Kikuichi・菊一・Vintage Japanese Straight Razor Kamisori with Rattan Handle Wrapping and Handmade Hinoki Wood Box

Kikuichi ・菊一 ・Vintage Japanese straight razor (Kamisori). Directly imported from Japan and restored by us to a hair-popping quality and sharpness.
The razor was made in the Showa period and has a length of 14.7 cm, width of 1.7 cm, length of cutting edge is 4.5 cm and the weight is 31 g
a medium sized Kamisori.

Similar to the traditional Samurai sword, this Kamisori was hand forged out of 2 layers, the cutting part is made of high carbon steel and the supporting layer of Iron.
The steel layer is brittle and hard, while the Iron gives the right flexibility.
Both layers are not stainless, so always keep your razor dry after your shave and protect it with a thin layer of oil.

Why is this blade not stainless?
Stainless blades are made of an alloy that will prevent it from staining, but also will make it less hard.
High carbon steels, like the cutting layer of this Kamisori, have a much higher hardness and will keep their smooth shaving quality for much longer before having to sharpen them again.

We kept this Kamisori as original as possible. We removed all rust and resharpened it but it still has its original blueing and handle wrapping which is made of rattan and a red fabric inlay.
A beautiful wrapping with the original Patina


The Kanji / Katakana read as:
別鋼打・betsu hagane da・forged steel
登録商標・toroku shohyo ・ registered trademark
菊一・Kikuichi・name of the blacksmith

The blade comes wrapped in red linnen in a handmade box.
The box is handcrafted out of imported Japanese Hinoki Wood. A wood that is used for centuries for constructing Japanese temples and shrines. A wood with a very fine scent. The wood is hand-planed by us with a Japanese plane, giving it a pristine finish.

After we built the box we laser engraved a Japanese wood block print on the lid.
Engraved on the lid is an Ukiyo-e woodblock print of Utamaro Kitagawas's "Woman Combing her Hair" of the series Ten Types in the Physiognomic Study of Women (婦人相學十躰).
Perfect place to store and protect your Kamisori.

This Kamisori is fully disinfected, honed and shave ready.

Also note, in Japan Kamisori are not only used to remove mens beards, they are also commonly used to remove fine facial hair also of women.