The first razor I might not hone (Tanifuji)

I've been on a buying spree lately, getting a whole bunch of NOS or near NOS razors, and getting ready to turn loose most of the razors I otherwise had.

One of the razors I've always wanted to try is a tanifuji, not because there's necessarily anything better in the shave about one razor or another, but because tanifuji was the maker who iwasaki contracted to finish all of his razors.

I am not the kind of person who buys anything and doesn't use it right away, but after getting this razor out and looking at it, I may not hone it. It is absolutely perfect (I didn't take it out of the bag for the picture because the coffee table is slate). I guess i'll get a picture of the razor later. After looking at this pic, it seems rude not to show the razor.

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I have never seen a razor that was finished as precisely and crisply. The jimps are perfect, the grind is delicate and very hollow and the polish is very bright but all of the lines are crisp and in tact, as opposed to a lot of modern high polished razors that have seen far too much of the buffer.

I've gotten 4 other japanese razors at the same time and 4 NOS euros, so I'm sure I can figure out something else to shave with.

You may only need to strop it. Most Japanese straights out of factory have very very nice edges.

Very nice score. The Cape Kennedy model is getting scarce and in the condition yours appears to be in make that scarce and hard to find. Congratulations.

I couldn't take a decent picture of a razor to save my life ...

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Superb and that is picture enough. As Stefan mentioned it is most likely good to shave with
now. : )

Thanks for the heads up on the edges. The only other "good" razor that I've shaved with so far is one of these:

Japanese Straight Razor Kikuboshi Special Razor | eBay

I never thought to offer what I feel is reasonable on razors, but lately have been doing it and find the sellers are amenable to it.

I found this kikuboshi to be in hair shaving condition, but it was lacking a little. It must be hard, because it takes a very smooth edge but is a bit lacking in sharpness if you get stiff with it on the linen. Take a light pass on the linen and stay easy on the edge and it stays very sharp and is incredibly smooth. If it is in fact harder than a western razor typically is, I wouldn't be surprised given that behavior.

(most of the european razors that I have love a brisk session on the vintage linen, i suppose they're probably a bit softer and because of it tougher and a little more tolerant of heavy linen work).

Have several NOS Tanis,as above most are shave ready out of the box.
Yours?, I would oil it and store it away and never use it,JMO

Meh. Use it! You won't wear it out, I promise! :D

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

Meh. Use it! You won't wear it out, I promise! :D

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No. It will not wear out,first define if you are a user or a collector,at one time I was both.
Have sold alot of NOS (unused blades) orig box, paper wrap, never honed, never used all orig paperwork.
I always garnered twice the resale price for the same blade that has been used one time and I was always honest in the discription.
That blade will shave no better than any of your other well honed blades,it will not bring you shaving nirvana,so why use it?
As said above, that model is getting hard to find.

Man that's nice. I'm salivating. I've got a small gathering of Japanese Westerns and I can't get enough of them. But I've slowed my buying considerably. This just gets the fires stoked.
I understand the collecting part but I have to use whatever I buy, just a personal thing. You let me know if it pains you too much to keep around lol

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

No. It will not wear out,first define if you are a user or a collector,at one time I was both.
Have sold alot of NOS (unused blades) orig box, paper wrap, never honed, never used all orig paperwork.
I always garnered twice the resale price for the same blade that has been used one time and I was always honest in the discription.
That blade will shave no better than any of your other well honed blades,it will not bring you shaving nirvana,so why use it?
As said above, that model is getting hard to find.

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Well, I know that seller. Nice guy! I have bought several from him. His father sold them back in the 60's and he has quite a pile. NOS Fillys and all manner of Japanese razors. He has a pile of Friodurs as well. Seems Japan is loaded with those! :D
It may not be as rare as we think as they come out of hiding. Buy one to save, one to use! :rofl2:

Well, I haven't seen too many others at a decent price, at least not unused.

The seller I got this one from is named zigzigpapa or something like that. I've gotten some good deals from him on razors that are in a condition that I otherwise don't usually buy. The other guy I've been buying from is artesoni or something, who's got a bunch of what looks like '50s and on solingen razors, but I can't get as good of deals from him!!

Not that these razors aren't still in the hundreds, so getting a deal is a relative thing. More of a defensive issue if I sell later, I've lost my share of money!!

(and FTR, I am a user and not a collector. I love the razors that are well made and straight and that stay in a state of near nirvana pretty much just with linen and leather, and then maybe 5 minutes on a finishing hone every 150 shaves or so - i wouldn't wear out a single razor in my lifetime if I had only one. I'm undecided about this one. Eventually i probably will give in)

I think it would be a shame not to shave with it. Just my opinion of course! Beautiful razor! Sigh.

Mike

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Originally Posted by DaveW

Well, I haven't seen too many others at a decent price, at least not unused.

The seller I got this one from is named zigzigpapa or something like that. I've gotten some good deals from him on razors that are in a condition that I otherwise don't usually buy. The other guy I've been buying from is artesoni or something, who's got a bunch of what looks like '50s and on solingen razors, but I can't get as good of deals from him!!

Not that these razors aren't still in the hundreds, so getting a deal is a relative thing. More of a defensive issue if I sell later, I've lost my share of money!!

(and FTR, I am a user and not a collector. I love the razors that are well made and straight and that stay in a state of near nirvana pretty much just with linen and leather, and then maybe 5 minutes on a finishing hone every 150 shaves or so - i wouldn't wear out a single razor in my lifetime if I had only one. I'm undecided about this one. Eventually i probably will give in)

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That's the guy! Thing about him, it is like new, no doubt. I passed on the Capekennedy. Still a lot of dough! Every NOS Japanese western I have ever had, strop, a few laps of CroOx, Strop again....Golden! :D

Enjoy it, Dave!:tu

Both NOS razors I got from him were truly NOS and super clean in every sense of the word. You could tell me it was ground last month (aside from the fact that tanifuji is long retired) and I'd believe it.

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Originally Posted by DaveW

Both NOS razors I got from him were truly NOS and super clean in every sense of the word. You could tell me it was ground last month (aside from the fact that tanifuji is long retired) and I'd believe it.

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I have no idea???? :rofl2:

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Is that a tanifuji? I saw a box like that with another tanifuji somewhere. General question, are all of the CAPE 1000 and 2000 razors finished by Tanifuji?

I'm dumb about japanese makers in general, except I know who tanifuji and and iwasaki are. Well, and I've seen a bunch of nelson and parker and other razors that probably were distributed by nichiri.

Who am I kidding, I don't know anything about any razors except the shapes of the grinds that I like when shaving :) And I know I like old razors, at least old enough that the cutler who made the razor felt like the razors were his identity and he was responsible for anything his name was on.

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Originally Posted by DaveW

Is that a tanifuji? I saw a box like that with another tanifuji somewhere. General question, are all of the CAPE 1000 and 2000 razors finished by Tanifuji?

I'm dumb about japanese makers in general, except I know who tanifuji and and iwasaki are. Well, and I've seen a bunch of nelson and parker and other razors that probably were distributed by nichiri.

Who am I kidding, I don't know anything about any razors except the shapes of the grinds that I like when shaving :) And I know I like old razors, at least old enough that the cutler who made the razor felt like the razors were his identity and he was responsible for anything his name was on.

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I am old enough to remember anything from Japan back then was considered substandard by some. Indeed, some was. Some was not. What goes around, comes around, I suppose. Japan seems to be the next 'bonanza'! ;)

As far as info and history, tough to do. We need a Japanese historian/member here. Just saying!

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

I am old enough to remember anything from Japan back then was considered substandard by some. Indeed, some was. Some was not. What goes around, comes around, I suppose. Japan seems to be the next 'bonanza'! ;)

As far as info and history, tough to do. We need a Japanese historian/member here. Just saying!

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My grandfather (who grew up during the depression and was a farmer during WWII) used a term "imported goods" to refer to anything that he thought was junk. He was specifically referring to japanese items any time he said that, and the reason was I guess because a lot of junk came from japan.

In the woodworking forums, there's a notion that anything that comes from europe, japan, US, canada, etc, is good equipment and that junk is a new thing to china, but back when all of the tools were made in the US, we had some really ugly overpriced junk of domestic origin, too.

Woodworking, specifically as it pertains to working by hand and with hand tools and getting exposed to design (which favors a skilled worker who can keep crisp lines) helps me stay away from junk when I'm trying to stay away from junk. I can see skill in something like the tanifujis, it's not just an appearance thing, but the collective razor as a unit with the crisp line and perfect execution.

Now, whether I can be easily parted from my money to buy quality goods, that's a different matter. Probably can!!

Mods, if this thread has become an ebay thread because of the ebay content and discussion of sellers, please move it to the auction talk forum. Thanks!

That's a beauty for sure, I would certainly have to shave with it

Nice razor It would be a sin not to use it, but I'm no collector even though I do love NOS razors once they come my way they must prove their worth as shaving tools.

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Originally Posted by celticcrusader

Nice razor It would be a sin not to use it, but I'm no collector even though I do love NOS razors once they come my way they must prove their worth as shaving tools.

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+1 on that one. I like to look at a nice razor but I need to use it also

Damn! One beautiful razor.

Oh My now that is very Spiffy
not sure if Icould not use it at least once anyway