Planemakers and their Blades: Niigata Region

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Chris Hall
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Planemakers and their Blades: Niigata Region

Tue Jul 12, 2011 10:44 pm

Here's the place where the blacksmiths of the Niigata (新潟) region, and their fine blades, will be cataloged.
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Many of the Niigata smiths are located in and around the town/village of Yoita (与板町):
Yoita-town_Niigata.png
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Re: Planemakers and their Blades: Niigata Region

Sun Jul 17, 2011 7:58 pm

A. 東源次 Azugenji. A brand of plane made in the Niigata region, smith unknown (by me, for the time being). Inexpensive. Oiled dai.
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C.

D.

E.

F. 

G.

H. 初弘 Hatsuhiro
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I. 猪井清次 Inoi, Seiji. Several different planes in several different steels.

The heibu (兵部):
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The Megumi (恵) in Super Blue Steel:
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The Snow Camellia, yuki-tsubaki (雪椿), in Blue Steel #1:
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石橋藤七 Ishibashi, Tōshichi.

The Kongōmaru (金剛丸)
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The Hakushinsai (白心斎):
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J.

K. 小森秀樹 Komori, Hideki. Makes blades using Yasuki Blue steel #1, such as the Yoshiyuki (吉行):
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栗山昇 Kuriyama, Noboru. A blacksmith who produces a variety of planes under the 'Kinshiro' (金四郎) brand. This is the same blacksmith who produces the top-class 'Kinshiro' kebiki (marking gauges)
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Re: Planemakers and their Blades: Niigata Region

Sun Jul 17, 2011 8:48 pm

M.

N. 中野武夫 Nakano, Takeo.

The White Old Man, haku-ō (白翁), a smaller plane series:
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The Seiju (青寿) Blue Steel #1:
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O. 小片秀司 Ogata, Shunji.

The Shippū Dotō (疾風怒涛), Super Blue Steel:
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The Takumi no Kahō, Super Blue Steel:
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The Chrysanthemum and the Sword (菊と刀):
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The "Flower of the Wave", Nami no Hana (波乃華) in Yasuki White Steel:
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P.

R.

S. 関川誠吉 Sekikawa, Seikichi.

A Super Blue Steel blade (un-named):
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The Sekimagoroku 関孫六:
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The Shinobu (), a smaller size plane:
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The Kiraku (木楽), a smaller size plane in Super Blue Steel, available set up with or without uragane:
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The man himself:
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佐藤巳弥 Satō, Miyoji.
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The Nobetaka (延孝), blue steel I do believe:
nobetaka1.JPG
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Re: Planemakers and their Blades: Niigata Region

Thu Jul 21, 2011 9:18 am

T. 田斎道夫 Tasai, Michio. The elder blacksmith of the father-son team.

Signature model the 'Tasai' (田斎)
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The Mokume pattern (木目) Tasai:
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The onkochishin温故知新), a proprietary blend of blue and Yasuki steel:
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Mounted in an ebony dai:
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The on ():
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U. 碓氷健吾 Usui, Kengō. Now deceased, this renowned blacksmith produced many different planes over his career.
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The Kenmei (健明) "strong and bright"; Super Blue steel 'Y2'. This plane pulled an astounding 1020 shaku length's worth of sub-10 micron shaving during a Kezurō-kai testing:
健明 kenmei1.JPG
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The Banyū (晩悠) the "long calm night"; Super Blue Steel Y0 (easier to sharpen than the Y2 on the Kenmei):
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The Banyū was also available in Swedish Steel.

The Jo-no-Mai (序の舞) - "beginning the dance"; Swedish Steel:
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The Echigo no Yukiakari (越後乃雪灯), also in Swedish Steel:
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The Kenkon (剣魂), the "spirit of the sword"; Super Blue Steel:
剣魂 kenkon.JPG
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The Kakō (華甲), the "cover on the grass'; Super Blue Steel:
華甲 KAKOU1.JPG
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The Mugen no Yume (無限乃夢), " dreaming of the limit of nothingness":
無限乃夢 mugen1.JPG
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The Mugen no Ai 無限乃愛, "Limitless Love" (picture courtesy of Craig Klucina):
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This plane was made with "Super Y" steel. This steel was developed from Togo Reigo, and includes less impurities than Togo Reigo steel. So it is closer to tamahagane quality.

A very rare blade, the mushō: 夢翔
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The first character, mu means 'dream', while the second, shō means 'fly, soar, spread one's wings'
Only 15 blades had been made. 70 mm, Swedish steel from Sandvic, circa 1930 (Shared by Werner Weis)

W.

Y.

Z.
Werner
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Re: Planemakers and their Blades: Niigata Region

Thu Jan 08, 2015 9:19 am

There is a very rare blade of Usui Kengo: Musho
Only 15 blades had been made.
70 mm, Swedish steel from Sandvic, 1930
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Musho Usui.jpg
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Re: Planemakers and their Blades: Niigata Region

Thu Jan 08, 2015 9:39 am

The characters on the blade read mushō: 夢翔

The first character, mu means 'dream', while the second, shō means 'fly, soar, spread one's wings'

Like the meaning - thanks for posting Werner.

I've added it to the database and will delete your post in a short while.

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