Hako-nomi Japanese Carving Chisel By Second Generation Konobu - 42mm

Smith name: Takiguchi Kiyo

Steel: Blue Steel #2

Blade width: 42mm

Manufacture Era: about 1990s (according to collector’s memory)

Blade Angles: 27°

Total length: 245mm

Neck length: 50mm

Blade length: 45mm

Types of wooden handles：Japanese White Oak（Shirakashi）

Weight: 239g

Accessories：—

Additional Information: Lightly used, in good condition. The chisel comes from a retired carver from the Tokyo area.  

The direct translation of 箱鑿(Hako-nomi) is box chisel, but it does not mean that this chisel is used to make boxes. The Hako-nomi gets its name from its shape, with its 90-degree rolled sides making it look like a box.

It is inevitable to encounter wood with reverse grain when carving. The rolled sides of this chisel make the job easier when carving against the grain of wood. Mainly used in the rough carving step. 

It can also be used to create unique engraving marks on wood surfaces. Similar to the work in the link below:

https://kinomi-inami.stores.jp/items/65f1622988afc101eb4778bb

According to the description of the Hako-nomi on page 12 in this document - 「Interview with Kazuyoshi Saito - the third generation Konobu」. This type of carving chisel has a relatively recent history. The emergence of a new type of artist-carver, distinct from traditional carvers of Buddhist statues and wooden architectural components, gave rise to this chisel. Traditional woodcarvers use this chisel to quickly remove large amounts of wood in the early stages (or use the more traditional Uchimaru chisel). Artist-type woodcarvers value the unique carving marks left by this chisel on the surface of the wood and leave these marks on the surface of the work.