Ōnishi 大西

Period: Documented 1931
State of evidence: Attributed by shape to the 1931 directory, Plate 93

Ōnishi 大西 is known through the 1931 edition of a Japanese trade directory for barber supplies. Plate 93 is headed 大西製品, products of Ōnishi, and shows a full barber's assortment from one house: comb, shaving brush, neck duster, hair scissors, a kamisori, a brush and a strop case.

The kamisori in our archive carries no maker's name, only the type number 50. Its shape matches the Ōnishi kamisori, item (リ) on Plate 93, in every detail. This identifies it as an Ōnishi piece.

Place and period of the house beyond the 1931 directory are not documented in any source we have found.

Marks and words:
50 ・ type number stamped on the blade
大西製品・ Ōnishi seihin ・ products of Ōnishi, heading of Plate 93

Known marks

unknown-50-sutarurachi
Reading
玉鋼・Tamahagane・the steel being used
50・most likely the length of the cutting edge but unclear
スタルラチ・Starurachi・most likely a name added by the previous owner

Sources

『最近理髪器具化粧品商便覧』 (Trade directory for barber tools and cosmetics), 1931 edition, 仕入月報社. National Diet Library Digital Collections: Plate 93
Kamisori Harnisch archive: blade, stamp and box photographs of the piece listed below.

Documented pieces

Available

Ōnishi・大西・Kamisori・Restored Vintage Straight Razor・ Real Tamahagane・Original BoxB-€450,00