This chisel.    Came all the way from Okinawa, Japan.   Cost me $11.50......so I need to know more about this style of chisels

Quite a change from my Butcher mortise chisels.    This one is 12mm wide.  Seems to be a made in Japan mortise chisel....handle is solid, no cracks..

That be an iron hoop. Twas a bit rust when it came in the mail..

Heavy duty?    No nonsense blade.  Back has a hollow..

By design?   haven't found any maker's marks.....Has a single bevel..

May need to work on it, sometime.   Need to find out just what to maintain one of these with.   I do not have any water stones in the shop, just oil ones.  Also will need a project that calls for 1/2" wide mortises, so I can give this thing a tryout.   BTW, it makes my other mortise chisels look puny....

Steve, here's a link below to many other sources of info. Some big differences between Japanese chisels an European styles of bench chisels. Both in how they've made and how they are used. Very interesting reading and videos.

Typical of Japanese tools, there seems to be a different chisel for every operation.

link

 

Nice chisel indeed Steve, markings? Look closely, they write small on the Japanese tools, they are not as egotistical as their western counterparts are! 

There are the remains of a couple markings, right where the flat becomes round.   A little bit too well worn, though...

1 hour ago, steven newman said:

There are the remains of a couple markings, right where the flat becomes round.   A little bit too well worn, though...

It's Japanese Steve, to someone who read Japanese, may be able to decipher it, can you get a better image of it, more clear, up close?