Looking at Japanese Straights

[gandrw]

So if I'm interested in a Japanese straight razor are there any I should stay away from? Like there are with western straight razors such as how you want to stay away from certain brands and what not. Also I hope this is the right place to ask this question.

[JimR]

As good a place as any!

I'm certainly no expert, but basically, I think looks will tell you. I've only seen a couple of Kamisori that I'd recommend staying away form, and they LOOKED bad.

Rough finish, poor balance and uneven or frowning edges, those are all bad things.

As for brands/names, as there are just so many of them, and there is no real registry or record, it's hard to say. Even the ones made by the big names were often rebranded for distributors or the like, just as with a lot of Solingen blades sold in the US.

I haven't yet seen nor heard of one made with bad steel, for whatever that's worth. Just bad finishing and grinding. So if it looks ok, then it most likely is ok.

[gandrw]

Manly curious because I missed out on one last night on ebay that went for $31 I bid $33 but didn't realize you had to be logged in to bid. ( I have never bought anything on ebay My Wife has and was sleeping) The Razor looked nice to me and the seller said that it was an older razor that had never been used.
I don't know much about them but I have looked at prices on them and haven't seen any under $100.

[JimR]

Ouch! That was a steal, man...you're right, sub-$100 is a real rarity.

[gandrw]

There are several right now with buy it now of 49.99 but my wife isn't letting me spend the extra and I'm not sure about the razors either.

[thebigspendur]

Just make sure they are not in too bad a shape. If you have to do major restorative work on one it can be quite a job. The pass around I have going around now was basically a lump of rust when I got it and it took me the better part of a year working on and off to get it to were it is now.
I had gotten a second one with it, much smaller and very worn and the symmetry was really gone on it. I was able to get a bevel on it but still can't get it sharp for use. I actually glued wood shams to the thing to raise the angle when honing to overcome the wear.

[onimaru55]

Caveat emptor.
Some pretty sad examples on eBay atm.

[gandrw]

No kidding there are allot that I definitely wouldn't waist my money on. The comment about the $49 was that they where there not necessarily that I was considering them. I did see some that where allot more that looked nice. I'll just have to save up a bit to get a good one. I hesitate to buy anything on Ebay but for some reason I'm always window shopping there. I'd much rather find someone here that is selling one.

[komjong]

I don't see the big deal about Japanese straights. They all look so primitive and unrefined to me. What am I missing? Hence the only things I like Japanese are the women, the sake, the sushi ,and the vintage takana's. Oh yes and in that order.

[Stubear]

The deal is that they shave really really REALLY well..!

They take an unbelievably sharp but smooth edge, and theres also the variety in the style of use between Western straights and Japanese ones.

I love mine, and I'll never sell it. Its a sweet shaver!