Gyokucho: Page 2

Gyokucho is based in Miki City in Hyogo Prefecture in Japan,  a city known for the production of hand tools, especially carpentry tools.  Razorsaw is the factory that produces handsaws, and Gyokucho is the sales company that sells handsaws made by Razorsaw.  Gyokucho and Razorsaw are separate group companies, but have the same president. 

Established in 1969, Gyokucho were the first company to produce and distribute handsaws with a replaceable blade which are now very common. Before handsaws with a replaceable blades were available, each carpenter in Japan used to own three saws. One that they use, one which is being resharpened by a professional sharpener, and one spare saw. Their founder, Masaaki Tomosada wanted to make a replaceable saw so that it would make things much easier for the carpenters.  Also he made the price of the replaceable blade cheaper than the cost of re-sharpening. 

Razorsaw handsaws are pull saws, and the blade is thin, but the teeth are very tough and well made, which is perfect for making smooth, clean and precise cuts.  The steel they use is specially made just for Razorsaw, which is very important in making a perfect quality saw.  They put a lot of effort into producing a handsaw with perfect teeth that has a well balanced structure and hardness.  One of the key production techniques they use is impulse hardening in which each tooth edge is heated 0.003 to 0.005 seconds one at a time, making only the surface of each tooth very hard. The hardened teeth are harder than a sharpening file, so it should stay sharp for a long time if used correctly. 

Because the blades are thin, the key in using these saws is to put no excessive pressure.  The weight of the saw itself is enough to cut through wood.  People can enjoy making smooth and clean cuts easily with these saws.