Chiyozuru Nobukuni "Sansui" Japanese plane. New. Deceased 1978 / Unused works extremely rare Start Price USD 1.00 Current Price USD 546.53 Time Left - Bid Count 9 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, August 20, 2008 End Time Wednesday, August 27, 2008 Location Sarasota, Florida See more about 'Chiyozuru Nobukuni "Sansui" Japanese plane. New.' Description   This is the second item in the blue-chip "Chiyozuru" auction.  I'm offering, back-to-back-to back, two planes and one knife made by the three successors of the peerless Japanese blacksmith Chiyozuru Korehide: his two apprentices, Chiyozuru Sadahide and Chiyozuru Nobukuni; and Sadahide's apprentice, his son.  A wonderful and exacting description of this great lineage and its influence in elevating Japanese tool blacksmithing to transcendent heights can be found in Toshio Odate's popular book "Japanese Woodworking Tools: Their Tradition, Spirit, and Use." "Sansui" (san/sui = mountain/water = landscape) is one of the more important works by the late Chiyozuru Nobukuni (1896-1978), one of the two men, along with Chiyozuru Sadahide, who apprenticed under Chiyozuru Korehide and in reverence adopted his working name upon going out on their own.  After his apprenticeship, Nobukuni (given name: Ochiai Uichi) went on to further advance his blacksmithing skills by way of much scientific experimentation, and was greatly respected for, amongst other talents, being able to forge and heat treat his irons to amazing hardnesses (Rockwell 67!) without their being too brittle for use.  Nobukuni's planes are much sought after today and are very difficult to find in any condition.  New, unused ones are extremely rare. This particular "Sansui" plane, numbered 5880 (I don't know its year of manufacture), is 70mm and made of high carbon Swedish steel.  Nobukuni polished it to a wonderful, high luster.  There are a few areas of very minor rust or stain, nothing significant.  The exquisite dai was made by Nasiya. Again, this plane is new, unused, and unsharpened.  It's wonderful. Shipping within the U.S. is $15 via FedEx Ground, $25 to Canada, and $40 to international regions serviced by USPS Priority International Mail.  Thanks very much for looking... ErikOn Aug-20-08 at 04:57:15 PDT, seller added the following information:Meant to say "heat treat and temper" his irons, rather than "forge and heat treat."  And... I don't know this particular blade's Rockwell hardness figure.   EW / Wed a.m.  Place a Bid!