Thread: What to look for in a kamisori.

So I am looking into buying a kamisori but I really don't know what to look for as far as red flags of what not to buy. I don't have the option to buy brand new as I can't afford one and can't seem to find brand new in stock anywhere. Help me out maybe show some pictures of what is not to be bought and what is acceptable. Thanks.

You need to look for as little hone wear as possible.

Originally Posted by mainaman

You need to look for as little hone wear as possible.

Ok so this one here looks to me to have little to no hone wear at all. Am I correct in assuming so?
Fine Used Kamisori "特別打" Special Forging　japanese Straight Razor Handmade K274 | eBay

But something like this I can't really tell.
Kamisori Marked "å±±æ*£" Japanese Straight Razor Handmade K238 | eBay

And something like this seems like a lot of hone wear?
Fine Used Japanese Traditional Straight Razor Kamisori EBI Shrimp 10046 | eBay

Am I right in these asumptions?

I am just posting these links for examples not to bash or advertise. I do not know the sellers.

The first two, I think, have a lot of hone wear and the pics are taken so that it does not show much.
The third one does not show the Omote side all the way, may be ask the seller for more pics?

Ah, well thank you. I went to a website that sells new kamisoris and looked and studied the difference between the above razors and the pictures of the new kami's. I think I get it now where to look for the wear.

I have highlighted the problem area.
Inside the ellipse is what has remained from the hollow grind of the Omote side. That hollow grind should be present along the whole blade and it should bu much wider.
To me this kamisori is extremely used with tons of hone wear.

Originally Posted by mainaman

I have highlighted the problem area.
Inside the ellipse is what has remained from the hollow grind of the Omote side. That hollow grind should be present along the whole blade and it should bu much wider.
To me this kamisori is extremely used with tons of hone wear.

Yes that is what I figured too when I was comparing new to old is that new ones didn't have the oval. Thanks really for your help. Is there anything else you can tell me to watch out for? types of steel to avoid or to try to get? I see a lot of "Azuma" marked kamisoris. Is this a brand or steel or??? Is it good. They seem affordable.

Originally Posted by cosperryan

Yes that is what I figured too when I was comparing new to old is that new ones didn't have the oval. Thanks really for your help. Is there anything else you can tell me to watch out for? types of steel to avoid or to try to get? I see a lot of "Azuma" marked kamisoris. Is this a brand or steel or??? Is it good. They seem affordable.

They are typically made with White #2, Some with Blue #2, and some vintage ones are made with Tamahagane. Iwasaki used modified Swedish carbon steel.
All those are good steels. I have honed a stainless Azuma, and liked the edge. I think with respect to steel there is nothing to worry about.

Alright well thank you very much. I have seen a lot of these Azuma razors and they seem to be affordable so that seems to be most likely what I will get.

Another thing to look for is that the "ridge" line is straight on the "omote" or non stamped side, unlike the ones you linked to.

Here is a restored, "worn" kamisori.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/custo...tml#post520201

Sometimes it is possible to recreate the hollow to a degree but unless you know what you are doing buying a cheap kamisori will rapidly become an expensive exercise.

Quick look on eBay for Azuma showed me some pretty bad shape razors on the first 3 links I looked at.