Thread: My Japanese haul (and the other things the shop sold)

Originally Posted by Philadelph

Those japanese razors aren't supposed to be symmetrical as far as I know. They are ground hollow on one side and flat(ish) on the other I believe. Looks like it was the store you went to since that looks like the razor seen in one of the pics you posted! Could have been yours!

^ What he said.

What I was surprised by is how the tip looks not just aymetrical, but the convex swoop of it looks a bit like the airfoil shape of a plane's wing.

Cool!


And I know know it is the same store because the display case was almost identical. Same shave brushes, 4 out of 6 of the same razors (there were a couple of new ones too...), and the map on the back of the business card now makes sense as to where it is actually located!

oh, congratulations, so in the end you got that $95 tosuke
i thought they're supposed to come honed, i'd give it a try if i were you.

It did/does not pass my shave-ready testing, so it shall not go near my face.

And it won't either until I tone down the spikey tips too!

I tried stropping it up quite a bit, but it isn't close enough to "get there". I did so want to break it in actually in Japan....

[quote=Seraphim;272578]It

And it won't either until I tone down the spikey tips too!

sacrilege !!!!!!!!!!!!

Ha ha wrong store, that's easily done. I don't think Tosuke razors have ever come shave ready, from Tosuke. My supplier always had his honed by someone else.

Originally Posted by Seraphim

And it won't either until I tone down the spikey tips too!

Yeah, I agree with Doc here! You know how some guys say "no, don't take those original scales off of that razr unless they are broken!!!"? Well I say that about these Japanese razors, but relating to toning down the spike points. I'm trying to think of if I've ever seen a Tosuke without a spike point. Don't think I have. Don't think I'd want to. Maybe someone with a Tosuke with a chip or something that needs that work would be happy to trade.

Originally Posted by Philadelph

Yeah, I agree with Doc here! You know how some guys say "no, don't take those original scales off of that razr unless they are broken!!!"? Well I say that about these Japanese razors, but relating to toning down the spike points. I'm trying to think of if I've ever seen a Tosuke without a spike point. Don't think I have. Don't think I'd want to. Maybe someone with a Tosuke with a chip or something that needs that work would be happy to trade.

Bah!

Avert thine eyes! Wait a week or two and you'll see a Tosuke with toned down tips!

Damned if I'll risk lacerating my face with a double spiked razor, just because that's the way it came from the factory. It came blunt as can be as well. Should I leave it in that condition as well? Heck no!

Hone it, ease it , and use it! Simple 1,2,3 instructions for any new Tosuke owners!

If it were a $300 Iwasaki, then I'd hesitate at modifying it (actually, I simply wouldn't buy it in the first place....), but a Tosuke, that wasn't even made by the Master? It's no sacred cow in my book.

Thanks for the advice anyhow. Wise-cracks aside, I do appreciate it

The barber I learned from, toned the point of one down a little, I think more of a concern for my safety, than it actually needing done. It's also barely even noticeable.

Again, Tosuke, like many sword smiths, used to put other people's name on his blades for a fee. For example, if he were still alive and you went to see him and asked for your name to be put on one of his razors, then you might pay, an extra $50 for example. Just coz it says "Seraphim" (for example) doesn't mean Seraphim forged it.
He had no apprentice(s) and no one took over his work. If he did, it seems odd that no Japanese swordsmiths or swordshop owners know about it.

Whoa! That's a lot for the Renaissance. I really do need to keep up with the prices.

The first photo is yours. The second is mine.

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

The barber I learned from, toned the point of one down a little, I think more of a concern for my safety, than it actually needing done. It's also barely even noticeable.

Again, Tosuke, like many sword smiths, used to put other people's name on his blades for a fee. For example, if he were still alive and you went to see him and asked for your name to be put on one of his razors, then you might pay, an extra $50 for example. Just coz it says "Seraphim" (for example) doesn't mean Seraphim forged it.

He had no apprentice(s) and no one took over his work. If he did, it seems odd that no Japanese swordsmiths or swordshop owners know about it.

I wasn't looking for this but since it's the post above mine, I had to comment.

Someone definitely took over some of Tosuke's work. I say some because I'm not aware of everything Tosuke worked on so I'm just referring to his shaving razors. In fact, a friend of mine.. not introduced but rather brokered.. the agreement for this person to take over Tosuke's work after Tosuke's death. Many of my scores from Japan come from this friend.