Kobiki Nokogiri and Temagari Nokogiri - Timber Saws
Kobiki-Nokogiri were used in ancient Japan for the rough ripping of logs into boards for carpenters and cabinetmakers.
These saws were used by one man, in contrast to Europe, where typically two men used a ripsaw for similar purposes. To properly guide them in very long cuts, the blades of Kobiki-Nokogiri, also known as Maebiki-Nokogiri, were much wider than
those of other saws. The saws were roughly made, and at times still showed the smith’s forge marks. Blades were laboriously hand-tapered from teeth to back to prevent jamming.
Unfortunately, these saws gradually disappeared with the advent of the industrial revolution. However, Temagori-Nokogiri, which are very similar to Kobiki, are more readily available, but are not as wide or as stable. They are used mainly to cut standing timber and thick branches. We got some Temagori Nokogiri for ripcut only - specially produced for us. They are nowadays even uncommon in Japan.
Illustration at left:
Japanese sawyers ripping a log into boards.
Henry Lanz, woodcut, ca. 1870,
"Japanese Woodworking Tools - Selection, Care & Use",
Sterling Publishing,Inc. 1985
We are pleased to have received several authentic Kobiki from a Japanese sawsmith, who has since retired; these saws will therefore no longer be produced.
used to rip logs. Hand-forged; thickness of blade tapers from teeth to back of saw; width of blade tapers from tip of saw to tang; signature of master smith on right side; forge marks visible. Wooden handle is provided separately and must be attached by user. These saws are rarities!
Instructions and enlarged views!
Blade Length: 450 mm (18 in.)
Total Length: 760 mm (30 in.)
Width of blade front: 150 mm (6 in.)
Width of blade near shaft: 110 mm (4-1/2 in.)
Thickness of blade near teeth: 1.2 mm
Thickness at the back: 0.8 mm
Kerf: ca. 2 mm
Pitch front: 12 mm (2 TPI)
Pitch near handle: 6.5 mm (4 TPI)
Thickness of shaft: 2.7 mm
Weight: 820 g
Order nr. 309830
Price € 439.00
mainly for crosscut, for felling trees, with wooden handle. Resawing (ripcut of logs) works quite well with this saw, but not as fast as with a ripcut saw.
Blade Length: 480 mm (19 in.)
Total Length: 790 mm (31 in.)
Width of blade front: 100 mm (4 in.)
Width of blade near shaft: 80 mm (3 in.)
Thickness of blade near teeth: 1.3 mm
Thickness at the back: 0.7 mm
Kerf: 2.6 mm
Pitch front: 8 mm (3 TPI)
Pitch near handle: 5 mm (5 TPI)
Thickness of shaft: 2 mm
Weight: 550 g
Order nr. 309834
Price € 92.00
as above, but for ripping and resawing.
Pitch front: 9 mm (3 TPI)
Pitch near handle: 7 mm (4 TPI)
Order nr. 312020
Price € 127.00
mainly for felling trees and cutting of thick branches, with plastic handle.
Blade Length: 390 mm (15-1/2 in.)
Total Length: 620 mm (24-1/2 in.)
Width of blade front: 55 mm (2-1/4 in.)
Width of blade near shaft: 50 mm (2 in.)
Thickness of blade: 1 mm
Kerf: 1.8 mm
Pitch front: 6 mm (4 TPI)
Pitch near handle: 4.5 mm (5.5 TPI)
Thickness of shaft: 1.5 mm
Order nr. 309426
Price € 39.90
