Unique Yasushige・安重・Restored Vintage Japanese Straight Razor with Owner Name Engraved, Rattan - Linen Handle Wrapping, Handmade Hinoki Box

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. We can't 100% be sure but it is likely that the carbon steel here is also Tamahagane, it does not have a Tamahagane mark but that mark was uncommon during that time, still a lot of Tamahagane was produced but there was also a change to foreign and newer steels.

What is so special about this Kamisori?
Yasushige is a very rare brand, this is the first Yasushige Kamisori we are able to get and restore. It was sold to us as part of the household of a painter from Kyoto for western style paintings. It did not belong the painter but to his wife. And here it gets interesting: her name is engraved on the Omote side: "きぬ" Kinu.
We got the razor unused with surface rust and the original handle wrapping. Unfortunately we had to remove the Handle wrapping to get rid of the rust that is sometimes hiding under it. Luckily this gave us the chance to also put it back exactly on as it was, sometimes the original wrappings are missing entirely when we get them for restoration. We used red linen for the inlay and 0.9mm thick Japanese Rattan for this job and it turned out extremely well.

This Razor was made for a woman, what is shown in its size, it is very small and very light. This Piece is rather a collectors item than made for daily use.

The engravings on the Kamisori read as:
安重・Yasushige・the maker brand
きぬ・Kinu・name of the previous owner

The blade comes wrapped in white linen in a Handmade Box made from the Japanese 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.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding this wonderful antique Kamisori. We are happy to assist you.

"from the series "Selections from Six Houses of the Yoshiwara" (Seiro rokkasen) 
An Ukiyo-E Print by Kitagawa Utamaro

Steel・鋼: most likely Tamahagane・玉鋼
Jigane・地金: soft iron・極軟鉄
Handle Wrapping: Japanese Rattan and red linen
Box: Hinoki Wood

Length: 13.7 cm
Head width: 1.4 cm
Length of cutting edge: 5.5 cm
Weight: 17 g

A very small sized Kamisori.