Woodcarving and Veneer Knives from Japan

Japanese Woodcarving Knives, Veneer Knives

Japanische Schnitzmesser The Japanese carving knife "Kogatana" has the cutting steel forge-welded to one ore two layers of soft and tough iron. This has the advantage that the risk of the very hard, and thus brittle, steel’s snapping is lessened because it is embedded in softer iron. The knives offered here have the mirror side slightly hollowed, which means that sharpening is much easier as there is no need to grind the whole surface flat. Having the blade sharpened only from one side is a geat help when cutting along a ruler's edge or when trying to achieve a perfectly straight cut as in veneer work.

In his book, "Japanese woodworking tools: their tradition, spirit and use " Toshio Odate tells us about these all-purpose knives: "When I was a boy, it was expected of us that we took one of these Kiridashi-Kogatana and a pair of scissors with us to school in our pencil box. The Kiridashi-Kogatana was used for sharpening our pencils and in art lessons for cutting wood, bamboo and card so that we could make toys and boxes and little gadgets. Using this knife we got to know the properties of wood and bamboo, we learnt the intrinsic qualities of the sort of steel from which the Kiridashi-Kogatana was made, and we also learnt how sharp the blade was."

The knives without separate handle can be used either naked or with a covering of bamboo or leather, as is the Japanese tradition. You can also make yourself a wooden handle for them. To sharpen the Kogatana, we recommend our Japanese Waterstones.

Yokote Kogatana
Knife made of two layers of steel with handle and blade. Bevel on right side, hand-hammered surface.

Blade width	Blade length	Total length	Order nr.	Price
20 mm	75 mm	150 mm	309000	^✱€ 21.50

Kiridashi Kogatana
Similar to above but without handle and sheath

Blade width	Blade length	Order nr.	Price
12 mm	180 mm	309011	^✱€ 13.50
21 mm	180 mm	309014	^✱€ 16.50

Kasaya Kogatana
Thin wood carving knife made of two layers of steel, bevel on the right side, black, forged surface. Thickness only 1.5 mm! The tip is 20°. The mirror side of these knives is not hollowed!

Blade width	Blade length	Order nr.	Price
7.5 mm	210 mm	309057	^✱€ 12.50
9 mm	210 mm	309058	^✱€ 12.50
12 mm	210 mm	309059	^✱€ 13.50
15 mm	210 mm	309060	^✱€ 14.50

Kogatana folding pocket knife
Folding type, available with bevel on right side or bevel on both sides, blade made of two layers of steel (3 layers on blade with two bevels), hand hammered surface.

Bevel type	Blade width	Blade length	Total length	Order nr.	Price
Right side only	27 mm	100 mm	230 mm	309023	^✱€ 24.50
Both sides	27 mm	100 mm	230 mm	309024	^✱€ 28.50

Standard Kiridashi-Kogatana

The following 3 types are our most sold knives. Following bevel types available:

bevel on the left side - for lefthanders and for work where a right handed knife is not suitable.
bevel on the right side - for righthanders and for work where a left handed knife is not suitable.
bevel on both sides - for freehand work

Kiridashi Kogatana - bevel on the left side
Multi purpose and wood carving knife made of two layers of steel, black, forged surface. The tip is 20°, bevel on the left side.

Blade width	Blade length	Order nr.	Price
3 mm	160 mm	309062	^✱€ 15.90
6 mm	160 mm	309063	^✱€ 15.90
9 mm	160 mm	309064	^✱€ 15.90
12 mm	160 mm	309065	^✱€ 15.90
15 mm	160 mm	309066	^✱€ 15.90
18 mm	160 mm	309067	^✱€ 16.90

Kiridashi Kogatana - bevel on the right side
Multi purpose and wood carving knife made of two layers of steel, black, forged surface. The tip is 20°, bevel on the right side.

Blade width	Blade length	Order nr.	Price
3 mm	160 mm	309069	^✱€ 12.90
6 mm	160 mm	309070	^✱€ 12.90
9 mm	160 mm	309071	^✱€ 12.90
12 mm	160 mm	309072	^✱€ 12.90
15 mm	160 mm	309073	^✱€ 12.90
18 mm	160 mm	309074	^✱€ 13.90

Kiridashi Kogatana - bevel on both sides
Multi purpose and wood carving knife made of two layers of steel, black, forged surface. The tip is 20°, bevel on both sides.

Blade width	Blade length	Order nr.	Price
3 mm	160 mm	309076	^✱€ 12.90
6 mm	160 mm	309077	^✱€ 12.90
9 mm	160 mm	309078	^✱€ 12.90
12 mm	160 mm	309079	^✱€ 12.90
15 mm	160 mm	309080	^✱€ 12.90
18 mm	160 mm	309081	^✱€ 13.90