Massive Henkotsu ・へんこつ・ Kamisori, Hinoshita Kaizan Restored Vintage Japanese Straight Razor, Leather Handle Wrapping and Handmade Hinoki Box

Massive Japanese straight Razor from Henkotsu with golden lacquered Kanji. This Henkotsu is named 日下開山 - Hinoshita Kaizan an old honorific title of the Yokozuna - the highest ranking Sumo wrestler in Japan. This impressive razor was made in the Showa period and has a length of 17.3 cm, width of 2.4cm, length of cutting edge is 5.2 cm and the weight is 73.5 g!!! A humongous razor with a huge length, something for big hands. Heaviest we ever had in our shop!

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 read as:
日下開山・ hinoshita Kaizan ・an old sumo title.
登録商標 ・ toroku shohyo ・registered trademark
Below: へんこつ ・Henkotsu ・ the maker brand can be found. The こ (ko) looks a bit like an ホ(ho) but is just an old way of writing.
Ol Kanjis are filled with golden lacquer.

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 to build temples and shrines in Japan. Very durable, won't rot, great scent. We hand planed the wood for a better surface with traditional Japanese planes (Kanna).
Please also not that this box is a special size. This huge Kamisori would not fit in our normal boxes.

Engraved on the lid is an Ukiyo-e woodblock print of Kuniyoshi`s "The grand wrestling match between Kawazo Saburo Sukeyasu ( right ) and Matano Goro Kagehisa".

Great gift and 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.
Please contact us if you have any questions regarding this great Vintage Kamisori