Kamisori or whatever

So, am I loosing my mind or are these handle-less razors continually selling for $ 300 and more!!!??? They are little more than a str8 with the handle removed. Are people insane or am I missing something magical? Are people willing to pay this price just because they think some Samuri master has taken the time out of his very busy ninja schedule to make their personal shaving device? Nothing like a Japanese shave right? A country known for facial hair. (whaat?) Making a premium blade that just gives you a BBS by merely occupying the same room as your lowly Hart or Gillette Fat Boy.

Correct me please! I am seeing used blades on the classifieds for more that I can justify for some pretty awesome straight edges where people have taken the time to put a frigging handle on them to protect the edge.

I'm certainly no Kamisori expert and stand to be corrected, but there is of course more to it than that...

Some of the differences *may* include the type of steel, the grind (an assymetrical grind that looks, shaves, and hones differently to the western grinds we're more familiar with), and the manufacturing process. I.e. was it hand-made or factory made from a blank stamped from steel? If it is hand made then comparing it to a lower end Dovo or TI is much like comparing a blade made by Mastro Livi, Max Sprecher, Charlie Lewis, etc to those same factory razors. Apples and oranges.

I only own one Kamisori-style blade (which was incidentally made in the Ukraine) so I'm definitely not a fanboy. But I can at least say that there are certainly differences that go beyond the absence of a handle. They handle, hone, and shave differently.

Yes if I may take a guess, most of what you are probably seeing is custom or semi custom makers who don't churn out that many. I want to say you can find some of the less glorified makers for relatively "cheap"?
I believe you can get NOS Henkotsu's for around low $100's (not doing a valuation, just what they're going for).

Vintage Japanese Henkotsu Kamisori Straight Razor | eBay

Kamisori's are cool!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by okiwen

Correct me please! I am seeing used blades on the classifieds for more that I can justify for some pretty awesome straight edges where people have taken the time to put a frigging handle on them to protect the edge.

---

Allow me to correct you . :)
If the price you're quoting is indicative of current ads they appear to be new customs from the same seller as opposed to used razors.
There's also a very used one atm for $80 so nothing really unusual in the prices.

Honestly, some of the prices commanded by straight razors in general baffle me; Kamisoris just fall into that same "How much?!?!" category of shaving paraphernalia.

With this said, i do love the shaves I get from an asymmetrical microtome razor that I have - I'd imagine that a kamisori would provide a not entirely dissimilar experience.

Japanese kamisori are made from 2 different steels forge welded together , then hand finished. They are not stamped out in a drop forge like Dovos. You pay for man hours & sometimes for the name of the smith.

On the other hand I see the price of W&B's & some other vintage razors as crazy but I would not balk at paying big bucks for a tamahagane Iwasaki. YMMV is alive & well in the razor world so pick your poison & enjoy what suits you best.

If you're looking for a mathematical equation to factor how much metal is in the razor and what the handle is worth forget it. Prices are driven by the market and there is no rhyme or reason to it. Several years ago these big W&B meatchoppers couldn't be given away at any price. Basically no one in Japan uses a straight. Either collectors buy them or they go to the U.S and western countries. There is no one churning out kamisori's like Dovo or TI turns out western razors. They are all a cottage industry.

All of this is very interesting...I certainly understand a collectors piece. Perhaps the fact that I try to use them for shaving is part of the problem. I think interesting things are awesome to own and use, but there has to be a reason for me other than they are hand made and unique.

Too bad that huge W&B are costly now. I'd LOVE to have one. I really don't like to use the thinner blades much. Something in between is great but not super special. I enjoy the opinions of all.

I've been very interested in kamisoris, mostly because Japan has a tradition of blacksmithing that has produced some of the best blades and best steels anywhere. I have a traditional, forged deba in my kitchen, and its ability to keep an edge is very impressive. It can also gently slice a whole chicken in half, bones and all. There's a lot of labor in a layered, forged blade. It's not really comparable with a normal western blade. The thing that really keeps me from spending the money on a vintage kamisori is that I shave with both hands - left hand for the left side of my face. I'd have to re-learn shaving to use an asymmetrical blade.

I want one but can't afford on on ebay right now. I am holding out for the prices to drop. This is the only one I dont have in my collection.
I would like to see what others think of this style razor???

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by razorrandy

I want one but can't afford on on ebay right now. I am holding out for the prices to drop. This is the only one I dont have in my collection.
I would like to see what others think of this style razor???

---

Japan.nippon is having a 30% reduction on his tamahagane razors. I picked one up yesterday, but it was one of the few which didn't have massive hone wear.
There are also some sellers with cheaper kamisoris for about $50, but they aren't shave-ready and are very worn.

There is a big contingent here who love them and swear by them. I can tell you from personal experience, you can get the best shave of your life with one. The sticker is you will need to relearn to shave. Many do use both sides and there is nothing wrong with that and I suspect the sides are used by the Japanese for specialized cutting.

However having said that most who have them use them rarely.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

There is a big contingent here who love them and swear by them. I can tell you from personal experience, you can get the best shave of your life with one. The sticker is you will need to relearn to shave. Many do use both sides and there is nothing wrong with that and I suspect the sides are used by the Japanese for specialized cutting.

However having said that most who have them use them rarely.

---

I think I heard someone once say that kamisoris were mainly designed to be used by one person on another, which is why only one side was supposed to be used. But there have also been some who've seen barbers using both sides.

That means no Japanese person shaves himself. They all go to a barber. Does that make sense?

Because these razors seem so alien to westerners they make up all kinds of ridiculous reasons why the kamisori is this or that.

Can you really only use one side? I have an asymmetric microtome razor and use both sides when shaving - is only one side of a kamisori sharp? I no doubt show my Western-centric ignorance here.

It's a single bevel. But perhaps my assumption is incorrect that one would not want to turn the blade over? Can anyone who used one correct me on this?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Christel

Can you really only use one side? I have an asymmetric microtome razor and use both sides when shaving - is only one side of a kamisori sharp? I no doubt show my Western-centric ignorance here.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by thunderbird47

It's a single bevel. But perhaps my assumption is incorrect that one would not want to turn the blade over? Can anyone who used one correct me on this?

---

Single bevel, but both sides are sharp. It can be used on either side, as TBS said, but I thought they were designed to be used only on one side. But you can do whatever you want with it. Either try only using side, or use it like a western straight.

Since the cutting edge is a single bevel (like a chisel), To use both sides would require you to develop a feel and eye for what would look to be a very different blade angles for the two sides. Of course both sides are "sharp" as the edge has no side and it is what is sharp.

You can use both sides and they are equally sharp. Yes, also they are designed for one sided shaving or so we think-har har. We have seen clips from Japan where barbers use both sides so you make your own opinion.

What is certain is in this country we don't know very much about their history and use we kind of make it up as we go along.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Splashone

Since the cutting edge is a single bevel (like a chisel), To use both sides would require you to develop a feel and eye for what would look to be a very different blade angles for the two sides. Of course both sides are "sharp" as the edge has no side and it is what is sharp.

---

Pretty much sums it up.
You can basically use the razor how you want but must adjust the angle for either side of blade face.
Odd thing is I'm ambidextrous with a western but the kamisori feels wrong in my left hand.