Japanese Chisels "Oire Nomi"

Skip this Text The renowned metal-working arts of Japan are reflected in Japanese chisels. Blades are made in two parts: a softer iron body, extending into the handle, and a hard steel cutting piece hammer-welded to the body. Blades are hollow-ground to make sharpening easier. An often-asked question is what to do when the blade is ground down so far that the hollow reaches the cutting edge. This is actually not a problem - regular sharpening and honing of the face moves the hollow back so that a straight edge is automatically maintained. In fact, overenthusiastic sharpening or grinding of the face by some users enlarges the flat between the edge and the hollow-ground part of the chisel.

These chisels are customarily driven by steel hammers in Japan, but the usual wooden mallet will serve just as well. The total length of all chisels offered on this page is 22 - 23 cm (8-13/16 - 9 in.).

Wir carry five different quality lines:

Budget-priced Hikoza brand chisels. These have demonstrated very good quality in use. They are made of unalloyed carbon steel, harder but also slightly more brittle than European chisels
Koshimitsu brand chisels in "white steel". These are made of the renowned "Hitachi Yasuki Hagane No. 2" steel, carbon steel with special properties, very densely-grained, and both harder and tougher than the usual carbon steels. "White steel" will take the sharpest edge of any steel; these chisels are therefore suitable for the very finest and most precise work. They are made by Master blacksmith Matsumura in Yoita, Province Niigata.
High-speed steel (HSS) chisels. Until recently, no chisels were made of high-speed steel, because the material was too coarse-grained to take a truly sharp edge. However, manufacturers have now succeeded in producing high-speed steel sufficiently fine-grained to take and hold an edge. These chisels can be sharpened to a very fine edge but their outstanding feature is their ruggedness. Carbon steel blades can be nicked fairly easily if not properly used. High-speed steel chisels, on the other hand, will take abuse with little concern that the blade will be damaged. They do require, however, slightly more effort to sharpen than carbon steel.
Daitei brand Chisels made of "Blue Steel" "Blue Steel" is a little different from the "white paper steel" that is used in some of the other high-quality Japanese chisels and plane irons we sell. Blue steel has a carbon content of 1 - 1.5%, chrome 0.2 - 0.5%, and 1 - 1.5% tungsten. Chrome reduces wear, and provides rust resistance (although given the tiny amount of chrome in this alloy, one cannot consider it stainless steel) and aids in quenching the steel after hardening. The tungsten adds hardness to the alloy.
The chisel as art. Blade made of "Suminagashi," the Japanese version of damascened steel, with its layers prominently displayed; handle of sandalwood; a feast for the eye! It goes without saying that the cutting edge is carefully hardened and tempered.

Do not omitt to have a look at our sharpening directions for Japanese Chisels. Japanese Slicks "Sashi Nomi" you will find here! Click pictures for enlargements!

HIKOZA Oire Nomi
Japanese chisels
laminated carbon steel
die-forged, Japanese standard chisel of good quality
Hardness: 62 - 63 HRC
Enlargement

Blade width	Order nr.	Price
3 mm	309500	^✱€ 18.95
6 mm	309501	^✱€ 18.95
9 mm	309502	^✱€ 18.95
12 mm	309503	^✱€ 18.95
15 mm	309504	^✱€ 18.95
18 mm	309505	^✱€ 19.95
21 mm	309506	^✱€ 19.95
24 mm	309507	^✱€ 22.95
30 mm	309508	^✱€ 26.95
36 mm	309509	^✱€ 28.95

Set of 6 HIKOZA Chisels in canvas tool roll
6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 30 mm
You save: € 25.65
Order nr. 309510

Price ^✱€ 109.00

Set of 6 HIKOZA Chisels and 1 hammer in canvas tool roll

Set of 6 HIKOZA Chisels and 1 Japanese Hammer in Canvas Tool Roll
These chisels are customarily driven by steel hammers in Japan. We included a hammer with a head weight of 375 g (nr. 309705).
6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 30 mm
Compared with single purchase you save: € 27.55
Order nr. 205520

Price ^✱€ 129.00

Set of 10 HIKOZA Chisels in canvas tool roll
3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 30, 36 mm
You save: € 34.45
Order nr. 309511

Price ^✱€ 189.00

KOSHIMITSU Oire Nomi
Japanese chisels
laminated "White Steel"
"Hitachi Yasuki Hagane No. 2"
finest quality
hand forged by Master Blacksmith Matsumura in Yoita, Province Niigata,
Hardness: 64 HRC
Thickness, blade measured near bevel and near shank:
3 mm wide blade: 6 - 8 mm
6 mm wide blade: 5.5 - 7.5 mm
all others: 5 - 7 mm
Stated thickness only approximate, as these chisels are hand forged
Enlargement
View Master blacksmith Matsumura forging a chisel

Blade width	Order nr.	Price
3 mm	309550	^✱€ 33.00
6 mm	309551	^✱€ 33.00
9 mm	309552	^✱€ 35.00
12 mm	309553	^✱€ 39.00
15 mm	309554	^✱€ 41.00
18 mm	309555	^✱€ 44.00
21 mm	309556	^✱€ 47.00
24 mm	309557	^✱€ 48.00
30 mm	309558	^✱€ 57.00
36 mm	309559	^✱€ 62.00

Set of 6 KOSHIMITSU Chisels in canvas tool roll
6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 30 mm
You save: € 34.95
Order nr. 309560

Price ^✱€ 229.00

Set of 10 KOSHIMITSU Chisels in canvas tool roll
3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 30, 36 mm
You save: € 49.95
Order nr. 309561

Price ^✱€ 399.00

KOSHIMITSU Dovetail Chisels Umeki Nomi
hand forged by Master Blacksmith Matsumura.
The blade of these dovetail chisels is triangular in section. This shape allows the chisels to be used to cut in tight corners, like dovetail joints, where the shape of a normal chisel prevents it from being used. These chisels are in general thinner than standard chisels, and so should not be used for heavy work. The steel used for the edge is the best available for these tools - White Paper Steel, forged by Master Matsumura, and hardened to about 64 HRC.

The thickness measurements given for these chisels is at the peak of the triangle in the middle of the blade. The narrower chisels are thicker so as to provide the blade with enough strength and stiffness. If the blades are too thick for a job, one can file off some part of the peak, which is formed of relatively soft and strong iron. It will not look as nice as the original blade, but the chisels can then be used in places that cannot be reached with any conventional chisel. Be aware that filing off the peak of these chisels will weaken them considerably, and under no circumstances should leverage be exerted on these blades! These chisels are hand-forged, and so small variations in the dimensions listed are to be expected. Enlargement

Blade width	Blade thickness	Order nr.	Price
3 mm	7 mm	309565	^✱€ 37.00
4,5 mm	7 mm	309566	^✱€ 37.00
6 mm	6 mm	309567	^✱€ 37.00
7,5 mm	5 mm	309568	^✱€ 39.00
9 mm	5 mm	309569	^✱€ 39.00
10,5 mm	5 mm	309570	^✱€ 43.00
12 mm	5 mm	309571	^✱€ 43.00
15 mm	5 mm	309572	^✱€ 44.00
18 mm	5 mm	309573	^✱€ 47.00
21 mm	5,5 mm	309574	^✱€ 52.00
24 mm	6 mm	309575	^✱€ 53.00
30 mm	6 mm	309576	^✱€ 55.00
36 mm	6 mm	309577	^✱€ 62.00
42 mm	6 mm	309578	^✱€ 63.00

Set of 6 KOSHIMITSU Dovetail Chisels in canvas tool roll
3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 mm
You save: € 34.95
Order nr. 309579

Price ^✱€ 229.00

High Speed Steel Japanese Chisels
These are the most sturdy chisels available - good for the shop as well as for the building site.
Hardness: 65 - 66 HRC
Length: approx 23 cm (9 inches)
Enlargement
A customer wrote us about these chisels: "The short HSS chisel works incredibly, doesn't loose edge at all. Goes into Eucalyptus with no respect (in a good sense). And I still enjoy sharpening my pencils with it."

Blade width	Order nr.	Price
3 mm	310000	^✱€ 36.00
6 mm	310001	^✱€ 36.00
9 mm	310002	^✱€ 36.00
12 mm	310003	^✱€ 36.00
15 mm	310004	^✱€ 36.00
18 mm	310005	^✱€ 37.00
21 mm	310006	^✱€ 38.00
24 mm	310007	^✱€ 39.00
30 mm	310008	^✱€ 40.00
36 mm	310009	^✱€ 43.00
42 mm	310010	^✱€ 46.00

Set of 6 High Speed Steel Japanese Chisels
in canvas tool roll
6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 30 mm
You save: € 22.95
Order nr. 310011

Price ^✱€ 209.00

Set of 11 High Speed Steel Japanese Chisels
in canvas tool roll
3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 30, 36, 42 mm
You save: € 33.95
Order nr. 310012

Price ^✱€ 399.00

Japanisches Mini-Stemmeisen Damaszener Stahl

DAITEI Japanese Mini Chisels made of Damascus Steel
"Suminagashi Mini Oire Nomi"
Cutting steel made of "Blue Steel"
laminated onto a multi-layer core "Suminagashi"
Handle made of Sandalwood
Made by Master Teijiro Ohkubo in Yoita, Province Niigata.
Total length 150 - 155 mm
Blade length 35 - 40 mm

Blade width	Order nr.	Price
6 mm	310774	^✱€ 57.00
9 mm	310775	^✱€ 61.00
12 mm	310776	^✱€ 75.00
15 mm	310777	^✱€ 77.00
24 mm	310778	^✱€ 84.00
30 mm	310779	^✱€ 95.00

Set of 6 DAITEI Japanese Mini Chisels
made of Damascus Steel
Comes in wooden box
Set consisting of: 6, 9, 12, 15, 24 and 30 mm
You save € 20.00
Order nr. 310780

Price ^✱€ 429.00

Size Comparison

On the left standard sized Japanese chisels, on the right mini chisels.

Have a look into the workshop of master smith Teijiro Ohkubo and see the different steps in the process of hand-forging a chisel.

DAITEI Japanese Chisels made of Damascus Steel
"Suminagashi Oire Nomi"
Cutting steel made of "Blue Steel"
laminated onto a multi-layer core "Suminagashi"
Handle made of Sandalwood
Made by Master Teijiro Ohkubo in Yoita, Province Niigata.
Total length 220 mm
Blade length 60 mm
Enlargement
Detail

Blade width	Order nr.	Price
3 mm	310785	^✱€ 79.00
6 mm	310786	^✱€ 82.00
9 mm	310787	^✱€ 85.00
12 mm	310788	^✱€ 92.00
15 mm	310789	^✱€ 95.00
18 mm	310790	^✱€ 98.00
24 mm	310791	^✱€ 102.00
30 mm	310792	^✱€ 109.00
36 mm	310793	^✱€ 115.00
42 mm	310794	^✱€ 119.00

Satz Japanische Stemmeisen Damaszener Stahl

Set of 10 DAITEI Japanese Chisels made of Damascus Steel
Set consisting of: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42 mm
Comes in wooden box
You save € 87.00
Enlargement
Order nr. 310795

Price ^✱€ 889.00

Mokume Oire Nomi
Japanese Chisels with Damascus Steel Blade
The Cutting steel is made of Tasai Special Blue Steel, a custom made steel for Tasai.
laminated onto the special multi-layer core "Mokume pattern"
Handle made of sandalwood.
An artistically beautiful outstanding chisel!
Made by Master Akio Tasai in Sanjo, Province Niigata.
Enlargement

Blade width	Order nr.	Price
6 mm	313030	^✱€ 199.00
9 mm	313031	^✱€ 209.00
12 mm	313032	^✱€ 219.00
18 mm	313033	^✱€ 239.00
24 mm	313034	^✱€ 269.00
30 mm	313035	^✱€ 289.00

Steel ring or ferrule
This is the steel ring or ferrule which holds the wooden handle of chisels together under the blows of the hammer or mallet. Whether you have lost one or are processing your own chisel making project, here you find the right one.

Inside diameter	Order nr.	Price
18 mm	309513	^✱€ 2.60
19 mm	309514	^✱€ 2.60
19.5 mm	309515	^✱€ 2.60
20.5 mm	309516	^✱€ 2.60
21.5 mm	309517	^✱€ 2.60
22 mm	309518	^✱€ 2.60