Thread: Japanese Straights

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My beloved Yahatamaru :

Originally Posted by justacat

Here is mine. Recently arrived no time to take other pics... this are "factory" pics.

Any current pics of your Tamahagane?

Picked this up from OLD_SCHOOL:

Norikazu's Kanetake ( left most razor )




More can be seen here

I have two Japanese straights en-route from Japan right now... one is a used Tosuke Inoue that looks pretty good. It appears to need a bit of cleaning up, but the only non-cosmetic issue appears to be a spike tip that has been blunted, on purpose or not I don't know. If I decide I have to have it as a square tip, I suppose I can take down the front a couple mm to square it back up.

All of the pictures in this post are auction pics, I don't have either item in hand yet and likely won't have them for weeks.







The same seller 6733tak has several other non-Tosuke razors with blue handles and without for sale in their store. I have no connection to the seller other than having purchased the above razor.

Giving in to JRAD a second time, I also picked up this one for a little bit more than half of what the Tosuke cost. Can anyone (is Dr. Old_School in the house?) provide an ID and/or opinion on this one?









Also, is there any way to tell if either or both of these razors are Tamahgane, or would that require personal examination by an expert or metallurgical testing?

Any thoughts or comments are welcome.

Thanks.

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...

I didn't know that. Thanks.

But the practicality of saving money in construction is a safe assumption when applied to smithing techniques world wide. I'd validate that based on the methods of Japanese smiths I've met.

Thank you gentlemen for your thoughtful and informative replies! The knowledge and experience here is amazing.

I would have purchased the Tosuke in any case, but the seller put the "T word" on the sale page; not in a sentence declaring the razor to be made of Tamahgane, but throwing it on the page certainly caught my eye. Whether this was on purpose (as in the blunting of the spike tip) or merely a misunderstanding (a misinterpretation of the weld line) I can't say, and on this matter ignorance is bliss.

Time now to read up on honing these while I wait!

Oh... and Mike, I first read your signature line with bleary eyes and thought it was something about testing a man's mettle by giving him a powerful Lincoln! Took me a second reading to realize it wasn't about cash for clunkers...

Domo Arigato Gozaimasu!

Originally Posted by Teethbrush

Thank you gentlemen for your thoughtful and informative replies! The knowledge and experience here is amazing.

I would have purchased the Tosuke in any case, but the seller put the "T word" on the sale page; not in a sentence declaring the razor to be made of Tamahgane, but throwing it on the page certainly caught my eye. Whether this was on purpose (as in the blunting of the spike tip) or merely a misunderstanding (a misinterpretation of the weld line) I can't say, and on this matter ignorance is bliss.

Time now to read up on honing these while I wait!

Oh... and Mike, I first read your signature line with bleary eyes and thought it was something about testing a man's mettle by giving him a powerful Lincoln! Took me a second reading to realize it wasn't about cash for clunkers...

Domo Arigato Gozaimasu!

3 of his razors have on description "used Japanese handmade razor, Tamahagane"

They may not be as advertised but he's the feedback of great seller. It still false advertising though.

I don't know what shipping details in your auction but with the 3 razors I mentioned, it states 3-4 days according to his page.


I got couple of packages from both JimR and OLD_SCHOOL and it was within the 4-5 day range. Pleasure to deal with.

With regards to razor: you shave with the omote ( front/flat side/non-stamped ) as can be seen on OLD_SCHOOL's diagram here:

Japanese razor part names.

Italy Vs. Japan. (Lengthy)

Explanation of how a Japanese razor works.

Tosuke Japanese Straight Razor

So my Iwasaki razor arrived...now what?

Honing a Japanese Straight

Japanese Razor Profiles

Japanese razor part names.

My first Japanese Razor

Japanese Razors

iwasaki

Japanese Razors

A Honing Lesson from my barber - Straight Razor Place Forums

Sharpening Wakamisori - Straight Razor Place Forums

JimR's video on Japanese razor honing

Japanese waterstones info...

Very basic, but valuable information about natural Japanese hones.

Nakayama Maruichi

Tales of the Nippon Honing Miracle Worker

My Japanese Finishing Hones

Japanese stone grit levels: Suita, Narutaki, Nakayama

Very cool, I only found half those links on my own. Good stuff!

The seller has already been in touch, telling me shipping would be delayed a short while due to the hectic New Year season. So, if I get the razor inside a couple weeks I'll be very pleased.

I hope the razors won't be upset at being honed on a Mexican 4k/8k, a Chinese 12k, or a Belgian Coticule... might have to start saving for a Japanese Natural! Right now the only ones I can afford are the softer variety.

I never liked the rubber grip. We'll see how it is. Any of you guys remove yours? Thanks