Folks, I would like to know what these knives primary purpose is. I received them from the estate of a woodcarver, among many other talents he had. They look a tad rusty at the knife portion but man the cutting edge is surgical sharp!

They are about 6" long and range from 1/2" to 1" wide, and about 1/8" thick. They all have makers marks or as I have learned with Japanese tools, the stamps could be philosophical musings. 

Any help identifying the actual use appreciated.

 

 

 

They look like these marking knives and as the link notes should not be used for carving due to hardness (that I suppose implies brittleness) https://www.axminster.co.uk/japanese-kiridashi-marking-knife-ax19805

 

I'd say you got it deadnuts Keith, thanks!!!

On 5/11/2019 at 1:38 PM, kmealy said:

notes should not be used for carving due to hardness

Well that is so true I found out, while chopping mortises I used the tip of the marking knife I was using to lay them out, as a little probe to help dig out some tiny chunks of wood from the mortise, the tip broke, dang, now I have to regrind and re-shape!

48 minutes ago, John Morris said:

Well that is so true I found out, while chopping mortises I used the tip of the marking knife I was using to lay them out, as a little probe to help dig out some tiny chunks of wood from the mortise, the tip broke, dang, now I have to regrind and re-shape!

Would dental picks be an option? 

15 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Would dental picks be an option? 

Either that or my skill set just needs to improve at making good clean cuts that leverage out easily. Someday!

Maybe cut your tenons a little short. 

36 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Maybe cut your tenons a little short. 

That's a good idea in normal situations Gene, for square mortise and tenons etc, but the chair slats have a predetermined depth they must fit into, in order to give the rear chair legs a flared effect at the top, the mortises are chopped in graduated depths, normally though you are right, you could simply cut a hair off the tenon and call it good, but this is chair making man! We are special you know.

Hope you know I was joshing ya. 

47 minutes ago, John Morris said:

but this is chair making man! We are special you know.

 

Should have just told him to "Sit On It".

 

 

46 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Hope you know I was joshing ya. 

Of course! The smiley guy told me.