GRIT TEST ON NARUTAKI #127

The test was conducted using a vintage 1950s Ishido Teruhide Swedish blue steel 70mm kanna blade. The progression from the courser synthetic stones through the finer synthetic stone in the images can be duplicated at any time with those or similar stones. The image of the blade after using Hon Suita stone #63 stone was achieved under the exact same conditions using the same Ishido blade. The total actual width depicted in the photo of the sample blade is approximately 13mm. The actual width between the two distinctive blacken forging marks in the soft iron jigane at the right and left is about 6.4mm. The enlargement of the photos in the test is about 25 times. Take into consideration the brash grit marks the synthetic stone samples leave on the blade. This is typical of synthetic stones that leave the hagane and jigane equally shiny with little distinction or contrast between the two metals. Natural awase toishi tend to leave the finished blade with more contrast.