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Thread: Japanese razors - what to look out for

  1. #11
    Senior Member blabbermouth markbignosekelly's Avatar
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    Senior Member blabbermouth Kees's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by animalwithin View Post
    Thank you for the list of makers! I will check them all out.

    Those Iwasaki, I see one going for $2,500

    Are the folding Kamisori still subject to the right/left handedness with only one side beveled out?
    The very expensive ones are made of tamahagane steel. Producing steel from iron sand is very labour-intensive.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamahagane

    I never owned a tamahagane razor so cannot comment on its virtues.
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    Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr.

  3. #13
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    check out japannippon i think hes called he has many razors for sale
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  4. #14
    Mental Support Squad Pithor's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kees View Post
    The very expensive ones are made of tamahagane steel. Producing steel from iron sand is very labour-intensive.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamahagane

    I never owned a tamahagane razor so cannot comment on its virtues.
    I also have no experience with tamahagane, but going by human nature it goes for higher prices because it is a more exclusive material that requires, as you said, more labour by skilled craftsmen.

    Iwasaki razors are expensive because they are collectors items, made by men with quite the reputation.

    So exclusivity + exclusivity = big bucks.

    Regards,
    Pieter
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    Senior Member alex1921's Avatar
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    Add to that the fact that they are not made anymore and the price goes even higher. A NOS perfect condition Iwasaki Tama Western is very very rare.
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  6. #16
    Senior Member blabbermouth markbignosekelly's Avatar
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    Im Luckily enough to have Shigeyoshi Iwasaki Tamahagane and his modified Swedish steel in both western and kamisori.

    Kosuke Iwasaki, Shigeyoshis father, was world renowned metallurgist and blacksmith who founded Sanjo works. Kosuke and Shigeyoshis lifes work was the research of Tamahagane and the Japanese sword. Kosuke also spent 10 years developing Tamahagane for the use in his razors.

    My pride and joy 岩崎 玉鋼

    Name:  20160607_142709.jpg
Views: 270
Size:  22.4 KB

    I didn't pay anywhere near the silly Ebay prices.
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  7. #17
    Senior Member animalwithin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by constant View Post
    check out japannippon i think hes called he has many razors for sale
    I have him saved as a seller in my Ebay, really great selection!

    Quote Originally Posted by markbignosekelly View Post
    Im Luckily enough to have Shigeyoshi Iwasaki Tamahagane and his modified Swedish steel in both western and kamisori.

    Kosuke Iwasaki, Shigeyoshis father, was world renowned metallurgist and blacksmith who founded Sanjo works. Kosuke and Shigeyoshis lifes work was the research of Tamahagane and the Japanese sword. Kosuke also spent 10 years developing Tamahagane for the use in his razors.

    My pride and joy 岩崎 玉鋼

    Name:  20160607_142709.jpg
Views: 270
Size:  22.4 KB

    I didn't pay anywhere near the silly Ebay prices.
    Beautiful blades!!! You're lucky you didn't pay Ebay prices!

  8. #18
    Senior Member blabbermouth evnpar's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by markbignosekelly View Post
    Im Luckily enough to have Shigeyoshi Iwasaki Tamahagane and his modified Swedish steel in both western and kamisori.

    Kosuke Iwasaki, Shigeyoshis father, was world renowned metallurgist and blacksmith who founded Sanjo works. Kosuke and Shigeyoshis lifes work was the research of Tamahagane and the Japanese sword. Kosuke also spent 10 years developing Tamahagane for the use in his razors.

    My pride and joy 岩崎 玉鋼

    Name:  20160607_142709.jpg
Views: 270
Size:  22.4 KB
    Lovely. A man could shave a lifetime with just those two razors.
    Richard

  9. #19
    Senior Member blabbermouth markbignosekelly's Avatar
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    Thanks, Richard. They are wonderful razors and a joy to use.

  10. #20
    The Hurdy Gurdy Man thebigspendur's Avatar
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    A little known fact is Iwasaki had his own private quarry where he mined his own hones for his own use. None went up for sale. I have a Nagura Botan I came across years ago.
    No matter how many men you kill you can't kill your successor-Emperor Nero

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