Thread: 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.



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 ...

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!

Originally Posted by sharptonn

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

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