Tsugeru's Kanetaka

[SiRed8]

This is Tsugeru's Kanetaka size 1 and 2. I'll provide review later.

Specs:
Size 1
Blade size: 18mm ( 11/16 )
Blade length: 45mm
Spine width: 5mm
Total length: 155mm
Point: Oblique.
Handle: Tosuke blue grip
Storage: Comes with green box and oxidation paper

Size 2
Blade size: 21mm ( 14/16 )
Blade length: 50mm ( 49mm )
Spine width: 5mm
Total length: 167mm
Point: Oblique.
Handle: Tosuke blue grip
Storage: Comes with green box and oxidation paper















More here:
Size 1
Size 2

If you guys can confirm this I greatly appreciate it

Top kanji: Munekou Tsuki.

Centre kanji: Touroku shouhyou ( Trademark )

Rest of kanji: Kanetaka Zou ( or tsukuri ) ( Kanetaka made )

I never liked the rubber grip. We'll see how it is during shave. Any of you guys try remove yours or know anyone who successfully has? I think it detracts from its overall beauty. Plus, there's chance of water seeping into handle. Thanks

[Jacques13]

Great blades, waiting for your shaving experience!!

[Frampton]

Those are nice. Please let us know how they shave. I would also like to know how to remove those rubber grips, as I have several I would like to do away with.

[LesPoils]

wow !!

Sired8, you are really buying all razor i am lurking on, will look for your review for sure !!

So now u have the Kanetake and the Kanetaka !!!

congrats !

[SiRed8]

Craftsmanship:
Since majority of SR shavers have the legendary Iwasaki I'll compare it to that along with others.

The stamps aren't legible. It's understandable overtime stamps, washes or even etchings fade but this is brand new or at least sold as such.

The cross-section is interesting. While the Size 2 is canted in way Iwasaki is, the Size 1 on the other hand isn't as aggressive. It more closely resembles that of Norikazu's canting. The Livi spiked higher elevation.

The blackened portion's ( carbon remnants as I recall ), is not present along the spine or shoulder of the blade. Instead, it's dispersed along handles.





Instead you are treated to mirror finish on the shoulder ( hakata ). It's more subdued with Size 1 for it looks more like brushed mirror finish if that makes sense.

The notch on the omote ( front side/non-stamped ) is brushed horizontally whereas it runs vertically with Iwasaki and Livi-diagonally with Norikazu's.
It's also accentuated and longer compared to both Iwasaki and Livi.

One thing to note about these razors is on front side of each just above the cutting edge ( kireba ) is faint watermark of some kind. It runs 1mm on Size 1 and 2mm on Size 2. I wouldn't necessarily call this a hamon as I'm no expert in field.

Like the Iwasaki, these are muted at the toe ( hasaki ) with slant whereas it's rounded more with Livi and pointed with Norikazu.

I was a little dismayed by the fissures present on these. Size 1 is slight but it's there around the waist ( katanagoshi ) on ura ( stamped side ) and along shoulder of front side ( omote ).
Size 2 is a doozy. It's evidently across the blade on ura ( back/stamped side ). Further, it's also on the omote but it's slight dot at centre of the watermark.

Having re-checked the Japanese Straights thread. I discovered some razors had fissures as well. But these are minuscule and don't give the impression of creating a gaping hole.

I took the liberty of removing the blue grips. It was easier on Size 1 and quite a feat for Size 2. I'm glad these weren't glued as I didn't want to resort to cutting them. I have no intention of using them but for keepsake.
To further devalue this magnificent work of art, I discover patina on both sides of the handles. They appear more like pitting.

Balance:
Like your typical Japanese razor it's nice and light. Maneuvering around is simple task. Size 1 is lighter than Kanetake. Size 2 given it's size, is heavier than both Iwasaki and Livi ATS34. However, between these two it's difficult to determine which is heavier.

Shave:
Having shaved with Iwasaki, Livi, and Norikazu's Kanetake I wasn't the least bit surprised when it mirrored the performance of Iwasaki and Norikazu. Thanks to hard water disagreeing with the cream, the lather and cushioning was poor. Perhaps I should have employed Alraz's the Atom Bomb for maximum efficiency. That said, my initial test shave was comparable to other test shaves I've done with both Iwasaki and Norikazu.

Considering this is my first Size 2 and one of largest Japanese razor to date, I didn't have any difficulty maneuvering the blade around. Its Western Style counterpart 6/8 Yaichi on the hand, proved to be quite tricky to say the least.

Collectability:
I don't know enough about the blacksmith. It's not mass produced to my knowledge as I haven't seen these anywhere else. This is indeed keeper in spite of its shortcomings. I just can't stand the bloody fissure. If only it didn't negate its graceful design.

Price:
I got it so price is irrelevant.

Overall:
Design is impressive-not nearly as dashing as Iwasaki but it holds its own. The shave was as expected but could be better-neither razors fault nor brush ( hard water conflict with cream ).
The craftsmanship was sub-par actually one of the worst I've seen.
While I haven't seen many of these, the fissure looks to be common problem. If it was minute size like Size 1 I could live with it. Sure the mirror finish on along the spine and shoulder of omote was nicely done in addition to faint watermark that runs along blade ( just above cutting edge ), but still does not compensate for the flaws. It's inexcusable. Generally, I'm not one to be picky but majority of buyers out there are. People expect more for less. I ascribe to just the opposite, you get what you pay for.

[LesPoils]

thanks a lot Sired8

i was just about to buy one of these Kanetaka myself, but couldn't decide to put the money on it, especially because of the fissures. And it is said that some people are looking for these fissures as they would for Hamon.

From what i understand of your review is that it's only blah-blah to cover-up what the fissures are really are : fissures in the steel.

Even though with those defects, i am still interested in buying one (well, you bought the last size 2 i think). It's just the "watermarks" near the edge that really scare me : i can't put that much money on a blade that may litteraly crumble.

i couldn't thank you enough Sired8 for your review, continue your good job, it's really useful.

[SiRed8]

No problem. Please don't misunderstand, I don't hate these razors. I don't want you to get wrong idea I'm blasting these. I have done so but I admit I want to keep them. In hindsight, I chose the wrong words and I humbly apologize.

Going back and having re-read the description:

KANETAKA CUTLERY Co.--- Established as Japanese Razor blacksmith two hundred years ago, and Kanetaka has been making cutlery for traditional Kyoto Professional craftsmen, such as cooking chef, Kado (Japanese traditional flower arrangement), Paper hanger, Kimono Maker, and etc.

It is put together Jigane (softer steel) and Hagane (harder steel, white II steel) with right temperature as precisely. If it is put together higher than right temperature, we do not see the line of marks putting together two steels because of melting the two steels. Kanetaka razor is put together with the temperature as low as it can, so it is not totally melt two steels that is why we can see the welding lines on the front and back of the blade.

Some knife collectors seek those knives, which have welding lines or marks on purpose, because it is more possibility to weld right temperature. It means it might be sharper than one without welding marks or lines. The edge of the blade is high quality white II steel.

Shinogi (the front side of the center line) is also used white II steel on purpose, because Shinogi is very important to sharpen single bevel edge accurately. When the front side is sharpened, Shinogi and blade edge are attach on whetstone, so if Shinogi is Jigane (softer steel), it is easier to sharpen and change the original angle and line. Using Hagane (harder steel) for Shinogi is ideal way to more accurate sharpening. Of course, the front and back side of the blade has deep cone cave to make easier to sharpening. The spine side and the front side of spine side are beautiful mirror finished.

The handle covered Tosuke rubbler grip on it.



The razor is called gNichogakeh as Kanetaka Japanese razor which means logner version blade for Kanetaka.

The blade length: 50mm(2 inch). The total length of the razor: 165mm (6 1/2 inch) The backside of the thickest part of the blade: 4.5mm (3/16h) The total weight of the knife: 1.7oz.

The only difference, between the Size 1 & 2 is the highlighted text. I don't understand it. I've seen a couple Iwasaki's on the Japanese straights thread with these "lines." Just not excessive as the Size 2. Perhaps one of forgers might be able to shed some light on this. I recall Mike Blue taking about White Steel at some point.

[LesPoils]

No problem. Please don't misunderstand, I don't hate these razors. I don't want you to get wrong idea I'm blasting these. I have done so but I admit I want to keep them. In hindsight, I chose the wrong words and I humbly apologize.

Going back and having re-read the description:



The only difference, between the Size 1 & 2 is the highlighted text. I don't understand it. I've seen a couple Iwasaki's on the Japanese straights thread with these "lines." Just not excessive as the Size 2. Perhaps one of forgers might be able to shed some light on this. I recall Mike Blue taking about White Steel at some point.

You are right SiRed8

same for me, even with those "defects", i still desire them. I don't considere you bashing them, u just describe the razor you bought and asking yourself the same questions i would.

It's why i am thanking you, cuz i don't have the opportunity to buy them myself (and one reason for that is i am not sure about those lines/stains near the edge) So following your reviews help me a lot.

I hope some steel pro will come and give out his opinion.

all we want is to understand better this Kanetaka

[SiRed8]

You are right SiRed8

same for me, even with those "defects", i still desire them. I don't considere you bashing them, u just describe the razor you bought and asking yourself the same questions i would.

It's why i am thanking you, cuz i don't have the opportunity to buy them myself (and one reason for that is i am not sure about those lines/stains near the edge) So following your reviews help me a lot.

I hope some steel pro will come and give out his opinion.

all we want is to understand better this Kanetaka

Indeed. I may not be expert in field of razors or knives but one thing's for sure, I've yet to see someone who seek razors or knives with these fissures. I'm not even aware of any chef to have used a knife with that characteristic. Then again, the vendor did say that "knife collectors" in fact seek them. It makes perfect sense if it's vintage item but this is brand new item we're talking about.

The steel would perhaps surpass several future generations. It's just strange characteristic to have on razor that's all.

[SiRed8]

After much careful and further inspection I've come to realization that this was done purposely by Tsugeru.

Fenriswolf's Tosuke here and here as well as Iwasaki-even on the highly sought after Tamahagane here! There's more here. Both Tosuke and Iwasaki have these welded lines-what I initially called fissure. However neither my Iwasaki's have the lines present.

Further, here is teethbrush razors especially the last picture.

Mike Blue informs him:

Teethbrush: Looking at these both sets of pictures carefully...you can see the welding lines where a piece of high carbon steel has been welded to a lesser steel. The square corner of the high carbon piece even shows up on the second razor. They would not likely do that with tamahagane, if they could get some away from a swordsmith. The toolmaker's tradition dictates a high carbon steel welded to wrought iron or mild steel generally. Where it can be deceptive to the buyer is that wrought iron has a grain pattern that can look like pattern welding. You would need to etch these blades to really know for sure. I think enough evidence is present to not have to do that.

And what Dr. Old_School said...

OLD_SCHOOL further adds:

If I may make a slight correction here, Tamahagane razors are made in the same manner, the welding line is quite visible, including ones made by the late Iwasaki Kousuke, father of the (apparent) late Shigeyoshi.
As I understand it (though could be misinformed) they are made this way to cut down costs.

Well there you have it. Ignorance is bliss. As mentioned prior I know nothing.

One can simply ask why not edit the post of the review? Simple, I'm not about making myself look good. I amended after the fact because I made a grave oversight to the blade smith's artistic abilities.