Takahashi Norikazu Kanetake kamisori

[Dullblade]

What size is your Harima Fuji and how long have you had it before deciding on Norikazu's Kanetake?

I have it for about half a year. Meanwhile I´m owning 20 Straight Razors, including my favourite, my personal reference, an 8/8 Friodur with rounded Back and Straight Head. I got some old Wade&Butchers, some other Friodurs, Dovo and Dorkos and even one unknown. I shave on a daily basis, I´m used to use both hands. Half a year ago I decided to by a japanese razor and I got the Harima Fuji. It needed some adaption to my usual technique (and it needed to be sharpened, which wasn´t that easy, it was more than a little on the rough side...), but finally I master all the shaves without cuts and nicks, but I change hands, grip and of course the blade sides.

When I saw Old School page with the new Kanetake and the possibility of custom modifications, I didn´t think about it very long. Having seen pictures of the bigger Iwasaki, which is only availlable with difficulties, I decided for a larger blade and due my side problem I decided to buy left and right hand.

By now it looks to me, that I will get a unique pair of razors, razors with no one had before, I will always be the first who got them, will be the first who shaves with them. Thoughts, which make me happy

[LesPoils]

When I saw Old School page with the new Kanetake and the possibility of custom modifications, I didn´t think about it very long. Having seen pictures of the bigger Iwasaki, which is only availlable with difficulties, I decided for a larger blade and due my side problem I decided to buy left and right hand.

By now it looks to me, that I will get a unique pair of razors, razors with no one had before, I will always be the first who got them, will be the first who shaves with them. Thoughts, which make me happy

wow !!!
u probably the guy who created an initial demand for larger Kanetake !
hope Norikazu-san will continue produce and expand his range of kamisori.

[LesPoils]

please, pictures of the Harima Fuji

[Dullblade]

please, pictures of the Harima Fuji

http://up.picr.de/2139128.jpg
http://up.picr.de/2139129.jpg
http://up.picr.de/2139130.jpg
http://up.picr.de/2139131.jpg
http://up.picr.de/2139132.jpg
http://up.picr.de/2139133.jpg

Hope the links work. The blade is about 4-5/8, overall length about 6-7 inches.

[LesPoils]

sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet

[Dullblade]

This morning I received the long expected letter from the customs. As soon I could, I drove to the custom administration, which is some 15 miles away from home. After paying an additional 20% custom and import tax, I finally got them! I had to unwrap right in the customs office, what I saw, was amazing at first sight!
Coming home I unwrapped again and tried the sharpness on my arm. One seems to be shave ready, the other I doubt a little bit, but tomorow morning, I will see.
The first shave with the first ever Kanetake Size 2, hope it´ll be tomorrow soon. I assume after it, I have to spned some time with a little sharpening session, but this doesn´t bother me now.

The razors look and feel great, compared with my other japanese razor, they appear to be big and huge by dimension and weight. The weight ratio shifted a little bit to the blade, but this is natural having an 8/8 blade. If I got the time and opportunity, I will make some pictures to compare them for you with some other of my little collection.

Many thanks again to OLD_School. The feeling to have a first ever, by now more or less unique, razor, actually two, is a feeling I can´t describe! And of course, many thanks to Mr. Takahashi, who made them.

[Dullblade]

This evening, I made the "Hair-test", with the one, which I felt not to be shave ready. No chance to cut the hair. So I decided to sharpen it, using only my two Nakayamas (One feels soft, the other hard) I sharpened with a 5-10 to 1-2 ratio. After it and after some stropping, the hairs fell... . Tomorrow, I will have one sharpened by myself and one in original condition. Lets see, how the shave will be.
Please find attached three pics. The other razors are: Harima Fuji, 8/8 Friodur (Straight Head, rounded back) 8/8 Friodur (spanish Head) and a Wacker Forum Knife 2008 based on a Sheffield Blade, last a 6/8 Dorko. These knifes give a good comparison regarding the size. These No. 2 are real razors, not a toy like the Harima fuji.








I will report on shaving tomorrow!

[Dullblade]

By now its done, the first shave with the Kanetake No.2. Whereas the Left had undergone a little honing and some stropping, the Right was used Out of Box (which by the way I didn´t expect). The only modification regards the grip on both knifes, I attached some cord (see pictures above), which I had done before with the little Harima Fuji.

I started Left Knive, Left Hand, left cheek, left upper lip und right throat and then changed knive and hand to treat right cheek, left throat and right upper lip. The I applied a second layer of foam an did everything again, but across the grain.

Both razors shave, the left had a little advantage across the grain, but it may have been imagination, the are very close together. The handling of this size is really excellent, no fumbling at all, you always know, where the blade and the dangerous point is. Maintaining ankles is much easier compared to my little japanese. It the same difference like a 5/8 compared to an regular 8/8. I prefer the larger blades, for me they are much easier to work with.
The shaving impression of both knifes is close and comfortable and smooth, but not supersmooth. (on a 1 to 10 scale, which 1 best, I would give them a 7) There is some potential, but I´m confident that within the next weeks, they turn out be also supersmooth razors. I know this problem with very hard steals. They need to be stropped sometimes and carefully to get their full potential, maybe the need some light honing too. and the right wasn´t stropped at all by me by now. The left passed the real hair-test before the shave flawless, after with some restrictions, the right I didn´t test before, but the performance after was the same.

Conclusion: Best razor buy in my shaving career, due to uniqueness of the razors, the knifes are worth the Euros spent, handling is perfect, some potential regarding smoothness, which surely will be improved to a nine or 10. The potential is there, to put my personal reference knife, my 8/8 Friodur, Straight Head, Round Back (the one in the pics with the acrylic scales, the spanish head Friodurs, by the way, has Pink Ivory Scales) to second place.

[Dullblade]

Today second shave, after the good results of yesterday, I did some stropping to improve smoothness. Each knife was stropped 10 times (each direction on CrO², I strop the omote and ura different, see stropping post), then 10 times using FeO², then 2 different leather strops.
Results with the Left improved greatly, much smoother than yesterday, at least an 8, if not a nine, the right one improved to, but still a little difference, it remains at 7, tending to an 8. Lets see the upcoming shaves, I´m convinced within some weeks, they will be my new reference.

Overall handling is perfect for me, using left and right, makes shaving a lot easier, than trying all spots and sides with the omote side and having just a left or a right. The big blades gives confidence, by now, not a single nick or cut, I´m as fast as with my conventional, german style razors. This is definitely the kamisori for big blade afficionados!

[Dullblade]

Both knifes improve day by day. These knifes are definitely the best I´ve ever had. Today I even forgot to strop the right one and I didn´t feel a difference to yesterday, a proof that they hold the sharpness during a shave with ease. The handling is totally uncomplicated, no nicks nor cuts by now. Big seems to be best. I can´t wait until tomorrow morning...