I haven't made any progress lately outside due to health and weather. After an inquiry a few weeks ago about a kanna (Japanese hand plane) on Iida Tools website, a found myself in the process of a purchase. Iida Tomohito was very helpful in obtaining information and helping me secure a purchase of my new tools. These are the first new tools I have purchased directly from Japan, and my first new kanna. The blades are forged by Ishido Hideo and his son Ishido Yoshitaka. Ishido Hideo passed a few years ago and this may not be his "best" blade but I am proud to own even one of his lower lines of blades. The blade by Yoshitake looks to be every bit as fine. The blades are both 70mm Blue Steel #1 with laminated chipbreakers and carry the name "Tonchinkan"(I have no idea what that means). The blades were not yet set in a dai yet, so Iida-san politely asked if I didn't mind waiting a week to have them set. My blades were then sent to Inomoto Isao a daiya shokunin in Sanjo. They were both set at a standard 8 bu (8/10 or 38.5°) as recommended by Inomoto-san per my description of the softwood I plan to plane. Both dai are oimasame grain pattern and have tsutsubo. It is hard to express the exceptional quality of the dais, as the soles came "pre-tuned" and are just perfect as can be. I would like to thank Iida-san, Inomoto-san, and Ishido-san for putting these fine tools in my hands, which will help me put together a home. The photos show the Ishido Hideo blade on the left and Yoshitaka blade on the right (the blue pictures are the ones Iida-san sent me). The end grain shows both of Inomoto-san's stamps.
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