Rare Teramasa・寺正・Tamahagane Kamisori・Restored Vintage Japanese Straight Razor・ Backside Engraved ・Rattan Handle Wrapping・Handmade Hinoki Box

This Kamisori was hand forged out of 2 layers, the cutting part is made of high carbon steel and the supporting layer of Iron.

What is so special about this Kamisori is, that the steel is real Tamahagane.
Tamahagane is the traditional steel produced in Japan for centuries. As Japan has no big resources of iron ore, the steel is produced out of iron sand in a several day long process by hand. It was the main source for all Samurai Swords. It also has, what is very rare, the previous owners or makers name on the Omote side engraved. It is also hard to read, but it is most likely 安清 Yasukiyo, a male Japanese name.

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, Especially this Tamahagane layer!

The Razor 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 new Rattan handle wrapping using Japanese Rattan and a traditional wrapping technique for Kamisori.

The Kanji / Katakana on this Kamisori are very hard to read, as the engraving on the Era side is very shallow and partially lost, however, we know from the outer form and arrangement of the engravings what Kamisori this is and what the Kanjis mean.
寺正 ・Teramasa (not readable)
玉鋼打・ Tamahagane uchi・ made from Tamahagane ( you can still see the three horizontal lines of the Tama 玉 part)
特級・tokkyu・ high grade (not readable)
on the Omote site:
安清・ Yasukiyo・ a male Japanese name

The blade comes wrapped in white linnen in a Handmade Box made from the Japananese Hinoki tree. A wood used for centuries to build Japanese shrines and temples, very durable, a great scent and very rot resistant.

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.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding this wonderful Kamisori. We are happy to assist you.
We highly recommend to put a thin layer of protective oil after each use on your razor, after you wiped it dry. please have a look on our "Kamisori Care Oil" in our shop.

All our vintage Kamisori's will be shipped with a free blade protection sheet for free to avoid that the cutting edge will touch anything during the transport.

from the series "Ten Types in the Physiognomic Study of Women (Fujin sogaku juttai) (Kiseru)" from around 1802-1903
An Ukiyo-E Print by Kitagawa Utamaro

Steel・鋼: Tamahagane・玉鋼
Jigane・地金: soft iron・極軟鉄
Handle Wrapping: Japanese Rattan
Box: Hinoki Wood

Length: 14.8 cm
Head width: 1.9 cm
Length of cutting edge: 4.5
Weight 28.7 g

A medium sized Kamisori.