I asked Iwasaki san about "Tamahagane".
He came back with 2 chunks of raw "Tamahagane".
Ancient and New Tamahagane |
He said:"The bigger one is Tamahagane made now by The Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords ." "It is made every year by Hitachi Metals by old methods."
"The small one is an ancient Tamahagane made by a Tatara master. Not all ancient Tamahagane are top class. Before modern steel came to Japan in Meiji period (1868-1912) there have been many ancient Tatara places. These Tatara places has been named by the masters who made the Tamahagane. I have a stock of excellent and famous masters and I use these for my razors."
I had a chance to make photos of his very special ancient Tamahagane:
Ancient Tamahagene Stock |
Near to this stock I saw some other steel:
Hocho Tetsu |
The answer was it is Hocho Tetsu and it is the mild or soft steel made by the Tatara method. It has been used to make latticework in a window of an old storehouse. The name of these storehouse is "Kura" and you can see it at google picture. Storehouses which have been build before the Meiji period have these Hocho Tetsu.
These can be used as Jigane (clad) or you can enrich it with carbon to make carbon steel and it will be the same as Tamahagane.
The Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords Tatara Tamahagane Box |
When I made the tour of his workshop I found a bigger charcoal furnace; far to big for razors.
It was a furnace to make a Tamahagane bar from the chunk of raw Tamahagane by hammering and folding to get rid of the non melting impurities.
Charcoal Furnace to Purify Tamahagane |
The answer was yes!
They make few Tamahagane kamisori (Japanese razors) but not western razors.
I asked if they are for sale?
The answer was no!
I did not ask further.
I do not know where the new made Tamahagane razors go.
Maybe to museum or to inner circle.
I got a look at old Tamahagane western razors too:
Old Tmahagane Western Razors with Defects |
I hope my readers have enjoyed to see Tamahagane.
Thank you very much, this is really interesting.
ReplyDeleteThere is something that, maybe, I haven't well understood: you say that Iwasaki san is not selling tamahagane razors; but then what are those Iwasaki tamahagane razors (with tamahagane stamp) that are sold on some famous sites? I have one too. Were they made earlier? Were they made with another type of tamahagane (maybe the "modern" type?)
Thank you for comment.
ReplyDeleteIwasaki san and Mizuochi san does not make western razors now. They said they make few tamahagane kamisori (Japanese razors).
I never saw a new Iwasaki tamahagane razor on sale.
I only see new old stocks on auctions sometimes.
Oh, sorry, I didn't understand; I thought you were meaning they do not make kamisori too.
ReplyDeleteIt's one of those that I have myself.
Thank you again for your really informative blog
Excellent blog and information, thank you very much.
ReplyDeleteThe quality of tamahagane made is depend also on the processing. No wonder that it would cost a lot than ordinary steels.
ReplyDeleteI definitely appreciate your blog. Excellent work!
ReplyDeleteTamahagane
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