CHOKOKUTO. A Centuries Old Tradition. Chokokuto Uses. Master Craftsmen. Manufacturing Process. Every Tool Tested and Ready to Use

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1 CHOKOKUTO Chō-kōkŭ-to: cutting tools A Centuries Old Tradition Japanese chokokuto, or cutting tools, like the carpentry tools or martial art swords of Japan, are famous not only for being among the keenest and most durable tools in the world, but also for the incredible craftsmanship that goes into their creation. Chokokuto are wonders of design married to function. Over centuries of trial and error, the materials used in their manufacture were chosen and the designs gradually refined. These traditional designs and materials create elegant, highly functional tools. Their very simplicity belies their great strength. Master Craftsmen A Tokyo firm with several hundred years of experience manufactures all of our chokokuto. They are recognized in Japan as the master craftsmen, and their products are sold in shops throughout that country under various brand names. We prefer to preserve the Old Japan tradition of offering these fine products without a brand name. Their quality speaks for itself. Manufacturing Process The blades on all of the tools are hand-forged from two types of steel. One side, which later becomes the tip, is high carbon steel capable of taking and holding an edge of unsurpassed keenness. This steel is laminated by hand forging to lower carbon steel for support. The resulting blades combine sharpness and hard density with flexibility, creating tools capable of absorbing the stresses placed upon them while cutting. The blades are precision sharpened, first by one man using a motorized lap wheel to set the bevel and give the edge its initial shape, then by another man who works by hand on a fine grit finish stone. The top sides of the sho to, hangi to, hira to, and aisuki (knives and s) are hollow ground to simplify sharpening. Handles are individually fitted to each blade. With proper care and use, these tools will last a lifetime and more. Chokokuto Uses Although grouped into specialized categories by type and usage, these tools may be used for linocuts, wood sculpture or woodblock cutting. The hangi to and sho to (knives) are used to outline areas to be printed. The twopart hangi to and superior grade sho to are available in left-handed versions as well as right-handed. Sankaku to (s) are often used for outlining and also to cut interesting textures. Komasuki and maru to (s) are used to clear away wood and for texturing. It is easier to cut curves with komasuki than with sankaku to. Aisuki and hira to (chisels) are used to make textural marks and for taking the "mountains" off the marks left by maru to or komasuki. Every Tool Tested and Ready to Use All tools are razor sharp and ready for immediate use. McClain's guarantees this by having an experienced person hand cut a few marks into a piece of wood with each tool. This testing is done when the tools arrive from Japan, and again before they are sent to you. Open 10:00 to 5:00 PT, Monday-Friday PHONE FAX

2 FUTATSU WARI MOKU HANGA TO Fŭtăt-zŭ Wā-lrē Mōkŭ Hăngă Tō: two part woodblock printing knives These professional tools were designed specifically for hand cutting woodblock prints. The short length of the komasuki, sankaku to, or aisuki allows them to be placed at the intersection of the thumb and the index finger, not in the palm as with Western knives, and controlled with the fingers of the free hand. This position takes some getting used to, but gives better control once mastered. Don't give up until you learn this technique! The knife or hangi to may be held in several ways depending on the cut being made. Sometimes it is gripped with the whole hand, thumb pushing down on the handle's end, with the free hand guiding it in the cut. At other times, the hangi to is held like a pencil, with the free hand pushing or pulling it along. The blade on all of these tools can be repositioned or replaced. Slip off the brass ferrule and the two-part handle will swing open like a fan. Each blade is carefully fitted into the handle and held in place by a hook at its end. The hangi to has a one-piece handle, and its blade may also be removed by slipping off the ferrule. The blade sizes of the sankaku to and komasuki are based on measuring across from one side of the top of the V or U to the other. The sizes of the hangi to and aisuki are found by measuring the blade horizontally from edge to edge. All of the tools are about 5" (12.5cm) in length. The handles are kaba (birch) and the ferrules are brass. The steel used in these knives is the very best. Each knife is truly a unique handcrafted work of art, a fine tool to be treasured and meant to last a lifetime. The upper left picture shows 6mm tools, except for the one fanned open at the very top, which is a 1mm sankaku to. Shipping weight: 0.1lb each Hangi To Komasuki Aisuki Hăngē Tō Kō-mă-skē Ī-skē Sănkăkoo Tō left right knife bull-nose chisel C1811L C1811R 1.5mm $28.90 C mm $31.30 C mm $25.15 C mm $43.45 C1813L C1813R 3.0 mm $28.90 C mm $29.75 C mm $23.60 C mm $39.45 C1814L C1814R 4.5 mm $31.60 C mm $29.75 C mm $23.60 C mm $39.45 C1816L C1816R 6.0 mm $34.25 C mm $29.75 C mm $23.60 C mm $39.45 C1817L C1817R 7.5 mm $42.00 C mm $33.95 C mm $26.30 C mm $44.90 C1819L C1819R 9.0 mm $46.00 C mm $38.40 C mm $30.20 C mm $51.70 Replacement Blades Hangi To Komasuki Aisuki left right knife bull-nose chisel C1911L C1911R 1.5mm $20.20 C mm $21.90 C mm $17.60 C mm $30.45 C1913L C1913R 3.0 mm $20.20 C mm $20.85 C mm $16.50 C mm $27.60 C1914L C1914R 4.5 mm $22.10 C mm $20.85 C mm $16.50 C mm $27.60 C1916L C1916R 6.0 mm $23.95 C mm $20.85 C mm $16.50 C mm $27.60 C1917L C1917R 7.5 mm $29.40 C mm $23.80 C mm $18.40 C mm $31.40 C1919L C1919R 9.0 mm $32.20 C mm $26.80 C mm $21.15 C mm $ Open 10:00 to 5:00 PT, Monday-Friday PHONE FAX

3 JOSEI MOKU HANGA TO Jōsay' Mōkŭ Hăngă Tō: superior quality woodblock printing knives This group of superior quality cutting tools comes in the widest range of shapes and sizes. They are identical in appearance to the Namisei or standard quality tools (see illustrations on page 14). These are the tools for the serious student, or professional artist on a budget, or for those who prefer the longer handle. All of these knives are made with the highest quality steel. The handles are honoki (silver magnolia) and are oval. The oval shape is comfortable to hold and helps you find the correct position for cutting. Total length is about 8 inches. Many artists prefer to cut the handles on these tools to the length of either the middle or index finger, measured from the junction of the thumb, to give a custom fit. Josei Moku Hanga To are made for hand cutting, not for use with a mallet. Shipping weight: 0.1 lb each Sho To Maru To Hira To Shō Tō left right knife Mă-roo Tō Hē-ră Tō chisel Săn-kă-koo Tō C2601L C2601R 1.0 mm $15.45 C mm $16.15 C mm $15.15 C mm $25.45 C2602L C2602R 1.5 mm $14.15 C mm $14.90 C mm $14.15 C mm $24.05 C2603L C2603R 2.0 mm $14.15 C mm $14.90 C mm $14.15 C mm $24.05 C2604L C2604R 3.0 mm $14.15 C mm $14.90 C mm $14.15 C mm $24.05 C2605L C2605R 4.5 mm $14.80 C mm $15.55 C mm $14.75 C mm $25.45 C2606L C2606R 6.0 mm $16.05 C mm $16.70 C mm $15.35 C mm $30.40 C2607L C2607R 7.5 mm $18.35 C mm $19.10 C mm $17.40 C mm $40.70 C2608L C2608R 9.0 mm $20.30 C mm $20.90 C mm $18.90 C mm $51.10 C2609L C2609R 10.5 mm $24.05 C mm $24.90 C mm $22.35 C mm $69.60 C2610L C2610R 12.0 mm $25.95 C mm $27.15 C mm $24.05 C mm $82.60 C2611L C2611R 15.0 mm $32.85 C mm $34.35 C mm $30.80 C mm $ C2612L C2612R 18.0 mm $39.15 C mm $40.40 C mm $37.70 C2613L C2613R 21.0 mm $51.30 C mm $52.65 C mm $49.55 C2614L C2614R 24.0 mm $60.50 C mm $62.45 C mm $58.50 Left to right: Magari Sho To, Maru To, Hira To and Ryo Ba: Limited stock or special order Magari Sho To Măgărē Shō Tō bent neck knife Magari Maru To Măgărē Măroo Tō bent neck Magari Hira To Măgărē Hēră Tō bent neck chisel Ryo Ba lrēō Bă double edged knife C mm $15.45 C mm $16.15 C mm $15.15 C mm $13.70 C mm $14.15 C mm $14.25 C mm $13.55 C mm $14.45 C mm $14.15 C mm $14.25 C mm $13.55 C mm $15.90 C mm $14.15 C mm $14.25 C mm $13.55 C mm $18.15 C mm $14.80 C mm $14.80 C mm $14.15 C mm $19.80 C mm $16.05 C mm $15.80 C mm $14.65 C mm $21.85 C mm $18.35 C mm $18.60 C mm $16.95 C mm $23.95 C mm $20.30 C mm $20.25 C mm $18.45 C mm $27.45 C mm $24.05 C mm $23.65 C mm $21.40 C mm $30.95 C mm $25.95 C mm $25.80 C mm $22.90 C mm $32.85 C mm $32.70 C mm $28.15 C mm $39.15 C mm $40.60 C mm $35.30 C mm $51.30 C mm $48.90 C mm $46.25 C mm $60.50 C mm $57.55 C mm $54.45 Open 10:00 to 5:00 PT, Monday-Friday PHONE FAX

4 NAMISEI MOKU HANGA TO Nămēsay Mōkŭ Hăngă Tō: standard quality woodblock printing knives Standard quality and superior quality cutting tools look identical. Both are made with high quality steel that is ultra sharp and easily re-sharpened, but the manufacturer tells us the steel in the standard quality tools is not quite as hard, so they tend to need sharpening more often. Standard quality tools also may not be as highly polished or symmetrically shaped. Namisei tools are marked with a capital "C" to distinguish them from Josei (superior) tools. These are reasonably priced very good quality tools, intended for students or beginning printmakers. The handles of the namisei are honoki (silver magnolia) and are oval. The oval shape is comfortable to hold and helps you find the correct position for cutting. Total length is about 8 inches. Many artists prefer to cut the handles on these tools to the length of the middle or index finger, measured from the junction of the thumb, to give a custom fit. Namisei Moku Hanga To are made for hand cutting, not for use with a mallet. Shipping weight: 0.1 lb each Sho To Maru To Hira To Shō Tō Mă-roo Tō Hē-ră Tō Săn-kă-koo Tō knife chisel C mm $10.80 C mm $10.80 C mm $10.80 C mm $13.55 C mm $10.80 C mm $10.80 C mm $10.80 C mm $13.55 C mm $10.80 C mm $10.80 C mm $10.80 C mm $14.25 C mm $11.95 C mm $11.95 C mm $11.95 C mm $18.20 C mm $15.10 C mm $15.10 C mm $15.10 C mm $22.45 C mm $17.40 C mm $17.40 C mm $17.40 C mm $29.00 C mm $18.55 C mm $18.55 C mm $18.55 C mm $21.65 C mm $21.65 C mm $21.65 Namisei Moku Hanga To Sets C2890 SET of 6 C2891 SET of 4 $ Right handed $66.70 Left handed* $70.30 Shipping weight: 0.5lb Shipping weight: 0.8lb Includes: Includes: Maru To 3.0 mm Save Maru To 1.5 mm Maru To 4.5 mm 10% Maru To 4.5 mm Maru To 7.5mm Maru To 9.0 mm 4.5 mm 3.0mm Comes wrapped in bamboo mat Sho To 4.5 mm Hira To 4.5 mm *left-handed set comes with left-handed Josei (Superior) Sho To Save 5% 4-knife set with bamboo wrapper Make Up Your Own Set of Standard Tools! Purchase any 4 or 5 tools and get a 5% discount Purchase 6 or more tools and get a 10% discount Discount applies to Namisei Moku Hanga To only. To qualify for the discounted price, all tools must be ordered at the same time. Actual size of 15.0mm 1.5mm Hira To, 9.0mm 1.5mm, and 15.0mm 1.5mm Maru To 14 Open 10:00 to 5:00 PT, Monday-Friday PHONE FAX

5 MOKU HANGA NOMI Mōkŭ Hăngă Nōmē: woodblock cutting chisels and gouges The blades on all the nomi are made of the highest quality steel, while the handles are lacquered kashi (Japanese oak), the strongest and most durable wood growing in Japan. The Kento Nomi is used to make registration notches, and the handle on this tool is designed for use by hand, and not for use with a mallet. The length is about 6 inches. The Maru Nomi and Soai Nomi have metal ferrules at the end of the handle, and are designed for use with a kizuchi, or wooden mallet, found on page 18. The metal rings prevent the wood handle from splitting when the nomi are tapped with a mallet. Many people also cut by hand with these tools. They are all around 8 inches long. Maru and Soai Nomi are excellent for clearing large areas on the block with speed and efficiency. While they resemble Soai Nomi carpentry tools in appearance, they have been modified to perform the exacting maneuvers necessary for cutting on a flat, horizontal surface. For example, looking at the side of the Soai Nomi, one can see that the blade and the shank gently taper in one long line towards the tip, a design that keeps the tool thin and light yet strong. The Soai Nomi has an arced bevel or "bull nose," unique to the Japanese chisel. In the course of creating this arc, the cutting edge is curved and the sharp corners that are found on Hira To or Western flat chisels are eliminated. The Soai Nomi cuts through the wood easily without catching. It is a wonderful tool for clearing, and for taking off the tall sharp ridges left by Maru To or Maru Nomi. Shipping weight: 0.2 lb each Fukagata Maru Nomi Asagata Maru Nomi Soai Nomi Kento Nomi Fŭ-kăgătă Măroo Nōmē deep Ăsăgătă Măroo Nōmē shallow Sōeye Nōmē bull nose chisel Kēntō Nōmē registration notch chisel C mm $47.25 C mm $40.00 C mm $94.95 C mm $58.30 C mm $48.90 C mm $40.20 C mm $99.75 C mm $56.00 C mm $43.05 C mm $ C mm $62.00 C mm $47.25 C mm $ C mm $76.00 C mm $54.60 C mm $ C mm $76.00 C mm $54.60 C mm $ C mm $80.25 C mm $66.35 C mm $ C mm $ C mm $ actual imprint of Kento Nomi below, left to right: Fukagata Maru Nomi, Asagata Maru Nomi, Soai Nomi, Kento Nomi Fukagata Nomi Asagata Nomi Soai Nomi 4.5 mm 15.0mm 4.5 mm 15.0mm 9.0 mm 30.0 mm Actual marks of the tools listed above Open 10:00 to 5:00 PT, Monday-Friday PHONE FAX

6 KIBORI NOMI Kēˊbōrē Nōmē: large sculpting chisels Kibori Nomi are similar in size and appearance to the Moku Hanga Nomi, except the shanks are shorter and narrower in the neck, while the handles are longer to facilitate the moves necessary in relief sculpting. These tools may be used with a kizuchi, or wooden mallet, found on page 14. These heavy-duty tools are about 8 inches long. The blades are made of the highest quality steel, while the handles are lacquered kashi (Japanese oak), the strongest and most durable wood growing in Japan. Metal rings have been added to prevent splitting when the nomi is tapped with a mallet. These tools are only available by SPECIAL ORDER. Please allow at least 4 weeks from the manufacturer. Call for current information on sizes, styles and price. KO DOGU Kōdōgŭ: small sculpting carving tools This group of sculpting tools has sturdy but short, narrow necks and cylindrical handles. They are made for handwork, not for use with a mallet. The handles are honoki (silver magnolia) and are about 9 inches long. top: maru nomi, bottom: magari maru nomi A very limited number of these tools are kept in stock. Please allow at least 4 weeks for tools ordered from the manufacturer. Shipping weight: 0.2 lb each Limited stock or special order Hira Nomi Magari Hira Nomi Maru Nomi Magari Maru Nomi Hēră Nōmē flat chisel Măgărē Hēră Nōmē bent neck chisel Măroo Nōmē shallow u gouge Măgărē Măroo Nōmē bent neck u gouge C mm $33.25 C mm $33.25 C mm $33.25 C mm $33.25 C mm $33.25 C mm $33.25 C mm $33.25 C mm $33.25 C mm $35.80 C mm $35.80 C mm $35.80 C mm $35.80 C mm $38.85 C mm $38.85 C mm $38.85 C mm $38.85 C mm $42.80 C mm $42.80 C mm $42.80 C mm $42.80 C mm $46.10 C mm $46.10 C mm $46.10 C mm $46.10 C mm $51.45 C mm $51.45 C mm $51.45 C mm $51.45 C mm $54.70 C mm $54.70 C mm $54.70 C mm $54.70 C mm $65.70 C mm $65.70 C mm $65.70 C mm $65.70 C mm $73.65 C mm $73.65 C mm $73.65 C mm $73.65 C mm $82.50 C mm $82.50 C mm $82.50 C mm $82.50 C mm $91.95 C mm $91.95 C mm $91.95 C mm $91.95 C mm $98.95 C mm $98.95 C mm $98.95 C mm $98.95 C mm $ C mm $ C mm $ C mm $ Open 10:00 to 5:00 PT, Monday-Friday PHONE FAX