Elmax Pro Kamiso Japanese Style Straight Edge Razor - Barber Straight Razor, Single Edge Razor, Straight Razors For Men Uses Single Edge Razor Blades

I've been a straight razor user for several years. I bought a Focus Slim Al shavette as the maintenance of straight I found tedious. The Focus was my gold standard for ease of use and excellence of performance, but the basic configuration of the handle/pivot/blade arm made some movements... tricky. Recently reading of the kamisori I thought- why not? I looked a the Shibumi kamisori shavette but was put off by the reviews indicating rusting- never a good thing. I happened on the Elmax and thought for the money it was worth an experiment. Wow! Quality construction and great materials- feels like stainless with a protective powder coating. The half blade loads securely and the the razor locks up into a very rigid configuration. The Focus Slim is noted for the excellence of it's tolerances- the Elmax matches it step for step. Shaves very close. Is very maneuverable and gets into areas I had had trouble with using a traditional straight. I really like the feel of this razor in hand- it becomes an extension of your hand much like a scalpel. The only potential downside is the exposed blade- but a bulldog clip on the end allows this kamisori to rest blade up (great for drying) in a medicine cabinet where it is unlikely to slice the unwary. Excellent piece of equipment. 6 stars.

Ever since I saw Goodfella's, I've had visions of using razor blades to cut garlic. This seemed like a viable option that would also allow for precision cutting. Well the "holder" makes slicing anything kind of impossible because everything gets caught up in the blade cover. That's not the fault of the straight edge, it's my faulty expectations. I suppose I will have to try to shave with it, now. Imagine that, using it for its intended purpose. Looks like it's more than capable of that. Solidly built and nicely packaged.

Tight grip on the blade. Good weight and comfortable hold

Did have a difficult time putting the blade in. Instructions aren't all that great. Blades are not included. I figured for the price, maybe just a few would have worked. Does give a good close shave, once you get the hang of how to use it. Definitely gives you better handling of the blade versus the traditional swing out blades.

First off, this is just a blade holder, no blades are provided; therefore, I will try to focus my comments on just the holder itself.

My initial impressions of the Elmax Pro Kamiso Japanese Style Straight Edge Razor were mixed. The box and presentation were nice, but the "polly rattan" on the handle just looks like plastic (which it is). With all they can do with plastic today, it was disappointing. Aside from that, the weight and balance of the handle were fine, and even when wet and lathered, I was able to maintain a good grip on the handle, even with the plastic.

But before my first use, I had to figure out how to insert a blade (half blade) into the handle. I hate to admit it, but as others have noted, it wasn't immediately intuitive. But once I watched the video included with the listing it was easy enough; although the risk of cutting yourself in the process is not to be discounted.

As for how well it works, that's where I am of mixed opinion. With my initial use, I still had a beard and found it very handy to clean up edges and lines. However, when I later tried using it without a beard to shave my entire face, that's when it seemed out of its league. It worked OK, but with so many better options available like a good DE handle or straight razor, it just didn't make sense to try using it for that purpose again.