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Kengo Usui retired in early 2006. Besides Kenkon ('Spirit of the Sword'), his other works include: Jo No Mai, Mugen No Yume, Kakou, Banyu, and Kenmei.
'Spirit of the Sword' description from Japan Woodworker: "Our 'Spirit of the Sword' plane irons are hand-forged in the shop of master blade-smith Usui. Mr. Usui prepares limited production steel smelted from iron-sand to form the Hagane or cutting edge. This specially prepared steel is forge welded to wrought iron obtained from old anchor chains, which have aged under water for at least 100 years. This material is repeatedly forged and folded to build a layered structure or Jigane, which is soft and supple but yet strong. The master uses special forging techniques which require repeated heating and hand hammering to prepare each blade. After multiple tempering and proper aging, this process produces an exceedingly durable edge, which sharpens smoothly and easily. Throughout the years, Mr. Usui has received various awards for the quality of his work. His planes are difficult to obtain due to the demand from master woodworkers all over Japan."
Size: 4 sun (approximately 120mm, or 5 inches)
Steel Type: ??? (white steel possibly)
Owner: Jay van Arsdale
Last Update: 2006/11/04
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| 3 - Check out the hammer pattern on the edge. Jay had spent a bit of time in tapping out the ura. | |
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