Recently I prepared the above shaving set for my travels. It is small, humble, not fragile for dropping, rust resistant and light.
It is based on common Polish made razor wapienica chirurgiczna. Certainly, it is not a cutting-edge product itself. Just common tool for daily shaving from the times when it was just an ordinary routing activity of any man, not limited to gentleman or extravagant dinos. Althought it is far from proper balance in the the weight (scales are too heavy), in my opinion is stil very nice and deserves appreciacion. I like its simplicity and aesthetic look. The ability to boil it in hot water might be also taken as an advantage. As you may see, I used archaic leather tight case. I bought it on street flea market with other German razor. But I suppose it is self-made, again, for daily use in the past.
Second is the brush. It is fully made by Stando Shaving Accessories, Polish maker of custom handles and brushes who is well known in the wet-shaving community. Generally I prefer to use natural knots, But for travelling this guy, which is fully synthetic (Silk Smoke from APShaveCo ), offers important advantages. I appreciate it for its look and softness. When working with Cella soap (block version) it comes very fast and efficient – as it should in travel where there might be not chance and time for soaking knots in warm water. For evidence – see the below clip.
The strap comes from my photo gear bag. It comes absolutely sufficient for in-travel stropping. 5cm wide and long enough. No need to carry anything else, unless I have my leather trousers’ belt.
What is missing on the photo is the AS and shaving soap. AS has been just delivered. For AS I use Stella Alpina from Saponificio Varesino in nice small 100 ml metal bottle. Similarly, soap comes into tiny metal snuff box as could be seen in the other picture.
I’m not keen of stropping on the typical set of belts which are connected together and each possesses its own handle. They are usually equipped with many hard parts (handle, pins and clips/carabiners). For some time I’ve been looking for something simple and multipurpose. Lack of progress lead me to some hesitation – why all go into the same design. We all may remember that old people often used their trousers’ belt for stropping.
Finnaly it led me to design my own strop suite and ask my son to make it. It is not yet that multipurpose as I intended – still cannot be used as regular belt. The belt which you can see below is not perfect from esthetics point of view but:
there are no metal elements, it can be used on the door handle or additional clip which I present below
the leather part and cotton strap are connected together on both ends so it stretches both simultaneously when pulling by handle
because of the above the stropping surface is more flat
the surface is even more flat and stable because the upper part is supported by the bottom part all the times
the handle is made from the same piece of leather than the strap itself, so it provides good balance of hardness and softness for practical use
there no metal pins or rings to harm the fragile edge of razor
it can be extremely wide with no need to look for extremely large clips
Saito SK1 smiles to you. The smile is deep and extraordinary. Surprising, the shave itself is smooth, easy and “dully” normal. However, yet exciting and more precise in shaving than any other common straights.
I got fascinated with SK1 Saito Kikuboshi razor since the very first time when I saw. It seemed so much not available to me because of the price and unavailability. Along learning about its origin – all that about Japanese barber master Kikuboshi and in general about mastership in crafting Japanese traditional razors – Kamisori, my fascination and believe in its quality was merely increasing. As far as I know there not many of them in Poland – for sure 2 pieces. YouTube offers some clips made in Japan, Russia, Finland and US. Not many. Both Polish makers of custom razors have made single pieces following this specific design (see the one from Topek and the other from Cichy). Hence, the price reflects both – quality and small number of them offered on the market.
I will be not repeating its history and markings. What is worth mentioning is that there are 3 profiles of SK : 1, 2 and 3. While SK1 is the extremely curved the SK3 is still smiling deep but not that shocking deep. SK2 is in between of them regarding the profile (read about it here). I hope to present all 3 types in some time. Change in the profile affects the height of the blade which subsequently is reflected in the change of the hollow (see the photo below). SK1 comes with its amazing hollow ground with belly. Additionally I can share that It was discovered during the renovation that there are extra 1-2-3 markings hidden on the blade under the scales at the pivot. There is a nice website documenting that all.
In this way I was somehow inclined to seek them at origin, in Japan. Thanks to my colleague, whose wife is Japanese, it became much easier to me that thought before. SKs are available there more often than in other places but it is still very rare and limited. In 6 months I discovered 3 SK3, 2 SK1 and 2 SK2. Which does not mean that I wanted to buy all of them. While by rule they are less expensive there, there are still substantially costly. However, nice SK3 can be bought for $70. It happens that they sell whole gear sets from old barber shops and then the price can very attractive But you get it in bulk with many items that might be out of your interest. The best is to be there on the spot and visit markets and antique boutiques.
Unpacked
All that means that renovation becomes a must. Although I admit that in essence Japanese take care about such things while using, packing standards and fidelity of the description when selling is higher than in Europe. Mine was renovated by Lewy (drop by to knives.pl forum). As you could see in the other post he did excellent job with my F.Reynolds. No hesitation that he can do such a good job with this one.
In fact he renovated SK1 and SK3 in one shot, the latter was bought by me for the other college – MJW. During that renovations, Lewy discovered the extra hidden markings at pivots and also the fact that both had unsymmetrical pin wholes at the pivot. It was not visible, but as such normally, it is considered as a imprecision, if not a defect. Conclusion might be that we seek perfection in craftship of treser piecem while in essence they were manufactured for daily use. Nowadays traditional shaving comes as extravagance and this is why we look for features which are not essential for use. Saying so, in no means, I depreciate the attractiveness of SKs. The blade is made for “simple” beauty and extreme effectiveness in shaving.
Below SK1 with extra marking, above Cichy custom razor.
Here I can mention that scales of my SK1 came with beautiful deep green (like bottle glass) cast. I felt lucky and start preparing a set of leathering scuttle and brush handle. Unfortunately, green turned to deep glossy black during the renovation. Most likely the scales are made of a material which ages (probably oxidizes in sun light) with changing its color. You can see other pieces on the market with brownish scales. Probably that is the same effect. My SK3 scales are of different ferry tail.
Lewy made an excellent job. No signs of use or post rust craters. It surface is smooth and elegant. See the photo below, it turns as a mirror.
Newspaper which came with the razor.
I cannot say much about the steel used for Kikuboshi razors. If you read it and you can contribute please post comments, maybe some links regarding the steel used. In the other pieces I can see the engraved note “Swedish steel”.
Honned but not stropped yet
When it comes to shaving I have to say that I was ready to admit in advance that SK1 might be more museum exhibit while SK3 is designed for use. How the hell to shave with such a sickle! I was wrong, fortunately fully wrong! First of all it is much smaller than the impression learned from photos. In fact it is tiny piece. It became so appealing to me in context of different razor. I used to strop my Filarmonika 14 with no specific impressions. But then, just after stroping SK1, the usual Filarmonika turned to be giant.
Surprisingly, shaving came “dully” normal. No need for any specific technique or directions. Not at all. 2 runs, as usual, where fully sufficient. The same routine. I expected SK1 to be typical loud razor. Surprisingly the echo given by it is not that loud as from other full hollow 8/8. I suppose that the blade profile itself and the belly stabilizes it very effectively.
The deep curve, enables additional natural move of the wrist which is not possible in straights. It is subtle and tiny, but it helps. I can say that due to that additional gesture, shaving seems to be more precise.
Does shaving take more time? Compering to common system safety razors – no doubts – much more. I consider traditional shaving as extravagance by definition. So there is no surprise. So why to do so? Myself I can say that I gain a kind of allergia to many mainstream behaviors and daily routines. But that is different story, subject itself. When comparing shaving time of SK1 and Filarmonika – there is no obvious difference in favor of the first or the latter.
The only thing that I found cumbersome is the bloody scales, precisely its position when stropping. Stopping the smile is a bit different from other straights. An extra dimension in the move is needed. It is not difficult but requires a bit more attention. The protruding handles do not help in this operation.
I consider it still “new” and fresh. Currently it is being used for daily shaving.
I rush to unload the kiln and manage to release some mugs and handles made to celebrate anniversary of Polish Independence (see more on the celebration from top menu – you may select different languages). The goal was to make it still in 2018!
What you can see here are the prototypes done from different materials and with different shapes. Thanks to community, I could learn from the poll on your preferences. I must say that some choices are surprising to me. I voted for simple handle and a regular mug. But it the sculptured handle and fluted mug seem to be most appreciated. See the results of voting in here (click on report button).
In addition to mugs and handles for Niepodległa, I managed to fire some other stuff. See it below.
Europeans often get fascinated by Japanese culture, tradition and spiritual approach to almost everything. My fascinations went by after getting deeper and deeper in one of the martial arts discipline, knowing the people and the underlining believes.
Now, it comes back in context of craftship – in ceramics and smith works. Ferrytales about Anagama firing and sword’s making are longs stories each, worth separate post if not portals.
For the moment take a look a the following two specific razors. Both designed Ryūichi Saitō. Read more on him and the 3 “smiling” models designed by him. At first glamps, those who are in the subject of traditional wet shaving, can see how deep is the “smile”. It may make sense. For experimentation with it, please wait a bit until they are renovated. I plan to record a sessions of honing it and using them.
Here is what came to me recently from Japan. No 1 and No 3, only 2 is missiong to the collection. Not bad conditions, nevertheless they deserve some refreshment if not renovation.
And here is an attempt to match other elements of the shaving gear set to the No 3. The bell and the brush handle made with porcelain mixed in the body with Ochra terracolor pigment, fired at 1250°C.
A month ago, when there still was the beautiful sunny autumn, I wanted to take some photos of the latest sets. Outdoor session with natural light, golden leaves and bit of time is not something that often comes easy altogether. For photography, I prefer and enjoy real scenery over any studio arrangements. But that may bring some surprise.
Here, my dog got interested in all these strange preparations and trials. And decided to research why these things bring so much of my attention. I managed to make a picture but could not stay still – what is visible on the picture. Just after that, she escaped with the brush experiencing even more interests on her..
Fortunately, nothing bad happened to any piece. A bit later I could finish my job properly.
The below set is made of grey clay from Witgert 116SF Anthrazit, glaze WT-11510 or 11403 (gołębie). Razor is a regular Titan remade (stabilizers taken out) and scales changed to kirinite dessert camo.
This handle was intended to pretend the style of old potters who were developing glazes themselves from iron, cooper and lead oxides by firing them and mixing with clay washes plus some ash. Here is just commercial glaze. I did not dare to apply ash on such a small guy.
This time, after showing a series of agateware and mirikomi, time to get back to tradition.
Here is …. what exactly it is? It was intended as a shaving bell, but unfortunately the geometry changed in firing. The upper rim does not fit the scuttle, at least not the end. So, I consider them as two separate pieces. Or, soon will develop two other parts with the same design to cross-match them each other. Will see..
This is clay (C930) fired at 1250°C with Rustica Gold glaze. It gives the old look with traces of “cooper”. Looks like old metal bowl. But it is not. Matt finish.
