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(This post was last modified: 04-07-2024, 09:07 AM by Blue Note.)
I'm selling this masterpiece for €1,500.00 € 1.300,00 plus postage
Provided GUARANTEE Authenticity Iwasaki Tamahagane Steel
Take Note.: The ornament that holds the Kamisori in the attached photo is NOT for sale.
A clarification (for correctness): due to a misunderstanding occurred in the past on another Forum, I was returned a razor not quite in the state in which I had shipped it and the buyer claimed that I shipped the razor in that state.Too bad that on that forum the buyer was quite "known" for these performances.
Moral: I do not like and do not accept returns. If you don't agree, no problem, just ignore this thread.
THE SECRET OF STEEL: THE TAMAHAGANE
One of the secrets of the unsurpassed quality of Japanese swords lies in the use of an exceptional and very special metal called tamahagane (jewel steel), which is obtained exclusively with the traditional Japanese method for making steel, called tatara. This process makes it possible to manufacture a very pure steel (high carbon content, very low percentages of sulfur and phosphorus which could deteriorate its quality), using red-hot iron sand with charcoal fire in a clay furnace. Of the steel obtained with this process, only a part, the most perfect, is classified as "tamahagane". The traditional oven measures three meters in length, one in width and one and a half in height. Iron sand and coal are poured there for a period of seventy hours, during which the iron sand melts. In one working cycle, eight tons of iron sand and thirteen tons of coal are used, which produce a block of steel weighing about three tons. Of this huge block, only a ton + tamahagane.
After the Second World War (during which many swords were produced for the officers) all the traditional furnaces were closed and western iron and steel methods were introduced, putting the modern manufacture of traditional sabers in crisis.
In 1977 the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai restored Tatar operations, thanks to government funding. They resorted to the help and advice of Abe Yoshizo, the only swordsmith who survived from the times of the Second World War; he was named a National Treasure for his great skill in the art of forging. Since then, in the plants built in Yokotamachi, tamahagane is regularly produced with the traditional method, and young Japanese people are trained so that this ancient art is not lost.
Iwasaki Kamisori
This razor is known as the only true Kamisori razor. The Iwasaki is the master of straight razors and was crafted by a scholar in the art of Japanese sword and razor making. It is made from hand forged steel used in making Japanese swords.
Tamahagane forging
The forging techniques developed by Japanese blacksmiths are quite unique. The distinguishing features of these works of art have always been their rigidity, unbreakability and incredible ability to cut; the charm of the Japanese sword lies precisely in the satisfaction of all these requirements apparently in contrast with each other (the unbreakability in fact depends on the fact that the steel must be soft, while the sharpness depends on its being hard. But if it is too hard the sword may break, and if it is too soft it may cut poorly).
The most characteristic and distinctive parts of the forging process can be summarized as follows:
1) The machining of an external part (kawagane), very hard and with a high carbon content, formed by bending and beating the same piece of metal many times. This process eliminates impurities such as phosphates and sulphates and produces a very large number (even a million, although usually around thirty thousand) of metal layers, strengthening the blade.
2) The crafting of a softer core (shingane), created by using a low carbon content steel mixed with the iron used for kitchen knives. The whole is beaten numerous times to reduce the weight and inserted inside the kawagane.
3) The smith wraps the kawagane around the shingane and continues to red-hot (up to 1100°C) and pounding everything (up to one temperature up to about 700°C, then the sword is red-hot again), creating a long bar rectangular steel which is worked in portions of about fifteen centimeters at a time.
Then, cut a triangular piece from this long bar and, working again with the furnace and hammer on the cut part, form the kissaki, the tip of the sword.
Continuing to heat and strike the metal bar, the smith thins one side
(forming the cutting edge), gives the shape and curvature to the blade and determines the uniformity of metal distribution in it.
Next, the entire blade is covered with a mixture of clay and charcoal ash called yakibatsuchi. This mixture is then partially removed following the desired profile and the blade is placed (with the wax on) in the furnace (the mixture will form the hamon design, the visible profile of the cutting edge which often allows the swordsmith to be identified).
The steel begins to heat up and at a certain point the expert blacksmith notices the color
of the blade that the suitable temperature has been reached. At that moment he takes the blade and dips it briefly in the water.
The steel begins to heat up and at a certain point the expert blacksmith notices the color
of the blade that the suitable temperature has been reached. At that moment he takes the blade and dips it briefly in the water. This is the most delicate moment of the entire forging process, and the blacksmith must possess, in addition to an excellent technique, an affinity
spiritual with blade. There are many secret traditions concerning the right temperature of water and fire, but the deciding factor is the temperature of the blade upon immersion in the water. If the temperature is not right, cracks can occur in the steel, or the blade can bend too much.
Finally, the blacksmith puts the finishing touches to the nagako (the final unworked part of the blade, the one that fits into the handle, the tsuka), making the mekugi ana (the hole that allows you to fix the nagako to the tsuka) and signing his work.
Eventually he will also make the horimono, an incision placed on the blade and depicting various types of subjects (bamboo canes, cherry blossoms, dragons, deities, Sanskrit characters or other references to Buddhism).
The horimono has very ancient origins, and in addition to the religious and decorative meaning it also has the function of lightening the blade.
At this point the blacksmith's task ends, and he moves on to the polishing operations.
![[Image: SVurQY8.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/SVurQY8.jpg)
![[Image: GQ0s4fX.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/GQ0s4fX.jpg)
![[Image: 5SM42hy.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/5SM42hy.jpg)
![[Image: gIEZg9d.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/gIEZg9d.jpg)
![[Image: oYwU354.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/oYwU354.jpg)
![[Image: oALj4J9.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/oALj4J9.jpg)
Provided GUARANTEE Authenticity Iwasaki Tamahagane Steel
Take Note.: The ornament that holds the Kamisori in the attached photo is NOT for sale.
A clarification (for correctness): due to a misunderstanding occurred in the past on another Forum, I was returned a razor not quite in the state in which I had shipped it and the buyer claimed that I shipped the razor in that state.Too bad that on that forum the buyer was quite "known" for these performances.
Moral: I do not like and do not accept returns. If you don't agree, no problem, just ignore this thread.
THE SECRET OF STEEL: THE TAMAHAGANE
One of the secrets of the unsurpassed quality of Japanese swords lies in the use of an exceptional and very special metal called tamahagane (jewel steel), which is obtained exclusively with the traditional Japanese method for making steel, called tatara. This process makes it possible to manufacture a very pure steel (high carbon content, very low percentages of sulfur and phosphorus which could deteriorate its quality), using red-hot iron sand with charcoal fire in a clay furnace. Of the steel obtained with this process, only a part, the most perfect, is classified as "tamahagane". The traditional oven measures three meters in length, one in width and one and a half in height. Iron sand and coal are poured there for a period of seventy hours, during which the iron sand melts. In one working cycle, eight tons of iron sand and thirteen tons of coal are used, which produce a block of steel weighing about three tons. Of this huge block, only a ton + tamahagane.
After the Second World War (during which many swords were produced for the officers) all the traditional furnaces were closed and western iron and steel methods were introduced, putting the modern manufacture of traditional sabers in crisis.
In 1977 the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai restored Tatar operations, thanks to government funding. They resorted to the help and advice of Abe Yoshizo, the only swordsmith who survived from the times of the Second World War; he was named a National Treasure for his great skill in the art of forging. Since then, in the plants built in Yokotamachi, tamahagane is regularly produced with the traditional method, and young Japanese people are trained so that this ancient art is not lost.
Iwasaki Kamisori
This razor is known as the only true Kamisori razor. The Iwasaki is the master of straight razors and was crafted by a scholar in the art of Japanese sword and razor making. It is made from hand forged steel used in making Japanese swords.
Tamahagane forging
The forging techniques developed by Japanese blacksmiths are quite unique. The distinguishing features of these works of art have always been their rigidity, unbreakability and incredible ability to cut; the charm of the Japanese sword lies precisely in the satisfaction of all these requirements apparently in contrast with each other (the unbreakability in fact depends on the fact that the steel must be soft, while the sharpness depends on its being hard. But if it is too hard the sword may break, and if it is too soft it may cut poorly).
The most characteristic and distinctive parts of the forging process can be summarized as follows:
1) The machining of an external part (kawagane), very hard and with a high carbon content, formed by bending and beating the same piece of metal many times. This process eliminates impurities such as phosphates and sulphates and produces a very large number (even a million, although usually around thirty thousand) of metal layers, strengthening the blade.
2) The crafting of a softer core (shingane), created by using a low carbon content steel mixed with the iron used for kitchen knives. The whole is beaten numerous times to reduce the weight and inserted inside the kawagane.
3) The smith wraps the kawagane around the shingane and continues to red-hot (up to 1100°C) and pounding everything (up to one temperature up to about 700°C, then the sword is red-hot again), creating a long bar rectangular steel which is worked in portions of about fifteen centimeters at a time.
Then, cut a triangular piece from this long bar and, working again with the furnace and hammer on the cut part, form the kissaki, the tip of the sword.
Continuing to heat and strike the metal bar, the smith thins one side
(forming the cutting edge), gives the shape and curvature to the blade and determines the uniformity of metal distribution in it.
Next, the entire blade is covered with a mixture of clay and charcoal ash called yakibatsuchi. This mixture is then partially removed following the desired profile and the blade is placed (with the wax on) in the furnace (the mixture will form the hamon design, the visible profile of the cutting edge which often allows the swordsmith to be identified).
The steel begins to heat up and at a certain point the expert blacksmith notices the color
of the blade that the suitable temperature has been reached. At that moment he takes the blade and dips it briefly in the water.
The steel begins to heat up and at a certain point the expert blacksmith notices the color
of the blade that the suitable temperature has been reached. At that moment he takes the blade and dips it briefly in the water. This is the most delicate moment of the entire forging process, and the blacksmith must possess, in addition to an excellent technique, an affinity
spiritual with blade. There are many secret traditions concerning the right temperature of water and fire, but the deciding factor is the temperature of the blade upon immersion in the water. If the temperature is not right, cracks can occur in the steel, or the blade can bend too much.
Finally, the blacksmith puts the finishing touches to the nagako (the final unworked part of the blade, the one that fits into the handle, the tsuka), making the mekugi ana (the hole that allows you to fix the nagako to the tsuka) and signing his work.
Eventually he will also make the horimono, an incision placed on the blade and depicting various types of subjects (bamboo canes, cherry blossoms, dragons, deities, Sanskrit characters or other references to Buddhism).
The horimono has very ancient origins, and in addition to the religious and decorative meaning it also has the function of lightening the blade.
At this point the blacksmith's task ends, and he moves on to the polishing operations.
Never Call Your Broker On Monday.
