Japanese Marking Knives

Another batch of marking knives.

This is a small mixed batch of the Japanese kiridashi marking knives. The blades are a few different sizes; 15mm wide, 18mm wide and 15mm double-edge (left and right hand carpenter's marking knives)

The double-edge has a much more blunt angle in plan view, and a Vee shape with two edges. Completely useless for carving, but it's a better angle as a marking knife for carpentry. It also works either left or right handed. The sharpening angle is similar, but a little less acute.

All of these knives are sharpened Japanese style, with a single bevel. They're intended as marking knives so they're extremely hard, and this makes them a little brittle. I wouldn't recommend them for carving (although they're certainly sharp enough), but they are good for paper and some craft purposes. Using them against a steel rule can nick the edge (doh! - I learned the hard way), so I'd suggest an aluminium one.

Saya for the narrow knives are 1" across, 1/2" thick and 8" long. The shape is a rounded "cigar". A little wider wide for the 18mm knives.

I finish with shellac, either blonde (translucent light tan colour, when finished) or black shellac. The usual button shellac (mid-brown) or a red ochre colour would be possibilities too.

Mounting is by a pair of mekugi (bamboo pegs) through holes in both blade and mount. Small knives like this are usually mounted with fixed pegs, unlike swords that are demountable for cleaning.

Wrapped hilt

Tsuka maki (wrapped hilt) is usually applied to full-size swords with large hilts, but I tried out a simpler form with kami hira maki (a flat wrap without twists) on these small aikuchi style mounts.

Marking knives

Knife box (for Hirez)

1995

Storage box with two-part swivelling lid.

Materials: red cedar, oil finish

Jarkman made something similar, about the same time.