[Russel Baldridge]

Item for review:
A Nakayama Nihon Kamisori, "specially selected" Maruichi stone. It is a Japanese natural finishing stone that is typically rated in the 20k to 40k range and apparently had the Maruka stamp before it was squared up, so it ought to be near or at the top of the list of Japanese naturals. These stones have a reputation for being very hard and very fine, which, as it turns out, is an understatement.

EDIT: Every vendor of these stones will tell you right off the bat that no two are alike. You cannot tell how the stone is going to perform by looking at it's features. The only test is to use it, and use a number of different steels on it as some react differently to certain stones. A reputable vendor (like O_S) is the only way to be assured of a good stone.

This particular stone is the finer Yellow-Tan color but has one side where a little bit of Blue-Gray is coming through (has a small crack that must be avoided but it is usable) so I've been able to use it almost like a super fine combination stone.

Test procedure:
1. Inspect stone, try to decide whether to lap the top right away or try it out first.
2. Decide to use the stone as is and worry about lapping later (since it felt smooth and looked acceptably flat).
3. Prep a razor, or three in this case, on a coticule with slurry, then without, then move to vintage Thuringian to round out the prep work.
4. Hold stone in hand.
5. Wet the stone with a few drops of water from a near by bowl.
6. Do 10 passes on the Asagi side (blue-gray side) and inspect progress.
7. Repeat step 6 for good measure, or as needed .
8. Test shave a (small) portion of forearm.
9. Move to top surface (light tan-yellow) and repeat steps 6, 7 and 8 as needed.
10. dry off the stone, wipe the blade and stare in awe.
11. Post review of results.

Results:
Words just can't describe, but I'll try anyway.

Imagine a block of pure silk that is hard enough to polish steel, that is about what this experience was like. I almost didn't want to shave with the edge because the honing process felt so good, I couldn't imagine the shave improving on it (but it did!). The razor glides over the surface so delicately, like a sail boat through calm water, that at first you say, this isn't polishing at all! But you're wrong, it's working BEAUTIFULLY!

I repeated the process for a second razor and got the same great results, total of 40 or so strokes. Then I did a third test, but this time chose to experiment a little more.

The Tim Zowada method of final polishing is the twist to this iteration. Prepped the razor as before, up through the Thuringian, then applied 2 pieces of tape and got set to put the micro bevel on the blade.

I went super conservative on this so as to not over do it. 3 strokes on the Asagi side, 5 strokes on the yellow-tan side. This was enough to make a tiny sliver of reflective light appear at 10x magnification, so I stopped.

The test shave was yet another "words can't describe" moment. The edge is finer and smoother than any other finishing method I've experienced thus far.

Conclusion:
The Nakayama has now been used on 5 razors and it left me with 5 of the sharpest and smoothest edges I've ever had.

The typical rating is between 20-ish and 40-ish thousand grit and this one seems to be on the higher end of the spectrum as it was finer than .5 diamond and CrO pastes that I've used.

These are hard stones, so there is very little wear from use, and the fact that I got it to polish just fine without the need for a slurry means that this stone will likely end up in the hands of my great grandsons before it is worn out.

AND they are beautiful stones. This particular one has a gentle blending of light and dark colors, with thin bands of brown between the yellow and blue stratta.

The price is pretty steep, but to me it was worth ever penny.

10 out of 10

[OLD_SCHOOL]

Originally Posted by Russel Baldridge

Results:
Words just can't describe, but I'll try anyway.

How about the stone is so great it keeps you warm on those cold winter nights. And your never lonely when you have that hone with you.

These are hard stones, so there is very little wear from use, and the fact that I got it to polish just fine without the need for a slurry means that this stone will likely end up in the hands of my great grandsons before it is worn out.

This is why I don't advocate lapping, some of course may require a slight lapping. But most certainly not after every single use as some advocate. All thats going to do is wear out a perfectly good stone fast, and means you gotta spend more $$ buying a new one.

AND they are beautiful stones. This particular one has a gentle blending of light and dark colors, with thin bands of brown between the yellow and blue stratta.

The price is pretty steep, but to me it was worth ever penny.

Ha! You wanna see the market prices for one like that.

Gee looks like that one had a face lift. Not bad, I like the way the Asagi side has come up.

I am trying to finish polishing (sanding) one of my resto's now that I have the micron sandpapers and then I will break out my prized possession for the edge.

** A small note to add to this review is that the grit levels do vary from stone to stone and no two are alike. Kinda like identical twins, yeah they look identical but their personalities, are worlds apart.

[Russel Baldridge]

Yes, the Asagi side was lapped by David, I did a few lapping passes on a D8EE hone to smooth it out as much as possible (not that it wasn't smooth, I am just obsessive compulsive sometimes).

If the market price is significantly higher than the price you sold it for, then I suppose I owe you even more thanks!

[OLD_SCHOOL]

Thanks isn't necessary I have a few things on my side, such as I'm not a company, I have no overheads and I have no middle men.

[Joe Chandler]

Very nice review, and a very nice stone.

[Russel Baldridge]

"Ha! You wanna see the market prices for one like that."

I did a quick search and found one "authority" on Japanese stones claiming they could be sold for between $700.00 for the lower grades and $3,000.00 for the higher ones !!!!!!!

If that is the case than you, sir, are not charging enough. And again I offer thanks, whether you want it or not. This is an outstanding stone at any price, especially yours.


Link to discussion if anyone's interested: http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/sh...?post/1458282/

[Russel Baldridge]

Some better pics.

[Bruno]

Note that the market value of a stone depends on the size / weight.

So explained to me that these stones get priced per gram, where the price per gram is determined by cutting strength / color / ...

This means that a long, narrow and thick stone can cost the same as a long wide and thin stone.
This is why I could afford mine: it is only 14 mm thick.

A stone twice the thickness costs twice as much. So the prices you see like 700$, don't actually mean anything without the dimensions.
And I agree that a nakayama is unusable for normal knife honing. It is way to fine to really cut metal, and unless you can always hone at the same angle (like with a razor) you are never going to use the stone to its full potential.

I know that So doesn't sell high end stones if he is not convinced that
a) you are using it for something it is meant to be used
b) he has some level of confidence that you know how to use it.
And I think he is right in doing so.

Otherwise he wastes a good stone, you are unhappy with the result, and frustrated about spending $$$ for a useless hunk of rock.

[OLD_SCHOOL]

Yea I seen that, places charging per 25g and 100g or per CM of stone. Not only that but the stones at those prices, just look like someone has smashed a few rocks against each other then saying they are Japanese. No stamps, no lapped surface. That seems to be the norm of these online stores so thats what I referred to as market prices.

I myself see no need to charge such high amounts for the best of the best, but then I don't have families to support, overheads or middlemen to pay, so I guess that puts me in a good position.

[zepplin]

Got my stone from O_S Saturday. Sorry I don't have pictures, the stone has a new coat of Japanese lacquer on the sides and the side with the stamps. I did not realize this is going to take at least a week or two to dry, according to O_S. (Gee, what will I do now? LOL, LOL)

Here is a picture from O_S's "Shouhonyama" web site (mine is the 2nd stone down):

Shouhonyama

Here are a few comments about this stone:

First of all, the delivery time from Japan was blinding fast. It was less than a work week. Like three days. Now that's pretty good!

The stone is a pale blue/gray in color with some veins of orange. size is approx. 1-3/4 x 7-3/4 x 3/4" (thick). O_S had flattened the underside from the stamped side. - and I will use this side, not the stamped side. I did lap this side with my D8C 235 DMT. It was pretty flat; lapping only took 10 or 15 minutes.

I had a few razors that never quite gave me the shave I thought they should. I figured these would be a good choice as my 1st razors to hone. I have honed these three razors since I got the stone: A 7/8 Joseph Elliot, an 8/8 Philarmonica, and a big smiley 7/8 W&B. I sprinkled a little distilled water on the stone, ran my fingers across the stone, to smooth it out, and did about 40 to 75 laps on each blade. The stone was very velvety, smooth, kind of luxurious (if a rock can be luxurious ). No feedback to speak of.

It is had to describe this experience. It was almost magical, spiritual, again, that word luxurious,...... each shave was beautiful. The edges on each razor was spectacular, sharp, smooth, and gave a very, very comfortable shave.

I can't say enough about this stone! This is my prized stone. I will hide it when company comes over(especially kids). I will keep it in my wall safe (just kidding, I don't have one, but if I did...).

Now that I have it lacquered, it's gonna be a week or two before I can use it. Dern! That's okay, sob!

I don't know what's in store for O_S as far as his ability to get more stones in the future, but if you're inclined, keep a watch out for more stones from O_S. With the lacquer & shipping, I paid a little under $260.00 with the SRP 5% discount. If you're looking for a top quality Japanese finishing stone, this one was probably the buy of the century!!!!! (IMO, of course)
Old_School, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, and Thank You!



Steve

[OLD_SCHOOL]

Originally Posted by zepplin

Got my stone from O_S Saturday. Sorry I don't have pictures, the stone has a new coat of Japanese lacquer on the sides and the side with the stamps. I did not realize this is going to take at least a week or two to dry, according to O_S. (Gee, what will I do now? LOL, LOL)
Steve

It won't take 2 weeks, I'd say at most 1 week plus a day or 2. I had no idea until I lacquered one, that thats how long it takes for it to dry LOL. But this is why 2 stones should be bought so one can be used whilst the other dries You know if I had another, I could get it to you before the first dries.

[moviemaniac]

So I finally gave in to the little voice in my head, sold a coupla expensive creams and soaps and the likes (well, I wanted to cut down anyway) and ordered a Nakayama Maruichi Maruka Nihon Kamisori from OLD_SCHOOL which arrived today. Due to a lucky incident the fella at customs only hit me with 10% instead of the usual 20% import tax and so I own one more piece of Japan

I just checked it out with a ruler and also detected a minor cut so unfortunately I'll have to lap it, but still, isn't she a beaut?

Thanks, OLD_SCHOOL for the fantastic service and the quick delivery!

[Bruno]

Nice. What's the size?

[moviemaniac]

19x6.5x1.5 cm

[Bruno]

Very nice. That's about the same as mine. Mine is 1 cm shorter and 1 mm thinner, but perfectly rectangular.

If it hebaves anything like mine, you will enjoy it very much.
If I may give you some advice: Only use that stone if your edge is already reasonably good. Then it will show its fullest potential. It only cuts very fine, so unless your edge is reasonable, you will not be able to get a perfect edge unless you make hundreds of honing strokes.

If a razor does not need major work, I usually do 50 laps on my narutaki with slurry, followed by 50 laps on the nakayama with slurry.

That give me great edges every time, provided the bevels are good enough to begin with. If I need to rehaps the bevels or remove a nick, then I will first use my nortons to do the heavy work.

[Jimbo]

Whoa! That looks great Klaus! Very nice indeed. Congrats

James.

[moviemaniac]

Thanks, guys!

And thanks, Bruno for all those hints! They're welcome indeed!

I actually honed my first razor on it yesterday. It was a "Sprock" ground in Hamburg. I've tried many different hones with that razor but have never gotten a satisfying shave from it. The Nakayama put a GREAT edge on it - it passed the "German" HHT (moving the razor towards the hair in a distance of 1cm or more from the holding point of the hair) right off the hone and was really sharp after stropping.
To give you a perspective: This German HHT is a test no one I know has ever seen a blade pass at every part of the edge in a distance of a good cm right off the hone - normally this test is only passed after paste-stropping and leather-stropping!

The test-shave today was not the best I've ever had but very decent - smooth and 95% BBS which is a VAST improvement for a razor that I had nearly given up on ever getting it shave ready.
Now I'm really looking forward to honing another razor, but next time I'm gonna use a high-end blade. I don't even dare to dream about the shave I'm gonna get

[moviemaniac]

After having honed a good ten razors with mine I think it's time for a review:

The shopping experience with OLD_SCHOOL was a very pleasant one. He was a very fine guy to deal with and ordering the hone was very easy. He doesn't have a shopping cart system on his website, which can be addictive: At first I wanted the 200$ hone and I mailed him. I got a reply that the stone was already pending. Having dived into the world of Japanese hones that thoroughly I had to get the one for 380$ instead. I don't think I would've ordered the more expensive one in a sterile shopping cart-environment without any personal contact

The hone itself arrived very well packed within just a few days (shipped on Friday in Japan, arrived on