Chinese High End Handmade Tool. Give Suggestions!

[multivitamins]

Any recommendations on knives? I've been on the hunt hunt for a Japanese style knife for a while now, but I'm open to suggestions. I've seen a bunch on instagram, but if I can find them online they never seem to make a left handed version.

Check out leathercrafttools.com well priced japanese knives. They have left handed Yujin knives made out of tungsten steel. Blue steel, tungsten, carbon and white steel are all good and perform well.

TBH, for Japanese knives get them from leathercrafttools.com. They have great prices and selection. If there is a japanese knife that you like and they don't have it in their online shop, you can actually message them and they will find it for you.

Dol Dokki also sell some japanese styled knives. Damage around 68USD.

Edited February 9, 2016 by multivitamins

[victorl]

Any recommendations on knives? I've been on the hunt hunt for a Japanese style knife for a while now, but I'm open to suggestions. I've seen a bunch on instagram, but if I can find them online they never seem to make a left handed version.

I live in Japan and I had the same problem finding top-shelf left-handed knives.

I eventually found a traditional Japanese blacksmith who specializes in high-end woodcarving tools but also makes a mean leather knife. I had him make me a knife that's symettrical in shape (3rd from the right in the picture) so it can be used with both hands. Even though it's made from scratch, it only cost about 70 bucks and is very solid with an edge that keeps very well.

If you're interested, I can give you his info (not sure if he speaks English) or could even have him make one for you when I order more tools from him.

He has a facebook page too:

https://m.facebook.com/pages/小倉彫刻刃物製作所/562663520411785

Edited February 9, 2016 by victorl

[multivitamins]

I live in Japan and I had the same problem finding top-shelf left-handed knives.

I eventually found a traditional Japanese blacksmith who specializes in high-end woodcarving tools but also makes a mean leather knife. I had him make me a knife that's symettrical in shape (3rd from the right in the picture) so it can be used with both hands. Even though it's made from scratch, it only cost about 70 bucks and is very solid with an edge that keeps very well.

If you're interested, I can give you his info (not sure if he speaks English) or could even have him make one for you when I order more tools from him.

He has a facebook page too:

https://m.facebook.com/pages/小倉彫刻刃物製作所/562663520411785

Thanks for sharing man! Also, can you recommend a great place in japan where to get some leather tool stuff? I'll be traveling to Japan this April and will be there for a month or two. The only place I have in mind now is Iwataya shop.

[victorl]

I live in the Tokyo area and there are a lot of places that sell leathercraft goods... you've got the major distributors like CraftSha, Seiwa and Kyoshin Elle, and plenty of smaller distributors as well. They're mostly concentrated in the Asakusabashi area in Eastern Tokyo. I regularly shop at a leathercraft store called Takara Sangyo and if you like, we could go together sometime and you can use my member's card to get 20% off everything in the store.

For knives, Iwataya is amazing and for top-of-the-line stuff to drool over, you should give Kanesoh in Asakusa a visit (www.kanesoh.com).

Cheers,

Vic

[pansa]

I live in Japan and I had the same problem finding top-shelf left-handed knives.

I eventually found a traditional Japanese blacksmith who specializes in high-end woodcarving tools but also makes a mean leather knife. I had him make me a knife that's symettrical in shape (3rd from the right in the picture) so it can be used with both hands. Even though it's made from scratch, it only cost about 70 bucks and is very solid with an edge that keeps very well.

If you're interested, I can give you his info (not sure if he speaks English) or could even have him make one for you when I order more tools from him.

He has a facebook page too:

https://m.facebook.com/pages/小倉彫刻刃物製作所/562663520411785

Oh man. Thanks for the offer. I'd have done this in a heartbeat, but I ordered from leathercrafttool.com yesterday. How do you like your knife?

[victorl]

Oh man. Thanks for the offer. I'd have done this in a heartbeat, but I ordered from leathercrafttool.com yesterday. How do you like your knife?

I own a few other good leather knives, but this has become my favorite as it cuts super smooth and I find the handle is very comfortable to hold. The blade is hand-forged blue steel and is a bit thicker than I was used to, but it's very sturdy and keeps its edge longer than my other knives. I'm not very good at sharpening so I can't get it razor sharp like when it first arrived, but I can still get it more than sharp enough to cut and skiv with ease.

Definitely a great bargain for the price, and I imagine it would probably sell for a lot more if sold in a store.

[multivitamins]

I live in the Tokyo area and there are a lot of places that sell leathercraft goods... you've got the major distributors like CraftSha, Seiwa and Kyoshin Elle, and plenty of smaller distributors as well. They're mostly concentrated in the Asakusabashi area in Eastern Tokyo. I regularly shop at a leathercraft store called Takara Sangyo and if you like, we could go together sometime and you can use my member's card to get 20% off everything in the store.

For knives, Iwataya is amazing and for top-of-the-line stuff to drool over, you should give Kanesoh in Asakusa a visit (www.kanesoh.com).

Cheers,

Vic

Thanks Vic! Looking forward to meet you. I will be staying near Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo. Not sure how far it is from Asakusabashi though. Haven't done my research yet. Will google and learn more about the places you mentioned.

[multivitamins]

Got my amy rokes. I also ordered the Amy Roke new linen threads. Was impressed with the performance so I ordered a bunch of em. A bit stiffer than the Fil au chinois especially the 532 equivalent. But running the thread thru a bees twice makes this thread hug the leather better. IMHO its as close as it can get with the fil au chinois line. I find it better than the other lin cable alternatives (barbour etc...). Not much color selection like the fil au chinois line. However, you can get them half the price of Fil au chinois if you order via email. Ordering via taobao, you can get the threads cheaper (difference around 4usd).

Below using amy roke 3.38 and cmdachong 3.85. Stitched with Amy Roke linen 532 (M55) & 632 (M45) equivalents on a cheap veg tanned leather (midly pulled). Not a great stitch, but you get the idea how the thread looks like in different SPIs.

Edited March 5, 2016 by multivitamins

[orkan]

Thanks for sharing these and the Taobao links, multivitamins. I've been eyeing the 3.38 and 3.85 mm. I ordered the 2.7 mm by mistake (wanted 3 mm) but it's nice so I'm keeping it. These are my first irons so I can't compare. For sure, they get the job done.

Here is 2.7 mm with 0.45 mm Amy Roke thread. I haven't tried with the 0.35 mm thread sample they sent

Amy Roke has this pic on one of their listings to show stitching from their pricking irons range

I want them all but must pace myself...

Edited March 5, 2016 by orkan

[zhaohan]

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