Japanese Gardening Tools?

[HumbleHomeCook]

Any thoughts on these? I'm quite curious about them, especially the larger choppers like naginata but certainly down to sheers and such as well.

How do you feel about the carbon in these applications? In particular, how do you feel about the paper steels for these tools?

I'm not talking Japanese-style, but the real deal.

Appreciate any thoughts/feedback.

I may well still end up with Khukuri (a knife I've long wanted and just need an excuse for) but am also curious about these tools for my daughter who is an avid gardener.

 

[boomchakabowwow]

this Forum is obviously pro-Japan tools. personally, i dont LOVE gardening. it is something i do out of neccesity. i hate my yard and garden to look like the trees simply vomited in my yard. i just buy tools. clippers are mostly Bahco or Corona. i keep them sharp by rubbing a carbide scraper on them.

i almost bought a Hori Hori from some Boutique garden supply house, but i snapped to my senses just in time. who am i kidding? just because i had some cool japanese hand digging knife/spade wasnt gonna make digging the hole any more enjoyable. i put it back.

(having said that, i am absolutely STALKING my FedEx guy. he is expected to drop off a Japanese Fishing rod today or tomorrow)

 

[mengwong]

I have a lot of respect for Niwaki - Japanese Tripod Ladders, Fine Pruning Tools & Other Great Stuff from Japan

 

[refcast]

They're all really good lol. The carbon steel rusts, yes, but patinas black after drying and stays stable as long as it can dry after use.

 

[Heckel7302]

I used to think one of those trowels Shi.Han makes would be fun to have, then I came to my senses.

 

[Greasylake]

I have some pruning shears that I use to harvest peppers and cut herbs and stuff. The only complaint I have is that I got some without a spring and I personally prefer spring loaded ones. Oh yeah I have a nata too that I sometimes use for chopping branches but its mostly a kitchen cleaver to me lol.

 

[SwampDonkey]

I like carbon steels for axes/machetes because I can beat the hell out of them and fixing them is easy enough.

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

I like carbon steels for axes/machetes because I can beat the hell out of them and fixing them is easy enough.

Agreed but those are usually softer hardness than what I would expect something like shirogami to be.

 

[SwampDonkey]

Agreed but those are usually softer hardness than what I would expect something like shirogami to be.

Yeah I'd be curious to know what kind of hardness they take them to, I'd imagine not as hard as a knife but idk. A Munetoshi axe? Woof.

Edit: on that note, where would I go about finding one?

 

[deltaplex]

Yeah I'd be curious to know what kind of hardness they take them to, I'd imagine not as hard as a knife but idk. A Munetoshi axe? Woof.

Edit: on that note, where would I go about finding one?

Here's the door: 斧

 

[TM001]

I have a small hoe and some shears that are great The hoe is very light and very sharp and used regularly (my wife also loves it). No experience with choppers.
https://hidatool.com/item/1759

 

[MowgFace]

I have some kurouchi weeding blades from Hida as well. Cool little shop. They have a small selection of Japanese knives. A few years back they had some Sakai Kikumori and Tanaka R2

 

[Pie]

Knifewear has some nata and some hatchets, if your gardening is more on the intense side.

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

Knifewear has some nata and some hatchets, if your gardening is more on the intense side.

Knife Japan does as well. Believe it or not, usually cheaper and faster.

 

[M1k3]

Reach out to Jon?
https://www.japaneseknifeimports.com/collections/outdoor-knives-and-tools

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

Reach out to Jon?
https://www.japaneseknifeimports.com/collections/outdoor-knives-and-tools

I emailed Michael/KJ and as expected, I got a lengthy, informative and fun response. Basically, Michael said they work great but are indeed high maintenance. He's especially fond of his hand-forged hoe and says they are quite common. He also gave me some cool links to different tools from sheers to saws.

In the end, I think this is one where I'll continue to embrace my Western sensibilities.

 

[boomchakabowwow]

just to be clear. my small axe is a Gransfor Bruks. i could shave with it at one point. the thing has chopped off many chicken heads and limbed many Christmas trees so i can get it into my green-bin. total overkill. my $40 offset loppers are the better choice for the holiday tree.