Gisuké Japanese Wood Chisel

The Gisuké is an Oire Nomi chisel, built to be struck with a mallet: mortises, joints, rebate corrections, anything that calls for both force and a clean cut. It is made in Japan by Takagi, a company that has specialised in hand tools for woodworking for more than a century, and you can see it in every detail of the blade.

The laminated carbon steel is hardened to 62 HRC. At that hardness the edge holds for a long time, so you go back to the stone less often. The blade is a composite: a very hard cutting layer forge-welded to a softer body that takes the shock of the mallet without weakening the edge. It is a working tool, not a display piece.

The hollow back, known as the Ura, is one of the most valued features of Japanese chisels. It reduces the contact area with the sharpening stone, so sharpening is quicker and more accurate than with a Western chisel that has a flat back. You notice the difference every time you hone it.

The white oak handle is fitted with a steel hoop that tightens with use instead of splitting, which keeps the grip stable for years.

The Gisuké comes in nine widths, from 6 to 36 mm (about 1/4 to 1 7/16 in), so you can pick the size for the job or complete a set you have already started.