originally Posted by mparker762

Interesting. I thought the 1000 shave razor was a japanese style one. I've actually got a Tamahagane western style razor from Iwasaki or one of his students. I'm in the middle of a project right now, but once this is over I'll give it a run and see how it compares with some of my others. I've got several western razors with >100 shaves on them, one with >200 and still going strong.

I have a hard time believing that the japanese-style tamahagane razors are made to a lesser standard than the western-style ones, but maybe the asymmetric grind produces a sharper but weaker edge, or maybe the use of only one side results in faster dulling.

I don't image they are--but the razor Mike is using is Swedish steel.

If you ever think of selling that Iwasaki Tamahagane, give me a thought...I'm hooked.

Originally Posted by JimR

I don't image they are--but the razor Mike is using is Swedish steel.

Ah. So OP missed the 1000-shave razor on both style and substance

I would have thought that being in Japan you would have much better access to these western tamahagane razors than we would. Back before I found mine I was thinking of sending you a PM to ask your barber if he knew of any of them for sale...