I really enjoyed your plane post, up until then I had only hearsay to go on, and I agree it is expert testimony but I cant say it is definitive IMO, I have a hard time with thats just the way it is type reasoning. Your post gave lots more detail on why you have come to the conclusions you have, as to front, back and their relationship to the face.
Perhaps if we could work our way through this discussion you and JimR might actually get to relax for a bit. I am sure that I share some reservations that are similar to others who continually seek you guys and your informative advice. I didnt want a discussion on the art of shaving with a Jstr8 or I would of posted in the shaving section, I want to discuss these razors, which truly are a work of art. Perhaps I am going too far, if it works why mess with it, right. But the question that has ruled my life for better or worse is why. Such as why is the stamped side not the front but the back, that is why I liked your post so much. I am going to post some pics to help me out, and may give you guys something to correct me on.
The first is one we are all familiar with, when we first open the box. I would consider the face presented as the front and the side it sits on the back.
The second and third, grabbing the razor with the most comfortable grip. It seems to me with this grip I could do a WTG on every part of my face comfortably, without contorting. Except for the shaving with the ura part.:)
The fourth is a picture of said contorted grip that is needed to twist the omote side around to shave with. It seems to me that if they wanted that side against the face they could've made it so you could grab the razor comfortably and still get the omote side to the face, seems a left handed style held in the right hand would be close to this, except for the finger dent would have to be changed to the opposite side. Simple fixes, so why didnt/havent they?
The fifth is just a picture of the grind for reference, and the sixth is a diagram of a traditional japanese knife and the grind is similar to our Jstr8s. Notice how the right handed version looks like our razors with the ura side to the inside, (a) i think. I am sure I could twist one of those around like we do with the Jstr8s and it would still cut, might even be gentler against our skin but it is not the way the knife is designed to work. The plane is similar too and does give a different POV than does the the knife example, which one is the closer to the Jstr8s?
These are the points where I have the most trouble with the ura=back POV. It just doesnt seem to me that the original blacksmith when making a right handed razor would make one that you hold with your right hand then have to twist your arm around to make it work proper, when they could just as easily make it so you could hold it comfortably and still get the omote to the face and in a position to shave WTG on all areas. I am sure I am turning a mole hill into a mountain, but I have too much respect for japanese craftmanship to think that they purposely made something more difficult than needed. :)
Can you please explain why only a frankenstein razor would be able to shave on the ura side. What modification would have to be made to allow it to work that way?
The Jnat analogy was wrong, i agree, please show me where the above points are wrong so I can move on. I hate when a why gets into my head and I cant get it out, especially when its a trivial why. Thanks for your time.