Japanese premium chisels

Japanese chisels made from „Blue Steel” and other high-quality carbon steels, which can almost be described as works of art, have been gathered here.

„Blue Steel” differs slightly in its properties from „White Steel” (the name „White Paper Steel” has become established for it). „Blue Steel” contains approximately 1.0 to 1.5% carbon, 0.2 to 0.5% chromium, and 1.0 to 1.5% tungsten. Chromium reduces wear, serves as rust protection (although with the small amount contained here, one can by no means speak of stainless steel), and facilitates quenching after hardening. Tungsten increases hardness.

The chisel as a work of art. The blade made of Suminagashi, the Japanese variant of Damascus steel with particularly pronounced layering patterns, and a handle made of sandalwood – a delight for the eyes. Naturally, the cutting steel is carefully hardened and tempered.

The forges in Japan that produce chisels are very small, often one-man operations. From the inside, they resemble more of a village forge. At first, one can hardly imagine that the best chisels in the world come from such low-tech operations. But indeed they do, as the skill and experience of the blacksmith are crucial.