Yamamasa・山正・Vintage Japanese Straight Razor Kamisori with Leather Handle Wrapping and Handmade Hinoki Wood 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.
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 leather thread handle wrapping for a better grip.
We use traditional wrapping techniques.

The Kanji / Katakana on the right side read:
上 ・ ue ・ meaning "top"
below can be found one sign the logo of the maker, Yamamasa. The Logo is a mixture of 山 (yama)and 正 (masa).
Below Kanjis can hardly be read but written is:
登録 商標 "toroku shohyo" meaning "registered trademark".
On the left side you can see two dot like marks, the upper one shaped like a drop the lower one like a kidney, both typical for Yamamasa.

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, giving it a pristine finish.

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.

from the series Elegant Five-Needled Pine (Furyu goyo no matsu) from around 1797/ 1798
An Ukiyo-E Print by Kitagawa Utamaro

Steel・鋼: Unknown High Carbon Steel 不明
Jigane・地金: soft iron・極軟鉄
Handle Wrapping: Leather
Box: Hinoki Wood

Length: 14.9 cm
Head width: 1.7 cm
Length of cutting edge: 4.6 cm
Weight: 27.6 g

a medium sized Kamisori