Japanese Garden Tools...phwoar!

Christmas is only around the corner you know.

http://www.gardenista.com/posts/tools-of-the-trade-japanese-gardening-tools

The tool kit of Japanese master gardeners is the object of envy. Luckily for amateurs, beautifully made and durable Japanese garden tools are within easy reach. Here's a collection of our favorites.



Above: The word Hori means "to dig" in Japanese. The Stainless Steel Hori Hori Knife is also fantastic for sawing, trimming, cutting, and transplanting in the garden. The two-sided blade on this Japanese gardening tool has a straight edge for weeding and cultivating, and a serrated edge for cutting roots, dividing plants, and trimming branches. Handmade at a 50-year-old workshop in Japan, it comes with a non-leather sheath; $34.95 from Williams-Sonoma.

Michelle's a fan: see why in My Most Versatile Gardening Tool: Hori Hori Knife.



Above: As featured in our recent post Top Tools of our Favorite Gardeners, Tobisho offers handmade pruners of laminated high carbon and stainless steel. Hand forged, the Japanese gardening tool Tobisho Pruners are $118 from Paxton Gate. Photograph via Fine Tools.



Above: A versatile staple of Japanese gardening tools, the Japanese Cuttle Fish Hoe is a strong, solid forged hoe on one side and a heavy duty cultivator on the other; $42.95 at the Garden Tool Company.



Above: A Japanese hand saw, such as the Silky Gomboy 210 Folding Landscaping Saw with hollow-cut teeth and smooth parallel sides, cuts through branches quickly and smoothly; $28.64 through Amazon.



Above: Handcrafted in Japan with a high-carbon steel blade and a pine handle, the Short Handle Nejiri Weeder is coveted for one-handed weeding; $12.95 at Williams Sonoma.



Above: With a serrated stainless steel blade set at a 30-degree angle, a Short-Bladed Root Cutter is the perfect tool to stick down a hole to cut a root or stalk; $21.50 at Garrett Wade.

 

Not so long ago all the very best tools were 'Made in England' !!

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Still are. Sheffield's own division of the free masons, the Guild of Cutlers sees to that. They've secured legal protection for the term 'Sheffield Steel', meaning that it has to be made in Sheffield, and has to be proper quality stuff. If it doesn't meet those two criteria, it aint Sheffield Steel. I believe Stanley tools still meet the criteria. I think Wilkinson Sword is still all British too. The very popular Spear and Jackson tries to hint at being all British, and probably once were, but now outsource their manufacturing to abroad.

 

Stanley, S&J and Wilkinson Sword all foreign owned now. Bulldog Tools are still English but even they don't now make their full range in the UK. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulldog_Tools

For interest see the S&J family tree showing all the great tool makers now long gone which were part of their empire.
http://www.timelesstools.co.uk/s&j_family_tree.htm

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One I forgot: I think Morris of Dunsford still produce edge tools, billhooks, slashers and axes in their Exeter works. Google them for some great pictures.

 

ive used a japanese handsaw before brilliant things

 

Interesting article nFrost The HoriHori Knife looks like an ideal tool for gardening . Its like a mini trowel for planting small plugs and bulbs with a knife edge and a saw edge - very useful. Nothing on Ebay , but I am sure Wilkos will do them for £2.50 next year

 

£23 here including shipping: http://www.rutlands.co.uk/sp+knives-hunting-folding-knives-japanese-planting-knife-300mm+jp1259

I really REALLY want one...and the saw thing...and the pointy prongy thing.

 

Now they look expensive , lovely bit of kit though .

 

Today I called Morris and spoke with Andrew Morris- he gave me this link about their company - Andrew is a bit of a car nut - hence the pictures of the Jag - but there are some great shots of the forge and some of the tools he produces
https://www.flickr.com/photos/57060412@N07/5267559862/in/photostream/

 

My wife gave me a hori hori knife for Christmas, after I gently guided her towards this thread.
It looks like a great tool, can't wait to use it.

 

Have been using my hori hori knife this week and it really is a great tool.

Have you used yours yet?

 

Not properly yet, hoping to this weekend.

 

I have the 2nd one and the third one. My hand shovel comes with measurements on it. However, a gardener usually figures out measurements using her own thumb/hands/ fingers. ect. so she does not need such measurement tools. The other stuff for me is not necessary.