Kamisori ?

What is the difference between a kamisori razor and a American straight razor and what are the benefits of the non folding razor

Well, a kamisori is asymmetrical (one side of the blade different from the other), has a fixed handle, and is meant to be used with only 1 side touching the face (which can be a challenge). An American (or German, or French, or...) razor is usually a folding razor, with symmetrical blade faces, meant to be used both sides.

There are no special benefits to a non folding razor.
It's a matter of style and preference.

The only comment I'll add to Bruno's is with an asymmetrical geometry you can tailor the edge for max sharpness and most who have them will tell you they are sharper than a western straight.

Now I need to find a good one any suggestions guys. And do they still come in 5/8 and smaller and bigger

The only way to insure getting a "Good" one is to buy new,,

These razors are very easy to wreck the "Spine" on with mis-honing, and it will haunt the razor through it's life... You really, really, want to have a Expierienced Kamisori honer do the razor right for the first time.. Once they are set up they are very easy to re-fresh, but the initial honing is way more important then a Western style razor...

To get the great shaves that most of us brag about, the edge has to be at a Freaky, Stupid sharp, so that you are barely touching your face when shaving...

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Who would be a master kamisori honer and where do I pick up one of those beautys

Check with Lynn and Don over at SRD first, also at Aframetokyo.com for the razors themselves... The classifieds here sometimes have them too, just ask for good pics before buying.. I have snagged a few off e-bay but I know exactly what to look for and only bid on the best ones, many are just junk...

If you get it from Lynn of course it will be set up, I really haven't heard anything good about the ones from Aframetokyo's honing :shrug: there are a couple of us in the service section of the classifieds that advertise Kamisori honing...

What are some decet sizes to get I like bigger blades

Size is measured by the edge length mostly 45mm, 50mm, or 60mm (be careful as there are very small ones that were used for women's facial grooming too)

They are not sized spine to edge, in fact the spine is totally different on Kamisori

The 50mm is the most popular size and I just meassured my Iwasaki 50mm and in Western terms it is a 13/16 or 6/8+ but that really doesn't mean anything I just measured it for your info...

Does lynn have a 50mm sir

For a short time, SRD has the smaller 50mm version I believe. They have been out of stock for months. Act fast. :D

I wish I had the money but there worth it

In Japan straight use (either western or Kamisori) makes straight use in the U.S look like a mainstream activity. So most of these razors are vintage. If you could hit the flea markets in Tokyo they are plentiful but most are way past their useful days. There are just a very few guys still making them over there so hence they are hard to source and can get pricey.

As far as size goes most are just overall smaller than western razors and in my book that's a plus because they are very maneuverable and can get into areas even a 4/8s straight would have trouble getting at.

I just wish I could try before I could spend that much money but I guess that's the experience of it