Japanese straight questions
Well I thought that Jnats were a vague subject until I decided to research and eventually buy a japanese straight. One post says to use the stamped side(ura?) and the next post says to use the omote(?). Then I came across this thread by O_S http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...zor-works.html , which compares a japanese plane to a str8 and comes to the conclusion to use the non-stamped side. I watched the video of JimR shaving with one and he kept the stamped side out, at the time I thought he was just trying to show that you can shave with both, since at that time I was under the impression that the stamped side was the one held against the skin, turns out he is in the camp of shaving with the razor that way as is IIRC Sired8, O_S. Then if you read any BigSpenders posts it is completely opposite. Here are the problems I am having with believing that the omote side is for shaving. In the forementioned post by O_S he says that thinking the stamps are on the backside is counterinuitive for us western straight users since we are used to the front being stamped, which I can see that point, but it seems to me after buying a few jnats that the japanese stamp the front of things too. Next when you grab hold of a right-handed jsr8 your index finger naturally goes to the indentation on the handle and the stamped side would automatically be against your face, unless doing some strange contortions. If you want to get the omote side on your face you have to either use your left hand to grab it or you need to hold it more like a western straight with fingers draped over the top and thumb on bottom. The next thing is if you look at the wiki(real one not the one on site) and look for traditional japanese knives the right handed version would place the ura(stamped) side against whatever you are cutting which imo would put the ura against the face and the omote away. I do see the point that with the way the stamp side is shaped it looks like it would dig in more than the omote side would, SiRed8 has stated the only time he cut himself was when using the stamped side against his face, but just because it is easier to shave with the omote doesnt make it right, imo. So what say you, has this been settled long ago and I am just writing nonsense or do any of you agree with me, that it is settled but opposite of the way most around here think it is? I am just a noob, so please enlighten me. Thanks.
the answer is in the Katana
guys, i think the answer is in the Katana
look how a Katana is made and used, how it is stamped and hold in hand. If u do so you will understand why Kamisori are how they are.
It is often stressed out that Kamisori were made as a side business by Katana makers. After reseraching on google using "ura" and "omote" i found a site that pictures a lot of katana and their ura and omote side.
From what i understand, when a katana is held, the stamps are facing the samurai holding the katana. And the omote is shown to the exterior. Exactly as a kamisori BEFORE you bend your elbow and curl your wrist to apply the omote to your right cheek let's say.
And if you use it as a barber, it's even more obvious. If you use a kamisori against someone else face, it's naturally the omote that is presenting to the client (facing the barber). Try to use the ura against someone else face is putting you in a strange position and weird angle. -with downward strokes-
Again, when holding a katana or a kamisori up, you naturally have the Ura facing you. Ura will always face your body and Omote facing the outside, when used against someone else.
Turning to blade toward you makes everything more complicated.
That's why the better way to say it is not to say that the Ura should face the holder but to say that the Omote should face what is to be cut.
hope i made some sens out of my mind.
thank you
:medvl: (Omote of this blade to be facing what is to be cut!)