Thread: Want to try a kamisori

I am fascinated by the look and mystique of a kamisori straight. Would like to give one a try but not sure what to look for. The prices on ebay are all over the place and I don't really know what to look for. What size and make should I seek? What to look out for? etc.

Any suggestions?

a good quality kamisori, which is properly honed would give you an excellent shave. I have a smaller (2 inch blade) version of Iwasaki Kamisori and after some learning (it is rather different from western stile straight razors and would require a different technique) i enjoy it as much as I enjoy my Revisor, Boker, or ERN. Hope it helps.

AG

Jim Rion's site is an excellent resource for all things Japanese razors. One should bear in mind that these razors were not meant to be used by, well, users, but by barbers. Therefore I personally feel that they combine all the disadvantages of a microtome with those of a 4/8 razor. They are unnecessarily difficult to hone, and to use. Yes, foreign looks and a funky name certainly add to their mystique, as do the finicky and absurdly priced natural hones which inevitably go along with them.

So, yeah, been there, done that. One of my staff inherited them, and I think they've never really seen any use since then. Thankfully, they were in the only-mildly-insane price range.

Huge amount of information here, don't let the title throw you:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/japan...-ivy-skin.html
After all that, if you shave with a straight already, the slight difference in blade angle will be unnoticeable. If not, may I suggest getting a replaceable blade Kamisori style razor. The half DE blade ones are similar and a stiff / thick blade is needed to get the best from them. Spend the money to get a good one. One opinion:
Shavette - Straight Razor Place Library

A Feather look alike for about a third to half the cost is, in my opinion after a couple years of occasional use, a better buy. Do a search with the words:
"ebay, kamisori replaceable blade"

It is always worth the time to do a good pre-buy study before spending the money. Many of the available Kamisori on the 'Bay are used and will take a lot of honing skill to get to a usable condition.
Just my take as a guy that like to shave with most anything available.
Have fun!
~Richard

Originally Posted by RobinK

Jim Rion's site is an excellent resource for all things Japanese razors. One should bear in mind that these razors were not meant to be used by, well, users, but by barbers. Therefore I personally feel that they combine all the disadvantages of a microtome with those of a 4/8 razor. They are unnecessarily difficult to hone, and to use. Yes, foreign looks and a funky name certainly add to their mystique, as do the finicky and absurdly priced natural hones which inevitably go along with them.

So, yeah, been there, done that. One of my staff inherited them, and I think they've never really seen any use since then. Thankfully, they were in the only-mildly-insane price range.

Well - that answers that question for me - thanks!

Every straight shaver should try a kamisori. It's a great experience. Sure it's not for everyone and there's another learning curve over and above normal straight shaving but that's the fun of it.

Originally Posted by Straightandproud

I am fascinated by the look and mystique of a kamisori straight. Would like to give one a try but not sure what to look for. The prices on ebay are all over the place and I don't really know what to look for. What size and make should I seek? What to look out for? etc.

Any suggestions?

In general I would avoid most eBay kamisori unless you know what to look for geometry wise. There are some new made razors in yellow or white steel & the white would be the higher quality steel tho yellow is ok if well heat treated. They were going round the $150 mark last I looked & are ok as an entry level if just testing the water. A restorable vintage is much cheaper but again most eBaby's are past their use by date.

The size is only relevant to the speed of shaving as a 45 mm blade will load up with lather slightly quicker than a 50mm but both honed well will give a good shave.
The 60mm size is more suited for head shaving but again no reason you can't shave your face with one if you want.

What to look out for ? That would be a thread on its own but if you have to ask it might be best to wait awhile. Generally both sides should have a healthy hollow or enough steel on the soft side to restore it. Any large bevels or curved ridges should mostly be avoided also. They may shave ok but are high wear indicators.

I love shaving with & honing my kamisori & I fail to see any similarity to a microtome or a 4/8 razor, both which I dislike, tho the 2/8 mimizori for ear shaving are a pain to hone.

This is what we are speaking of:

I recommend the shapes of the two at the far left, for ease of shaving.
All of them are used. They all took serious work to bring to shave ready. A couple required wet wheel regrinding on the flat side to reduce the hone wear at the cutting edge. If not for the hardness of the steel, they would be trash with the very acute bevel angles left from years of honing. Over time some will get new grips. They all now shave well but low cost means time spent and possible failure.

Learn all you can before purchase because they can be a nice change of pace.

~Richard