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Brand: Hitohira ひとひら (一片)
Made in: Seki-Gifu/ Japan
Line: FJ SG2 Mirror
Profile: Bunka
Edge Length: 179mm
Blade Height: 47mm
Edge Steel: SG2 Powder Metal
Steel Type: Stainless
Grind: Convex
Construction: Awase Clad
Cladding: Stainless
Finish: Mirror
Bevel: Double
Bevel Symmetry: 50/50
Hand Orientation: Ambidextrous
Handle Shape: Western
Handle Material: Linen Micarta
Ferrule/Bolster Material: Stainless Steel
Total Length: 296mm
Spine Length: 173mm
Thickness of Spine at Handle: 1.8mm
Thickness ½ way: 1.8mm
Thickness ~1cm from Tip: 0.9mm
Handle Length: 120mm
Weight: 173g
Saya/Guard: Purchased Separately

Please note: These pictures and measurements are examples. Individual knives may differ slightly in appearance and measurements.

Brand: Sakai Kikumori 堺菊守
Made in: Sakai, Osaka - Japan
Line: Nakagawa VG10
Profile: Kiritsuke Yanagiba
Edge Length: 289mm
Blade Height: 40.5mm
Edge Steel: VG10
Steel Type: Stainless
Construction: Awase Ni-Mai
Cladding: Soft Stainless
Finish: Damascus
Bevel: Single
Bevel Symmetry: 0:100
Hand Orientation: Right-Handed
Handle: Magnolia Wood 
Total Length: 458mm
Spine Length: 305mm
Thickness of Spine at Handle: 4.3mm
Thickness ½ way: 2.7mm
Thickness ~1cm from Tip: 1.8mm
Handle Length: 146mm
Weight: 204g
Saya/Guard: Purchased Separately

Please note: These pictures and measurements are examples. Individual knives may differ slightly in appearance and measurements.

Brand: Sakai Kikumori 堺菊守 
Smith: Tanaka Uchihamono 田中打刃物
Made In: Sakai - Japan
Line: KIKUZUKI Uzu
Profile: Kiritsuke Gyuto
Edge Length: 252mm
Blade Height: 46mm
Edge Steel: Blue #1 (Aogami)
Steel Type: Carbon
Cladding: Soft Iron Damascus
Bevel: Double
Bevel Symmetry: 50/50
Hand Orientation: Ambidextrous
Handle: Ho Wood
Total Length: 410mm
Spine Length: 272mm
Thickness of Spine at Handle: 3.4mm 
Thickness ½ way: 2.4mm
Thickness ~1cm from Tip: 1.4mm
Handle Length: 138mm
Weight: 200g
Saya/Guard: Sold Separately

Care Advisements: This blade is fully carbon and care must be taken to avoid rust. Wipe dry after each use and ideally between preparing different products, especially when using acidic and salty products. A patina will form over time helping increase stain resistance slightly. Hand wash and dry only. Store away from liquids and open windows. Keep the blade covered when storing or traveling. Use only on appropriate cutting surfaces such as soft woods and plastics.

Please Note: These pictures and measurements are examples. Individual knives may differ slightly in appearance and measurements. The multicolor lacquer finish found on this knife is meant purely for the protection of the blade during shipping and handling, and will need to be removed before use.

Brand: Tanaka Toishi 田中砥石工業所
Dimensions: 225mm x 86mm x 44mm
Weight: 1615g

Notes: Really nice specimen from the famous Mikawa mine in Aichi Prefecture via the famous Tanaka Toishi brand. They are firm to hard, and quality specimens are fast and give good polishing results. Generally easy to use depending on the hardness.

Suggested Use: pre or final polisher for knives and push-cut tools.

Background Info: Nagura is made of lithified tuff, which is silica-rich stratified volcanic ash that has been compacted into a solid over many, many years. They contain very fine particles of silica (and other  which are often more friable than other sedimentary stones, and thus are ideal for polishing. They are used as one of the last stones before Uchigumori in a traditional sword polishing sequence. The word "Nagura" is the named after the individual who discovered the utility of the lithified tuff as a whetstone, Sakon Nagura, over 700 years ago.

Please Note: Given the natural aspect of these stones, all subjective qualities are our estimates and may vary slightly from your exact expectations and assessment. The images shown and characteristics described may be from a previous example. If purchased, yours may differ slightly in appearance and qualities. Dimensions, weight, and stamps may be different from listed if it has been tested.

Brand: Tanaka Toishi 田中砥石工業所
Producing Area: Mikawa Mountain Range, Kitashitara, Aichi - Japan
Mine: Kada Mountain or unspecified Junmikawa stratum
Strata: N/A
Appearance: "Striped" (shima) lines running linearly down the length of the stone, a mix of off-white and orange. Beautiful chalky block!
Size: 220mm x 82mm x 45mm
Weight: 1573g
~Grit Range: 2500-4000

1-5 Scale: 1 = Less, 5 = More
Hardness Level: 3.5
Scratch Depth: 2.5
Speed: 2 (4 with tomo nagura)
Wear Rate: 2
Self Slurry: 2 (4 with tomo nagura)
Thirst: 3
Consistency: 3.5
Feedback: 2.5
Ease of Use: 2.5

Notes: A large, pure nagura that will last many years. 

Suggested Use: pre or final polisher for knives and push-cut tools.

Background Info: Nagura are made of lithified tuff, which is silica-rich stratified volcanic ash that has been compacted into a solid over many, many years, and this composition yields unique sharpening and polishing properties. Much of their use has been centered around blades other than knives: swords, razors, woodworking tools and so on. Nagura can come from several locations in Japan, the most famous being the Junmikawa (Mikawa) mine located within the Mikawa Mountain range in Aichi Prefecture. 

Chu Nagura are used as one of the last stones before Uchigumori in a traditional sword polishing sequence. Such "proper" Chu Nagura are mined at Kada Mountain, not from the Mikawa mine-proper, both of which are in the same mountain range. Chu Nagura can also be somewhat of a catch-all term for stones from the Mikawa mine that do not fit cleanly into the known classified strata. Within swords, "chu" is often used to roughly mean "medium" (medium grit, medium size, etc.)

Please Note: Given the natural aspect of these stones, all subjective qualities are our estimates and may vary slightly from your exact expectations and assessment. The images shown and characteristics described may be from a previous example. If purchased, yours may differ slightly in appearance and qualities. Dimensions, weight, and stamps may be different from listed if it has been tested.