Ueki-basami Japanese Hand Made Bonsai Scissors By Sakai Noboru - Left Hand ②

Smith name: Sakai Noboru (1929 ~ 2016，the eldest brother of Hammer Master Kouzaburo.)

Steel: Carbon Steel

Finish type: Blacksmith Black Finish

Cutting edge length: 55mm

Total length: 200mm 

Manufacture Era: Around 1980s (according to collector’s memory)

Weight: 155g

Type of Bonsai Scissors: Ueki Type (植木鋏)

Additional Information: Unused, though there is some rust on the surface. This rare left-handed pair of scissors comes from a tool collector who purchased several pieces from a blacksmith about 40 years ago. I’ve just purchased his final remaining pieces from this collection.

This pair of scissors uses his most common mark -  本成寺昇(Honjoji Noboru). Since the blacksmith shop was located near Honjoji, a famous Buddhist temple in Sanjo City, Niigata, the blacksmith used the name of the temple plus his own name(昇) to form the brand name.

Sakai Noboru (坂井昇) , His father (Sakai Shouhei/坂井庄平) started making scissors in 1865~1868. His work only ranked second at the first exhibition of professional tools and knives, but has won the championship ever since.

Sakai Shouhei has three sons. The eldest is Sakai Noboru, the second is Sakai Masayoshi, and the third is Sakai Kozaburo.

Sakai Kozaburo was sent to the hammer blacksmith Hasegawa as an adopted son to learn how to make hammers when he was 5 years old. The surname was changed to Hasegawa. He is the well-known hammer master Hasegawa Kouzaburo.