Thread: Help Identifying a Handmade Japanese Razor

"In any case, the tip of the razor looks suspiciously modified, or is it just me?
Is it (heaven forbid!) the same razor? A pic of the tang-stamp on the razor in-hand, please?"

It's the same razor all right.

Originally Posted by Dovo1695

The curious thing about this is that it sounds like Iwasaki stopped making the Western style knives in the 1980's. Mr. Stanley told my brother that these were newly made. I guess it's possible that Iwasaki made these knives as a special request of a good friend and fellow master craftsman. It's also possible that the knives were made previously but not sold.



In my brief searches today for Western Style tamahagane Iwasaki knives, mine is by far the oldest batch number that I've ever seen at 1901. The next oldest I've seen was around 1800. That said, it's been 15 years or so, so my brother's recollection may not be perfect either. I'm not sure what to make of it all.

My best guess is that Mr. Stanley was able to persuade someone who knew Shigeyoshi Iwasaki or Mr. Mizuochi, who has run Sanjo Seisakujo since S. Iwasaki retired, to cough up one of the NOS blades that Sanjo Seisakujo is rumored to have. I recall reading somewhere, probably something from Jim Rion, that he saw NOS tamahagane blades when he was given a tour of the manufacturing facility and was told flat out that they were not for sale at any price and were reserved for a special circle of friends. This would also explain why yours does not have the typical black scales that we're used to seeing on tI's.

As age goes, I'm the current owner of Stefan's black scaled Iwasaki (serial #1676). At one time I had information (if I recall correctly obtained from from Takeshi at A-Frames Tokyo) on Iwasaki numbering that put mine as manufactured in 1976.

But I'm guessing the time between the manufacture of your blade and the finishing of the razor was probably at least 15 years.

Originally Posted by entropy1049

I'm pretty sure it's the same razor, what do you see that leads you to think otherwise? My eyes aren't what they used to be and I may be missing something.

Sorry. Looking at the photos from OP to #8, the Iwasaki logo is skewed differently?


Not to mention huge tip differences. JMHO

I could be wrong....Am all the time!

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Sorry. Looking at the photos from OP to #8, the Iwasaki logo is skewed differently?


Not to mention huge tip differences. JMHO

I could be wrong....Am all the time!

I see what you mean with the Iwasaki logo, though I think it's just kind of an illusion created by the different shadowing on the bevel just below the logo.

The tip looks identical to me, so I have no idea what the hell you're thinking...()

Could be. I call the features on the ends of the 'E' after the logo to see 'hatchet' ,'mace', and 'club', top to bottom.

I see lots of differences.
Finally #'s 1 & 2.



Stevie Wonder could see?
I am never here to cause dispute. This seems obvious, however!

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Could be. I call the features on the ends of the 'E' after the logo to see 'hatchet' ,'mace', and 'club', top to bottom.

I see lots of differences.
Finally #'s 1 & 2.



Stevie Wonder could see?
I am never here to cause dispute. This seems obvious, however!

Still don't see it

I certainly don't dispute your position, but am only trying to see what it is that you see. If I learn something from the discussion, the better off I am for it.

Sorry Mike! Take a look at the overall razors, My Friend. One has this. One has that. Look!

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Sorry if I am wrong. The razor in the OP alongside the razor in post #8 show two different razors.
Am I missing something?

They are the same, there are a few spots close to the "Marusan" stamp (circle with three lines in it) that are visible in all shots.

All is happy which are! Iwasaki's always shave well!

Sharptonn: I guess I can see why you'd think I'm making this up since I just signed up and don't have many posts under my belt. I see what you mean about the circle and 3 line kanji looking skewed. All I can tell you is that it's the same knife. I think it's just the different angles that the photos were taken at. I tried to recreate it with a few pics just now:





Changing the angle that the photo is taken and orienting the blade from 10 o'clock to 8 o'clock makes it look like the kanji are orient differently. At any rate, all I can tell you is that it's the same knife.

What I'm trying to figure out is when this knife was made. I'm curious to get in touch with Jim Rion at easternsmooth.com from the link that entropy sent. He seems to know an awful lot about Iwasaki razors.