Murakuni 5-Piece Japanese Bench Chisel Set

Master blacksmith Murakuni forges each of these chisels by hand, following the Japanese metalworking tradition where steel quality and blade geometry make all the difference.

This set brings together five widths, 9, 15, 24, 30 and 36 mm, covering the core tasks of joinery and finishing: fitting tenons, chopping mortises, cleaning up joints, squaring corners.

The blades are forged from laminated Hitachi white paper steel, a grade well known among Japanese cabinetmakers and carpenters for its hardness and its ability to hold a razor edge over time. The hollow back on each blade is not a cosmetic choice: it reduces contact area on the sharpening stone, makes honing faster, and extends the time between sharpenings.

The red oak handles, dense and resilient, absorb mallet blows and develop a good feel with use. That said, these chisels are at their best in fine work, where edge quality matters more than brute toughness.

The wooden box that comes with the set is as practical as it is good-looking, equally at home on an atelier shelf or given as a gift to someone who deserves proper tools.