Tsuchime Hand-Forged Kiridashi Knife

The kiridashi has been the marking and cutting tool of choice for Japanese woodworkers and craftspeople for generations.
This one is forged and finished by hand: the Tsuchime finish, with its visible hammer marks across the steel, is not decorative. It is the direct trace of the forging process, which makes each blade genuinely one of a kind.

The steel is White Paper (Shirogami), a high-carbon Japanese steel known for its ability to take an exceptionally fine edge. The blade holds that edge well and sharpens back up without much effort.

The single right-hand bevel is what defines the kiridashi: the blade cuts at a true right angle without drifting, leaving clean, accurate lines in wood, leather, cardboard, or paper. Stiffer and more precise than a box cutter, it works equally well for fine cabinetry, bookbinding, or leatherwork.

Available in four blade widths: 9, 12, 18, and 21 mm (roughly 3/8, 1/2, 11/16, and 13/16 in). The 9 mm suits fine marking and detail work; the 21 mm handles wider cuts through thicker materials.