Thread: Iwasaki Kamisori sharpness.

Hi, I've been considering buying a Iwasaki Kamisori 50mm because of the sharpness that I think it can achieve and the 63-64 steel hardness for a good and long lasting edge. But the question is... In the future I will most certainly get a jnat. Will try to achieve the sharpest edges as I can get because I have thick whiskers. So can the Iwasaki Kamisori achieve a better sharper edge (smoother shave and possibility of finally getting a BBS without some single randomly located hairs that stick out barely...) than a let's say Wostenholm near wedge 6/8? As its smaller I was thinking about getting it as my go to BBS for special occasion.

Thanks
Tom

I'm also interested to hear what others have to say, but I feel I already know the answer. I have a nos swedish steel kamisori on the way. The same seller reserved a nos tamahagane kamisori for me as well. I have a couple kamisori now and I am not as proficient with them as I am a straight, but I'm getting better. Sounds like you may have an issue with your razors edge, because a well honed straight shouldn't be leaving hairs.

I wouldn't mind a tamahagane kamisori if I won the 900 million dollar powerball jackpot For now though... Swedish steel at 1/3 of the price if I could even find one... Need to save money for the nakayama jnat as I'm pretty much broke

not just iwasaki- (but especially Iwasaki) no razor will ever be more sharp than a properly honed kamisori as far as a close shave. When you know how to hone, that line gets muddied. I can name a few straights that are damn close, but I might want to pick them up and don't wanna bid against you

With a properly sharpened kamisori the ease of use is automatic imo. The geometry of the blade really lets them hit the powerband in a jnat and get every mile out of it to the finish. You don't have to hone one on a Nakayama either. There are other eastern stones that will do fantastic, though great Nakayama are supernatural.

Sharp is sharp my friend , as long as the steel is good and the hand on the hones does his job, my kamisori isn't any sharper or smoother than my Kinfolks razor, ,, so get what you want as long as it's honed right. Tc

Tough question I see. Your mileage may vary Some say it's ridiculously sharp and others that it's equal. But I would think that the straight would be harder to get that sharp and it would have to be some damn amazing straight like that Kinfolks maybe. But as a Kamisori 50mm Is smaller maybe it would be finally able to maneuver around my neck better. The way my hair grows I still haven't found the perfect technique to get it off my right side of the neck completely. Half hour of trying to fix the spots and still not perfect. Used the weirdest ways I could think of to go ATG in that place and not satisfied how the blade fitted.

I'm a little worried in that situation about the spikes working tights spots on the jugular and all...

If a Kamisori needs 16k at least (what I read) to finish and be able to shave and a straight can go off an 8k... It would logically seem the Kamisori has greater sharpness potential Maybe somebody will come around and clear it out better. Also because of their construction of Swedish steel and iron doesn't that shorten their life compared to a western?

Tom

Maybe something with a smile for the tough to get areas, of course in the new stage you will still be learning how to stretch well

Not sure where you heard that about Kami,s, but most any razor takes any grit, a well formed bevel is a well formed bevel , I mean if you want something sharp get a Feather. Kami and get those blades, but my razors get honed by a pro, on the same stones, and I have had razors honed on a 20k SG didn't matter Kami or regular straight. It's nothing more than preference, I've been getting more into my Kami because I like the smaller blade, shave is just as good.

Also as a beginner most suggest that you don't need to get a perfect shave BBS. A DFS is good enough, it takes a long time to actually master this way, I can get a BBS every time if I want, and my beard is like wire rope, but I moved on past that and my regular daily shaves are a two pass smooth shave done in 10-15 minutes, weekends get the treatment, for all the wife and family things. And on them the smiling blades are what I use for the neck to really get in there. Good luck whatever you get it'll be sharp if you do your part. Tc

I guess I'll just save the 300 bucks and raise my jnat budget a little. I'd rather get that than a shapton 30k to be honest. I'll try to restore my vintage 4/8 John Williams Damascus Sheffield straight. I don't remember right off my head but I think it has a little smile to it. I hope it'll take a nice edge someday on a jnat



Thanks,
Tom

A true kamisori with it's asymmetrical blade should be capable of a higher degree of keenness than a western razor because it really is a specialized blade like a microtome is. The difference may not be huge but theoretically there are no compromises because of blade geometry.

Can I prove this? No, just from my experience.