Japanese Chisel Oire Nomi

These Japanese Oire Nomi chisels (Nomi means chisel in Japanese), are made by a master blacksmith in Miki City, Japan exclusively for Rutlands®. The chisels feature double-layered, ultra sharp blades with outstanding edge life.

A soft iron body is forge welded to a thinner layer of extremely hard, Rc 62, white paper steel that forms the cutting edge. White paper steel ensures the highest durability and is easy to sharpen. This double-layer prevents brittle fractures, unlike single layer Western chisels, that become brittle when hardened to extreme temperatures. The backs of the blades are hollow ground to reduce the contact surface, reducing friction and lowering the necessary cutting force. The angle of the blade to the tang increases the cutting depth to almost twice the blade length.

A conical steel ferrule, which transfers the impact to the blade, sits seamlessly between the blade and the handle to protect the handle against fracture when repeatedly hit with a hammer. The steel ferrule on the butt end of the handle should be driven down prior to use so that the hammer only makes direct contact with the Japanese red oak handle. The wood above the ferrule will eventually spread over the top of it to protect both the hammer and the reinforcing ring.

These are the finest chisels that we offer and have limited availability as every chisel is hand made by one of the two Japanese master blacksmiths in the workshop. Available individually in 6mm, 9mm, 12mm, 18mm, 24mm and 30mm, each chisel is beautifully presented in its own hand made wooden box. ©