kiridashi reading?

[Binalith]

been searching around, here and google, maybe my search parameters are bogus, but i am just looking for links or something on kiridashi history, usage, etc. i know they are sort of a daily jack-of-all-trades, utility blade, but i was hoping for some more authentic, contextual reading. thanks.

 

[jobasha11]

Wow doesn't even have a Wikipedia page.

 

[marcinek]

Basically, I believe they are what Japanese schoolkids used to sharpen their pencils.

 

[A Justice]

From the page of a place the sells them

Literally translated, Kiridashi means "to carve out". It is traditionally used by carpenters and gardeners, but the Kiridashi is perfect for any of the everyday tasks we could throw at it: it was great for scoring paper, opening boxes, marking wood. It is said that Japanese school children would use these knives for sharpening their pencils. Knives don't get much more uncomplicated than this one, its single beveled edge makes for an extremely sharp and precise tool, and is easy to sharpen and maintain.

 

[Binalith]

thanks for the input so far

 

[XiaolongJackson]

My guess is that it's just something that's been around for so long and was so ubiquitous that there isn't much to say about it. Would you be interested in reading about the history of railing on stairways or doors made of wood?

 

[A Justice]

My guess is that it's just something that's been around for so long and was so ubiquitous that there isn't much to say about it. Would you be interested in reading about the history of railing on stairways or doors made of wood?

Actually The first handrail was recognized in history when French archaeologist Pierre St. Jamaine uncovered an Assyrian ruin in southern Iraq in the city-state Nippur. They also found an early example of a door at Nippur, dating from 2000 B.C. that was made from dolerite. The oldest records of doors are those included in paintings on Egyptian tombs, and a 5,000-year-old door has been found by archaeologists in Switzerland.

 

[sirupatespecial]

Actually The first handrail was recognized in history when French archaeologist Pierre St. Jamaine uncovered an Assyrian ruin in southern Iraq in the city-state Nippur. They also found an early example of a door at Nippur, dating from 2000 B.C. that was made from dolerite. The oldest records of doors are those included in paintings on Egyptian tombs, and a 5,000-year-old door has been found by archaeologists in Switzerland.

Wow.....the things you learn here on Blade Forums

 

[Jastab]

Basically, I believe they are what Japanese schoolkids used to sharpen their pencils.

This +1

 

[Binalith]

Actually The first handrail was recognized in history when French archaeologist Pierre St. Jamaine uncovered an Assyrian ruin in southern Iraq in the city-state Nippur. They also found an early example of a door at Nippur, dating from 2000 B.C. that was made from dolerite. The oldest records of doors are those included in paintings on Egyptian tombs, and a 5,000-year-old door has been found by archaeologists in Switzerland.

excellent.

thanks for the info guys. it is pretty surprising how little info is out there. i bet you could turn up ten pages on the history of stanley utility knives, which isn't a direct analogue but..eh y'know.

 

[A Justice]

Wow.....the things you learn here on Blade Forums

lol, well, it's a good example of the wealth of information available about benign and uninteresting topics. We take a lot of everyday items for granted and regardless of the history of doors they still swing like they were designed to every day; but even though the Kiridashi is an uninteresting utilitarian item, I understand OP's surprise that there isn't more information available. We live in a time when not only do people research anything and everything, they usually document it online somewhere.

OP, you would probably have the best luck (if you're intent on going that far) to contact a Professor of history or archaeology in Japan. Even though you can't find anything about Kiridashis online, "bilingual Japanese history professor" should bring up more than one result. Even if they do not know the answer to your question, the fact that there is interest in an answer will usually be enough for someone in academia to look in to it, and they would have access to traditional research facilities, would not be limited by only results in English, and might also know someone that could already give you more information. I know it's not as easy as getting an answer on a forum, but if you are interested enough I think that would be your best course of action.