Nata Japanese Double-Bevel Hatchet Knife By Koun - 155mm

Brand name: 光雲(Koun)

Smith name: Unknown

Steel: Carbon Steel

Cutting edge length: 155mm

Total length: 305mm 

Blade Width:  about 41.0mm

Spine thickness: about 7.8mm

Manufacture Era: Around 2000s

Weight: 424g

Accessories: -

Additional Information: A used nata, well made and in good condition. From a retired Woodcarver from the Tokyo area.

A note about the brand 光雲(Koun):

I have found that many retired temple carpenters or professional carvers in or near Tokyo always have chisels of the Konobu, Koun(光雲), and Motoi(宗意) brands.
I was impressed by the koun chisels, which are similar in shape and finish to the konobu. (Some of the motoi chisels are also similar to the konobu, but the recent chisels seem to be made by Niigata blacksmiths).
I asked Mr. Tsuchida Noboru about Koun. Mr. tsuchida told me that the Koun(光雲) brand is a professional carving tool shop with good reviews in Asakusa, Tokyo. The name of the store is 光雲堂(Koun-dou, founded in 1894, it closed about 10 years ago). The shop provides high-quality tools to Japanese engraving master Takamura Kōun (高村 光雲, March 8, 1852 – October 10, 1934), who gave his name to the blacksmith as the name of his shop. As for why Koun brand chisels look very similar to Konobu, Mr. Tsuchida told me that many Konobu apprentices provide chisels to Koun store.