Teramasa (寺正) Real Tamahagane Kamisori, Restored Vintage Japanese Straight Razor, Leather Handle Wrapping, Handmade Hinoki Wood Box

Vintage Teramasa ・寺正 ・Tamahagane・ 玉鋼・ Steel, straight razor (Kamisori)! Directly imported from Japan and restored by us to a hair-popping quality and sharpness. With Specially made Hinoki Wood Box.

The razor was made in the Showa period, approximately in the 1949s/50s. It has a length of 14.7 cm, width of 1.7 cm, length of cutting edge of 3.8 cm and a weight of 27.3 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.

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.

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 leather handle wrapping using a traditional wrapping technique for Japanese razors.

The Kanji / Katakana on the Kamisori read as:
on the right:
寺正特製 ・Teramasa Tokusei - Teramasa (the maker) special made, The Kanji are written in an old style, which is usual for the time and for most makers starting pre 2nd World War.
on the left:
特級 ・ Tokkyu ・ special grade
登録商標・toroku shohyō ・ Registered Trademark (barely readable, but we can recognise it from the outer form and other Teramasa Kamisoris
正寺・Teramasa (read from right to left)
玉鋼別打 ・ Tamahagane Betsu uchi - made of Tamahagane

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.

Engraved on the lid is an Ukiyo-e woodblock print of Kitagawa Utamaro's "Woman Holding a Pipe", from the series Five Physiognomies of beauties (Bijin go-menso) Dated around 1803-04.

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.