NOS Henkotsu Kamisori ・へんこつ・ Restored Vintage Japanese Straight Razor Kamisori・Rattan Handle Wrapping and Handmade Hinoki Wood Box

Henkotsu ・へんこつ vintage Japanese straight razor (Kamisori). NOS - New Old Stock, 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 14.5 cm, width of 2 cm, length of cutting edge is 3.9 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 handles was in very good shape so we kept the original Rattan Handle Wrapping.

The Kanji / Katakana read as:
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.

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. It shows Utamaro Kitagawas's "Two Women" from around 1790

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.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.