Chouna Japanese Carpenter Adze Blade - 97mm

Brand name: Kiyoshi( 㐂吉, It's probably a wholesale brand)

Smith name: Unknown

Steel: Carbon Steel

Jigane: Modern soft iron

Blade length: 132mm

Blade width: 97mm

Manufacture Era: The early Shōwa period

Blade Weight: 550g

Accessories: -

Additional Information:  This item is in unused, in good condition. I have performed a basic sharpening, bringing both bevels to approximately 1,000 grit. It had lain forgotten for decades in a tool shop within the Kanto region. Upon purchasing, I observed prominent forge scales and marks on the socket section where the wooden handle is fitted, and the eye size was notably smaller than that of contemporary production chouna.

This led me to speculate that it was an integrally forged chouna made via traditional methods. Most recently manufactured examples—including those by the blacksmith Takagi—are produced by fabricating the blade and socket separately and then welding them together. I consulted Mr. Tsuchida on this matter, and he verified that this piece was indeed integrally forged as a single unit using traditional techniques.