Katsura・かつら・Vintage Japanese Straight Razor Kamisori with Leather Handle Wrapping and Handmade Hinoki Wood Box

Katsura・かつら 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 14.6 cm, width of 1.9 cm, length of cutting edge is 5 cm and the weight is 27.7 g
A medium sized Kamisori (Icho-Gake)

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.

The blade handle is partially blued by us, to protect it from rusting. Bluing is similar to the protective coat which the razor had after being quenched in the time it has been made. Bluing forms a thin layer of magnetite (Fe3O4) on top of the iron.
After Bluing we have attached a brand new Leather handle wrapping for a better grip, we use a traditional wrapping technique that is very common for Kamisori.

The Kanji / Katakana read as:
高速度鋼油焼入 ・Kosokudo-ko-yu yakiire ・High speed oil quenched・標商・hyosho・trademark・かつら ・Katsura ・ the maker brand・ 特撰・tokusen・specially selected

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, this gives 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  Kitagawa Utamaro's "Komurasaki of the Tamaya House After a Bath" Dated around 1795.

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.