Thread: Japanese Straight Razor help

Originally Posted by Scipio

http://straightrazorpalace.com/attac...nakayama-2.jpg

I've got one of these, just received it yesterday and not shaved with it yet. These sharpen like western blades and are made in Japan. The steel may be Swedish though, I don't know yet.

I might be wrong here but those are blades that lengthwise mimic kamisori , but essentially are western style. that pelican is a wedge grind isn't it?

The use of straight razors in Japan is such that compared to the U.S straight use is popular here. Most japanese shave with an electric razor.

The Iwasaki and Tosuke were the best over the last decade or more but Tosuke is dead and Iwasaki is retired and as I understand it he had some apprentices who are making razor's with his name on it. There are a couple modern made Japanese razors out there but you have to watch the quality. Some aren't that hot.

Most who buy them consider it more a novelty and rarely use them. There are a few, very few who use them on a daily basis.

I think one of the members here recently had an iwasaki up for sale. Check the auction forum.

Originally Posted by thebighappyface

Hello,

I have trolled this forum for some time and am happy to be a part of the community now! I have been shaving with a DE razor for 2 plus years but I still am getting some burn on my neck, even after "perfecting" my technique. So I have decided to move over to straight razors. I do not care fore the way a western straight razor feels in my hand, but LOVE how a Japanese style feels! That decided, i am torn between what to do.
so i have 3 questions for all of you

1) What do you think about feather AC for people with sensitive skin? I like the idea being able to not have to sharpen the blade myself (but would not mind getting into the zen of it)

2) What japanese blades are out there to purchase new (I do not want a vintage blade)

3) where do i purchase these razors

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

With respect, if you're getting burn on your neck, maybe you haven't quite yet perfected your technique.

If you like the feel in the hand of a Japanese style straight, without the honing or stropping, Smallflower sells the non-folding Japanese style Feather RG and Feather DX. They also sell blades for them. Use a VERY light touch with them, and you should be OK. Straight shaving is harder to learn than effective DE shaving. Good patience builder.

And here's a great youtube video showing how to use a non-folding Feather AC:

YouTube - Shaving with a Japanese Non-Folding Feather Razor