Originally Posted by
lz6
I apologize for the :HJ
The knife is a Japanese kiridashi. The word can mean numerous kinds of knives in Japanese. This particular one is a model used by Japanese woodworkers. A friend of mine here in town builds Japanese style clothing dressers. He only works with Japanese hand tools and is hardcore about it. His work, unaffordable for folks like me, is heart stopping. In any event one of the primary uses of this style kiridashi allows for joint clean up and scribing lines for cutting, etc. This blade was made by a blacksmith in Japan. It is interesting as the blade is flat on one side and has a bevel on the opposite side. This allows for a near invisible scribe cut on the wood and the knife is also used to clean corner cuts, do carving,etc. I enjoy sharpening these, it is a slow smooth process to get everything exact and I have found that the hardest Arkansas stone works perfectly for me, anyway. I can sit and relax and while honing and enjoy my pipe or a cigar. I always just hone these knives holding the stone in my hand.