Thread: Tsugeru's Kanetaka

My main concern is not so about the "fissure" at the point where the two steels melt together, but rather about the "stains" or "watermarks" (in that case i am wondering what water had caused those marks!) we can see near the edge on the omote side.

Of course, any gap or fissure at the point where two steels meet may be looked at suspicious, i have seen a lot on used kamisori, and obviously it's not something you want, but that can be tolerated easily if it doesn't make it unsuitable for shaving or honing.

But those lines near the edge on the omote side are realy bothering me. Are they only watermarks, and it that case, how water could have done so. Is it during long perios storage, humidity. In the pictures you posted, SiRed8, we don't see it so clearly, though it is visible, on the vendor site's pictures it is make more obvious. And it what made me stop from buying one of them. In any case, are those watermarks a problem or not ?

Beside of that, i am really interested about those Kanetaka razors, as i clarified with the vendor, they are really different from Kanetake made by Takahashi Norikazu.
Try to get it, those who forge kamisori can be counted with few fingers, and within that, u find Kanetake and Kanetaka. Knowing what Kanetake means (please help me inserting the link to the thread about the meaning of Kanetake name -made by O_S), i really wonder what Kanetaka means. Guess i should Pm O_S about that.

again, i want to say i am really thankful to SiRed8 to have bought those razors and share his experience, and to anywho finding interest in this thread ut a smiley here: !!

Kanetake is Takahashi Norikazu's registered name. His razors are in fact modeled after Tsurayuki's.
More here

OLD_SCHOOL's interview with Takahashi Norikazu

What ever you do, I implore you, DO NOT buy these. You might want to contact O_S to see if he has any pre-owned razors. He puts them up from time to time.

I spoke with a highly reputable forger who said that if his razor looked like mine, he would've trashed it to say the least.

With regards to the watermark, he said that there are ways to make steel look like wootz by playing heat treating.
If you cycle steel at rather low temperatures many time the result is different alloys that separate and show as banding. This is not good for the edge and its overall strength. Contrary to what vendor said:

Some knife collectors seek those knives, which have welding lines or marks on purpose, because it is more possibility to weld right temperature. It means it might be sharper than one without welding marks or lines. The edge of the blade is high quality white II steel."
All Kanetaka razors have some welding lines, but it is not stress fractures.

Do you want a razor that look very nice but not sharp, or looking not so good but it is very sharp?

The razors are flawed. They shave great but flawed. You might as well save up and wait for Norikazu to make Tamahagane. At least you're familiar with his work

BTW, here's another Kanetaka falsely advertised as Tosuke

Compare the kanji to this:

SiRed8 you are very clever

thanks for making the link between the razor on ebay and the Kanetaka and for warning us. ---

It seems that some guys are trying to make a few bucks using the japanese straights enthousiats, better to stick to well-known forgers. Iwasaki and Kanetake are really worthy.

on the other side, Tosuke and Kanetaka are making more problem. Tosuke cuz so many razors are branded as Tosuke, and Kanetaka seem to be a real joke now. we have on ebay a "Tosuke" that reveals to be a Kanetaka in the end....see the problems ?!)

I know i am mixing everybody with the names, so check the spelling carefully

Awesome review and additional information added by all. From my experiences, there is no way I would buy a japanese razor from anyone other than the guys on this board who are able to supply them - ebay is full of dodgy fakes and "seconds" (some that are really well done, but still not as advertised). Any newcomers to these fantastic razors would do well to seek them out here - you will not be disappointed.

I am a little bit confused now.

By 'forger" do you mean one who makes fakes or a blade smith, one who works at a forge?


The issue with the weld flaws imho is not a great problem. Sometimes it just happens. If they are extremely bad it could devalue the razor some, but merely being conspicuous is not enough to say it was poorly done. even at that there is hardly concern that it may affect the overall quality of the edge. Here's a little bit on a similar issue: Japanese Woodworking Forums • View topic - Cracks/fissures in iron?

Regarding the low temp cycles, this is, as far as I know, quite a regular practice for Jp tool smiths. It works just like normalizing. Alloy banding would appear something like hada, not hamon-like at all. If it looks like hamon it may be an effect from using clay coating in the heat treat.

the patina on the tang, again I do not see this as a problem -red rust; yes, that is a problem. Some forge scars or patina from use are not going to hurt anything. In some ways, if from forging, it is not as good, as clean as what Iwasaki does. Iwaskski razors that i have seen are quite immaculate overall. Who else does 'em that nice?

You right Kevin, "forger" could lead to misunderstanding, even in French, my spoken language.

a "forgeron" in french is the one who works in the "forge" where we heat metals.
But "to forge" has also the meaning of falsifying, making false copy.

I my previous post i only used "forger" to point at the man who works in a forge. I think SiRed8 used it the same way.
Is there a more specific word ?

well, u just told it : Blacksmith , or bladesmith !!

Originally Posted by LesPoils

You right Kevin, "forger" could lead to misunderstanding, even in French, my spoken language.

a "forgeron" in french is the one who works in the "forge" where we heat metals.
But "to forge" has also the meaning of falsifying, making false copy.

I my previous post i only used "forger" to point at the man who works in a forge. I think SiRed8 used it the same way.
Is there a more specific word ?

kevint, thanks I meant to say blacksmith/bladesmith.

Now looking at bare handles, I wished I hadn't sanded them down. Stupid OCD

Well I rarely get them wet anyway and I typically oil them. I know that's little overkill but the oil should last for long time considering I don't have many razors.

the razor on ebay has been sold for 200$ (+shipping my friends!!)

false tosuke true Kanetaka