Luckiest day of my life....

OLD_SCHOOL · 06-25-2008, 07:58 AM

In a very long time.

I randomly met a retired barber yesterday, who sold me 10 fantastic razors. My wife actually said that if I don't have enough money on me, then she would loan me some. I couldn't believe what I was hearing, I wasn't allowed to buy a Tosuke because they are expensive, and had to wait til our anniversary to get one. So I just shut my mouth

and bought the razors. And am so glad I did, and you will be too.

Here is my itinerary:

2 Used Tosuke's,
2 NOS Henkotsu razors,
2 UsedTamahagane Henkotsu,
2 NOS Yasushige razors
1 Used size one Tamahagane Iwasaki with an ivory handle
and finally.......
1 NOS size two Tamahagane Iwasaki.

The Yasushige razors are a mystery, he has no idea where he got them from or anything about the maker, and I haven't found a scrap of information on the internet about them. They look real good and have a rattan handle and I am very tempted to say they are better than Tosuke razors.

Oh and how can I forget the most important part of the days events, the barber also taught me how to hone them. He was quite abusive toward a lot of Japanese barbers

who don't know how to hone them properly and bugger up the angles. Its a very interesting honing method but boy does it get them sharp

. Not only that but he made me practice honing one, and approved my skills.
He was so excited his razors will get some use, after being in a draw collecting dust for goodness knows how long.

I am waiting for a day with better light to take pics, to photograph these works of art.

Bruno · 06-25-2008, 08:15 AM

Now THAT is a sweet, sweet find.
You now suddenly have the mother of all Japanese razor collections. Good thing you like shaving with them. It must be neat to own and use a tamahagane razor. Too bad they are all Japanese style

OLD_SCHOOL · 06-25-2008, 08:23 AM

Well I'm thinking since I have almost 2 of each......

bjorn · 06-25-2008, 09:10 AM

Congrats,
A really nice find, and the honing lesson must have been great. I can just imagen how nice it is to get a lesson from one who knows what he is doing.

Bruno · 06-25-2008, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

Well I'm thinking since I have almost 2 of each......

Well I would be interested in a Tamahagane razor, but I suspectI will not be able to afford them.

I kinda like having my wife and kids around, and I suspect such a razor would cost me either my marriage or my life, and I am used to both.

The Kiwi · 06-25-2008, 10:32 AM

WOW Old School, nice score! Looking forward to those pictures.

netsurfr · 06-25-2008, 11:55 AM

Wow! What a find!!! If you do decide to sell one, please keep me in mind.

OLD_SCHOOL · 06-25-2008, 01:26 PM

Was definitely great getting the lesson in person, I learn better that way. I could watch all video's and read all the books on how to do something, but 99.8% of the time it just won't sink in.

Selling them is not really a viable possibility ATM, apart from the fact I haven't given them a try. If you remember I had a thread late last or early this year, about how ebite won't let me advertise on .com from here. Thats rather peculiar too, because I have seen many auctions on .com, from dozens of different countries including Japan.

Hopefully it will be a nice sunny day tomorrow. Might have to set up a PPV to see the pics though.

nun2sharp · 06-25-2008, 05:04 PM

How about a video demo on japanese razor shaving/ honing, I bet your barber friend would go nuts for the oppurtunity, you owe him the favor.

OLD_SCHOOL · 06-25-2008, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

How about a video demo on japanese razor shaving/ honing, I bet your barber friend would go nuts for the oppurtunity, you owe him the favor.

I believe the term is called "camera shy". I hate having my photo taken, so a video demo would be mortifying. Not to mention, I don't think my shaving skills are quite up there when it comes to Japanese razors, so I really wouldn't want to make an ass of myself in front of the entire world.

nun2sharp · 06-25-2008, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

How about a video demo on japanese razor shaving/ honing, I bet your barber friend would go nuts for the oppurtunity, you owe him the favor.

I meant that you should video him and translate if possible.

SteveS · 06-25-2008, 05:48 PM

Wow, great score! Where are the pictures?!

OLD_SCHOOL · 06-25-2008, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

I meant that you should video him and translate if possible.

Oh well when you put it like that, it's a different story. Will see what I can do.

Amyn · 06-25-2008, 05:54 PM

That is a great find!! Cannot wait for the pictures on this one.

moviemaniac · 06-25-2008, 06:11 PM

Good lord, real Tamahagane razors - WOW! Can't wait for the pics. Should you decide to sell one, well, keep me in mind, will ya? Might have to sell some land to buy it, though

OLD_SCHOOL · 06-25-2008, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moviemaniac

Good lord, real Tamahagane razors - WOW! Can't wait for the pics. Should you decide to sell one, well, keep me in mind, will ya? Might have to sell some land to buy it, though

Yep real Tamahagane. And real Iwasaki's.

I mean, I have only ever seen pictures, never a real razor. Actually, never seen a picture of a Tamahagane one either, if I did, I don't recall.

Seraphim · 06-25-2008, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

Yep real Tamahagane. And real Iwasaki's.

I mean, I have only ever seen pictures, never a real razor. Actually, never seen a picture of a Tamahagane one either, if I did, I don't recall.

And so..... since there are no pics yet, can you describe the tamahagane razors? Are they what you expected them to be? Is the hada readily visible, and if so, what is it like? Straight grain, woodgrained, swirled?

C'mon, you've got us chomping at the bit!

OLD_SCHOOL · 06-25-2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seraphim

And so..... since there are no pics yet, can you describe the tamahagane razors? Are they what you expected them to be? Is the hada readily visible, and if so, what is it like? Straight grain, woodgrained, swirled?

C'mon, you've got us chomping at the bit!

My untrained eye recognises no difference. The only reason I know they are Tamahagane is because they have it stamped on them. maybe a bit of polish will fix the older ones up a bit.

Seraphim · 06-25-2008, 07:19 PM

Ah, well, actually my bad. I thought that tamahagane refered to the folded steel used in katanas, but it actually just refers to the steel smelting process used to make the steel.

So, if the steel isn't then forged and folded, it will look just like any other steel I suppose.

Still looking forward to the pics!!!

foundlingofdollar · 06-25-2008, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

Was definitely great getting the lesson in person, I learn better that way. I could watch all video's and read all the books on how to do something, but 99.8% of the time it just won't sink in.

Selling them is not really a viable possibility ATM, apart from the fact I haven't given them a try. If you remember I had a thread late last or early this year, about how ebite won't let me advertise on .com from here. Thats rather peculiar too, because I have seen many auctions on .com, from dozens of different countries including Japan.

Hopefully it will be a nice sunny day tomorrow. Might have to set up a PPV to see the pics though.

Who needs ebay? Sell them here. Of course, with only one of each there could be fist fights, but we're all gentlemen here, right?