Kamisori vs southpaw. Is there any chance?

So... recently I've had to venture down the road of study and history of Eastern style bladesmithing. Turns out my Grandpa brought back a pretty badass Katana from Japan in WWII, and frankly, it was forgotten about until recently when some of the family was going through an old closet. Somehow me shaving with old straights made me a sword expert too in the eyes of my family, so it has fallen on me to research it. I don't mind as I really do find it fascinating.

However, all this newfound respect for Japanese cutlery has put me in the mood to take a kamisori to my face. Been shaving confidently with western straights for quite a while now, but I understand Kami's can be a different animal. My primary concern (and the reason I haven't taken much interest until now) is their single/uneven/chisel style grind may be an issue for a left hander. Typically when shaving with a western straight I will use my right hand for certain areas of the right side of the face and neck, so I'm not completely incompetent in that regard, but I can't imagine doing the whole face with the right.. and nearly everything I've looked at online seems to be ground for right handers. I also read somewhere that left handed Kamisoris are very rare and pretty much have to be custom ordered. I find this hard to believe, but lack of success in finding a lefty kami is making me wonder.

Could anybody point me in the direction of some proper lefty kamis? Do they exist? New or used (but not abused) is a viable option. And if I have to go new, I am willing to throw some decent $$ at it so long as the quality is there.

Kamisori come in right and left handed I have seen
There was a lefty on a post recently that may have been bought by mistake for a right hander
Sure other can help with possible sources
I think japan tools might have been one IIRC

Use them both hands both sides and they will work just fine. I do not know how the notion they are single sided users came to be. The only thing that you have to know is that each side requires a little bit different angle.

Here a very informative video of a Japanese Barber shaving a customer with a Kamisori:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brC2...BEcnxKyDdEp3SA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVodtovNVds&index=10&list=UUG5LqHSk6BEcnxK yDdEp3SA

As above - and the same applies to microtome section razors in the Western shaving camp.

I'm with Mainaman on this - either side works just as well in my experience. However, if you do want a specific lefty - this site sometimes has them.

JAPANESE RAZOR

I'm left handed and have a few right handed kamisoris that I use with both hands. As mentioned by Mainamain you have to alter the angle for each side. Have seen left handed kamisoris but I've never felt the need to buy one. Will say that my right side of face feels smoother though.

There is much we don't know or understand about Kamisori and I've often wondered if modern barbers in Japan are taught to use them or if they just pick it up like some western barbers do with western straights.

The kamisori is an all purpose tools used by men and women for all kinds of hair removal and skin grooming. I've also wondered if the asymmetrical design is to accommodate the different purposes. I guess we'll never know for sure.

I'm left handed and use a kamisori and have used both sides and single sides but I switch hands while using it. If you use one side it's really like learning to shave all over again.

Thanks for the replies everybody!

Yeah, I noticed in other threads and other forums I read about kamisoris that theres the "two side" camp, and the "one side only" camp. Often tends to become a bit heated too. Sorta like the ol' hone with or without tape argume...er, discussions.

In an effort to keep tempers cool, I will say that I completely respect your decisions to use both sides of your kamis. By all means, shave however you like. It is your razor/tool, use it as you see fit.

With that said though, if/when I obtain one, I plan on using only one side. Certainly Japanese bladesmiths were deliberate in all they did, and giving the kamisori an uneven grind leads me to firmly believe it was intended to be used entirely with the same side. That is my personal opinion and not one to be held to anyone else, but it's the belief I will be operating on when I take one to my face.

Yes, it will likely be like learning to shave all over again, but I'm up for it. ...I suspect I may need to bank a few pints of blood first though...

In any case, UKRob and Substance, thanks for the leads! They do indeed have lefty kamisoris at that Japanese Razor link! Additionally, a couple have turned up on ebay searches too.
It has taken a bit to really appreciate the gist of these unusual blades- even in appearance; but I'm starting to see the different subtleties and character of particular makers. Once I find one that really speaks to me I'm gonna jump all over it, and report back after my first bloodletting!

Thanks again!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by velocityboy

Thanks for the replies everybody!

Yeah, I noticed in other threads and other forums I read about kamisoris that theres the "two side" camp, and the "one side only" camp. Often tends to become a bit heated too. Sorta like the ol' hone with or without tape argume...er, discussions.

In an effort to keep tempers cool, I will say that I completely respect your decisions to use both sides of your kamis. By all means, shave however you like. It is your razor/tool, use it as you see fit.

With that said though, if/when I obtain one, I plan on using only one side. Certainly Japanese bladesmiths were deliberate in all they did, and giving the kamisori an uneven grind leads me to firmly believe it was intended to be used entirely with the same side. That is my personal opinion and not one to be held to anyone else, but it's the belief I will be operating on when I take one to my face.

Yes, it will likely be like learning to shave all over again, but I'm up for it. ...I suspect I may need to bank a few pints of blood first though...

In any case, UKRob and Substance, thanks for the leads! They do indeed have lefty kamisoris at that Japanese Razor link! Additionally, a couple have turned up on ebay searches too.
It has taken a bit to really appreciate the gist of these unusual blades- even in appearance; but I'm starting to see the different subtleties and character of particular makers. Once I find one that really speaks to me I'm gonna jump all over it, and report back after my first bloodletting!

Thanks again!

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It gets worse than that. The one sided argument even goes to not just using one side but which side do you use?

Do a search and you'll see plenty on this going back several years.

Wow, I never even thought about it. I just used the Kamisori to shave my face and never thought about it.

However, I am one of those lucky enough to be gifted as Right handed. My sympathy goes out to all those born left-handicapped. :p

The best razors on that page are by Iwasaki. Look at the size of the bevels in comparison to the others.

Pictures of the katana also to follow I hope . :)

I just have a few shaves under my belt from a Kamisori. Got some advise from Oz down there! Righthanded blade, righthanded shave, and flipping as with a western grind. Plenty-sharp, the first one left some irritation. I learned fast to change to a shallower angle on the Ura side. Not a big deal! All it takes is to do it.
Becomes second nature, IMO. 3rd shave was awesome! Fun thing, once in a while! ;)

Just a couple scientific wild ass guesses. As to the why of the kamisori construction.

The asymmetry was due the the difficulty getting a steel that would harder and be tempered from a rough iron bloom made from black sand as ore. The cutting surface was almost always very thin and backed by what we might call wrought iron or mild steel. Seems most all traditional sharp tools in Japan were made that way and many still are with modern materials. Interesting to me is that a supplier of good steel in Japan still uses black sand as the ore to make their steel ( Yasuki Steel)

Those folks were mostly shaved by barbers as the shape and tying of the hair and the bald areas around it were definite class symbols in the Hierarchy. A barber can walk around his subject and the handedness was for his? benefit.
Living there I do not remember a barber switching hand whatever he used as a blade.
Your guesses are as good as mine!
~Richard
PS, It is no problem to shave with the traditional kamisori and setting blade to skin angle is natural without thinking after a couple uses. The sizes are similar to the half blade and full blade shavettes. and they do shave well.
Do not try to hone one your self!!

Velocityboy. If and when you get a kamisori I hope you get as much enjoyment using one as I do. Some people get one and can't get on with them but I love using mine, just as much as or more so than a normal straight. Use it however you want to but if you're going to just use your left hand I hope you're flexible!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by onimaru55

The best razors on that page are by Iwasaki. Look at the size of the bevels in comparison to the others.

Pictures of the katana also to follow I hope . :)

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Indeed I do like the look of Iwasaki's work. Probably my favorite. Alas extensive searching has turned up nothing in the lefty dept for Iwasaki. I'm starting to lean toward this one:
Japanese Straight Razor Kamisori New in Wooden Box for Left Handed | eBay

Decent middle-of-the-road price for a new one, and the maker, Mizuike Kobo seems to get pretty good reviews here at SRP:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...-producer.html

The Katana/Taki/undecided referenced in my initial post...I'll be happy to post some pics, right now! It's still being researched...I even have a guy on another forum reaching out to people in Tokyo about it; and I've contacted a forum of Sword experts/enthusiasts with an information request, but I have yet to hear back from them. Certainly if you (or anyone else) has any input feel free to share! First hurtle is getting the signature identified.

Attachment 175491
Attachment 175492
Attachment 175493

Sword's been shortened at some point. It was commonly done with Tachi..
Looks in quite ok polish.
Gratz.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Geezer

J
Do not try to hone one your self!!

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What happens? Does it explode? I understand there is some trickery to honing one... an X:Y ratio per side, but are they that impossible? Honestly, I wouldn't try honing one until I did some real research on here, but I've grown pretty successful using my stones (1k, 4k, 8k, 12k, CrOx) on all my other razor exploits. Certainly I'd be interested to hear your input, as some have noted that these blades often come less than shave-ready.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by onimaru55

Sword's been shortened at some point. It was commonly done with Tachi..
Looks in quite ok polish.
Gratz.

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You're not the first person to say its been shortened. Someone else on another forum did too, though he couldn't claim much confidence in his statement. Is it the length of the tang? The "incomplete" look of the signature? I'd appreciate your insight on it!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by velocityboy

You're not the first person to say its been shortened. Someone else on another forum did too, though he couldn't claim much confidence in his statement. Is it the length of the tang? The "incomplete" look of the signature? I'd appreciate your insight on it!

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The mekugi-ana (pinhole) is normally quite close to the tsuba & the mei (signature) seems to finish abrupty near the end of the tang. The squared butt also hints at shortening. Normally the tail end is slimmer & to reproduce that it may be necessarry to trim the edges near the mei so they simply squared it off.
Like I said it was quite common especially when the sabre style Tachi was replaced by the katana. People converted their older swords.

[Do not try to hone one your self!!
What happens? Does it explode? I understand there is some trickery to honing one... an X:Y ratio per side, but are they that impossible? Honestly, I wouldn't try honing one until I did some real research on here, but I've grown pretty successful using my stones (1k, 4k, 8k, 12k, CrOx) on all my other razor exploits. Certainly I'd be interested to hear your input, as some have noted that these blades often come less than shave-ready.]

No it's won't explode however if you are ham handed with one you can seriously screw one up past repair very rapidly. Much more so than with a western razor. We have much resource material on this topic on the site.

It's all in stroke ratios and especially knowing how much pressure to use as you hone.

I'm a left hander and I can shave fine with a standard kamisori. I have read that they made them for left handed people but I've never seen one identified as such.

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Originally Posted by johnmrson

I'm a left hander and I can shave fine with a standard kamisori. I have read that they made them for left handed people but I've never seen one identified as such.

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They are sometimes listed by handedness on sales sites. I would assume that the ratios would be about the same as for handedness of people.
~Richard