Founded in 1957 in Yoita-cho, Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture — a town renowned for Echigo hammered blades (Echigo Uchihamono) — Kawasei Cutlery has been handcrafting carving knives and wood carving chisels for over 65 years. Now in its third generation under the Seigen brand name, the company has evolved from making professional carpenters' tools to creating premium carving tools accessible to hobbyists and craftspeople alike.
Kawasei's tools are forged from Yasuki steel, considered the highest grade of blade steel in Japan. Their carving knives use the rare Aogami Super — the hardest and most abrasion-resistant of the Yasuki steels — delivering exceptional sharpness that lasts. Their wood carving chisels use Shirogami steel, carefully balanced for sharpness and ease of sharpening, making them ideal for intermediate users who maintain their own edges.
The Seigen brand name carries a poetic meaning — named after the Iroha maple whose vivid autumn leaves symbolise clarity and brilliance — expressing the founder's wish that users learn proper technique and enjoy genuinely sharp tools from the very beginning.
Slight Bent Gouges by Kawasei
Slight Bent Gouges by Kawasei
Regular price
$69.00
Regular price
Sale price
$69.00
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These swooped-neck gouges, called ""Maru Sukui" or "slight bent" gouges, are ideal for taking heavy cuts. Their iron hoop allows the user to strike them with a mallet and easily remove waste when clearing material.
The cutting edge of the blade is forged in the traditional manner with white paper steel and is backed with soft iron. These gouges feature a tough red oak handle reinforced with an iron ferrule.
