Info on Seiki Japanese western-style ST8

[natchez]

Does anyone know anything about the Seiki razor pictured below- age, quality of maker, etc.? The symbols on the box are duplicated on the razor, so I am guessing it is a match to the box. The blade is just about a 7/8 half hollow and seems to be in used but serviceable condition. Scales are a translucent plastic. Thanks for any input.

[Seraphim]

Looks nice. Odds are that it will be a great shaver!

[natchez]

Looks nice. Odds are that it will be a great shaver!

You are correct it really is a fine shaver. I touched it up on the stones and gave it a go this morning. But, it is loud :w00t: I have a bunch of razors and this one seems quite loud as the whiskers go. I have no idea why, but would be interested in any ideas.

[cityjim]

Looks like a keeper. Got to love Japanese steel.

And where can I get one?

cityjim

[BladeRunner001]

That's a nice looking blade. Don;t know anything about it...but, if it's like other Japanese razors I know, it'll be a great one. Have you honed it yet?

[cityjim]

That's what I was thinking. An Iwasaki on the cheap, possibly??


cityjim

[kfralin]

I know they make kitchen cutlery...don't know much about their straights but Japanese blades are generally of very high quality. Here is a link to a company that sells some Japanese "western style" razors:

http://yhst-27988581933240.stores.yahoo.net/index.html

I have never purchased from this site so it is not an endorsement, just found the link and some really nice looking stuff and a lot of honing stones as well.

Great looking razor!!!

[TstebinsB]

I know they make kitchen cutlery...don't know much about their straights but Japanese blades are generally of very high quality. Here is a link to a company that sells some Japanese "western style" razors:

http://yhst-27988581933240.stores.yahoo.net/index.html

I have never purchased from this site so it is not an endorsement, just found the link and some really nice looking stuff and a lot of honing stones as well.

Great looking razor!!!

The seller is Takeshi Aoki in Hawaii. He's a stand-up guy and a great resource for information. I've been dealing with him for a few years and it's always been positive.

[TstebinsB]

You are correct it really is a fine shaver. I touched it up on the stones and gave it a go this morning. But, it is loud :w00t: I have a bunch of razors and this one seems quite loud as the whiskers go. I have no idea why, but would be interested in any ideas.

It's probably because the steel is so stiff. Most JP Westerns are stiff grinds.

[natchez]

That's what I was thinking. An Iwasaki on the cheap, possibly??


cityjim

Thanks, but the symbols appear quite different. But, one can always dream :001_smile


Great looking razor!!!

Thanks much.


That's a nice looking blade. Don;t know anything about it...but, if it's like other Japanese razors I know, it'll be a great one. Have you honed it yet?

Thanks. I first put it in my ultrasonic cleaner and sterilized it. The blade cut arm hair easily when I got it, and the bevel looked good, so I just did a bit of a touch up before using it. I touched it up on an Asagi, seemed fitting, and five passes on a .25 micron sprayed piece of felt and then stropped. It gave a lovely shave this morning.


Looks like a keeper. Got to love Japanese steel.

And where can I get one?

cityjim

This was an eBay adventure. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110589037176&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

The razor is in nice, but clearly in used shape, with a few scratches and marks on the blade. The plastic scales are warped, as many are, and the wedge between the scales at the toe is cracked. But, it does close fine and the scales are clearly usable. They are actually tortoise-like color. It does not have much hone wear, so it was not abused.

You never know with eBay- it always is a gamble. Also, I could not find anything about the maker before I bid. But, the one Japanese razor I bought from Telly is great, and I had never heard of a King Pelican before that, so I took the risk. I still don't really know much about the razor, other than it shaves nicely, so it cannot be all bad. :001_smile

It came with a used strop and a really small coticule bout in the same lot. The strop is fine, also used, and the little coti is quite cute and is a combo w/BBW on the other side- made a nice purplish slurry. It will make a good little travel stone for touch ups. :001_rolle


It's probably because the steel is so stiff. Most JP Westerns are stiff grinds.

Thanks, it must be rather stiff steel. Razor is about a half hollow or so, but does feel stiffer.

Anyway, thanks for any and all info; the feedback is much :thumbup:appreciated.