Kakuuchi-Tataki-Nomi Japanese Made Timber Chisel By Ichihiro Ⅲ - 21mm

Smith name: Yamazaki Shouzou (January 3, 1938~ March 11, 2006)

Steel: White Steel No.1

Blade width: 21mm

Blade thickness: Blade Bottom(about 12.80mm)，The blade near the bevel (about 9.50mm)

Blade Cross section: Rectangular Kakuuchi style

Manufacture Era: Before 1980

Weight: 369g

Blade Angles: 31°

Total length: 290mm

Neck length:  70mm

Blade length: 68mm

Wooden handles：Japanese White Oak（Shirakashi）

Accessories：—

Additional Information: This is a rare 21mm Kakuuchi Tataki Nomi that has rarely been used. It came from a retired carpenter in Tokyo and is an early production piece by the 3rd generation Ichihiro. I have performed a restorative sharpening, honing both the bevel and the back (ura) up to 1,000 grit. The wooden handle was replaced by Mr. Tsuchida.

Based on the feedback from the steel and the behavior of the burr during sharpening, the steel is quite hard—harder than the steel typically used in Kiyotada chisels. That being said, the heat treatment is outstanding, featuring a uniform grain structure and good toughness. However, because its toughness is slightly lower than that of most Kiyotada chisels, you may need to increase the bevel angle when working with dense hardwoods.

Another impressive feature of this batch of Ichihiro chisels is the komi (tang). The komi on these Hidari Ichihiro chisels is noticeably thicker and more robust than most others I have encountered. While a stouter komi is much more ideal for both the tool's structural integrity and the user, it demands a much higher level of skill from the craftsman fitting the handle. As a result, due to complaints from wholesalers and handle-fitters over time, the komi size on most Hidari Ichihiro chisels was eventually reduced.

For reference regarding the komi of this particular batch of Ichihiro chisels, you can check out this post by Mr. Tsuchida: [Link]. The chisel on the left is one from this exact batch.