Thread: My first Kami

I got my first Kami today!!
I know nothing about them so Ill have to watch some videos to see how to hone and shave with it but it looks pretty cool IMHO.
If anyone has any idea what the markings mean Id love to know

Congrats, they are a little different to hone as seen in this vid from GSSixgun,Glen,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m87oGTAKV7I

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There is a thread to help translate Kanji markings here https://straightrazorpalace.com/razo...quests-30.html

Have fun honing and enjoy your new toy.

Bob

How do you store Kamis? I mean ow do you keep the edge from hitting things and dulling? Should I make a special holder or can I just lie it on its side?

It's best to have a holder. Besides laying it anywhere, will chance edge damage nd a cut

They are neat to try. But to me. Too tiny and one sided to use as a go to razor.
By one sided I mean, always held in right hand for whole shave. Crossing to do the left feels unnatural.
To me. YMMV

I have one that was a gift from a friend. It’s a good shave, I keep meaning to bring it to work as I shave the engineers head most shifts. It should be really good fo that.

Ive always thought it would be cool to ha e a Left and Right. Someone here has a set like that. I think id make a stand for it. It wouldnt take much. You can ggogle them and get a few ideas.

As i was looking at another post with one for sale, i wondered do you shave with the flatter side toward your face? I would consider this one right handed.

Yup, flatter side to face is the designed approach.
And I don’t recall where I read it, but some surmise the razors shape was born with the intent that someone shaved someone else’s face, as in servant or whatever Japanese word for house girl was, so it was easy to wield “on the job”.
You can use it either way, but the grip and angle of attack need to be slightly different.
It’s a fun exercise. I have a few asymmetric blades in my collection.

Thats a Henkotsu. It appears to have a bit of spine wear that can make it tricky to hone.
They are good fun to use one you get the hang of them.

Jim R was a huge advocate of them a few years back, check out his video.

https://youtu.be/bBDRP6tSOWo