This is a Japanese chisel made by a skilled blacksmith using traditional forging techniques with laminated steel construction. The high carbon steel provides an extremely sharp edge while the soft backing steel provides toughness and durability. 

Condition: The chisel is in excellent used condition, showing very few signs of use or wear. The back has been flattened and it has been sharpened to 8000 grit on Shapton Glass stones. The handle has been sanded and finished with a few coats of linseed oil.

The style is Usu Tsuki or Kinari Nomi, a push or paring chisel meant for detailed work. Sharpened at 25° this style of chisel has an exceptionally keen edge. It should not be struck with a genno or metal hammer but can be struck with a wooden mallet without risking damage to the wood handle.

It is typically used for cleaning up cuts made by other tools and fine-tuning joinery. The thin blade makes it easy to use in tight places such as narrow mortises. Thin-bladed chisels are especially difficult to forge and only the best blacksmiths tend to produce them.

Width: 36mm ~ 1 7/16”

Length: 342mm ~ 13 1/2” 

Bevel Angle: 25°

Blacksmith: Unknown - I don’t recognize the mei (maker’s mark), ?弘 - ???hiro

Hard Steel: Unknown high-carbon steel but probably Shirogami (Hitachi White Paper Steel)

Style: Kinari or Usu Tsuki Nomi (thin-blade paring chisel)

Edges: Mentori (beveled)

Handle Wood: Shiragashi (Japanese White Oak)