Hori hori
A hori-hori, sometimes called a "soil knife" or a "weeding knife", is a heavy serrated multi-purpose steel blade for gardening jobs such as digging or cutting. The blade is sharp on both sides and comes to a semi-sharp point at the end.
History and etymology
The hori-hori digging tool, first implemented in Japan, was initially used to excavate plants such as sansai in the mountains carefully.The word hori means "to dig" in Japanese, and "hori-hori" is an onomatopoeia for a digging sound. The tool itself is commonly referred to in Japan as a "leisure knife" or "sansai knife".
Description and uses
The hori-hori has uses in gardening such as weeding, cutting roots, transplanting, removing plants, sod cutting, and splitting perennials. The blade is made of concave-shaped carbon or stainless steel, making it ideal for digging and prying. The blade has a large, smooth wooden handle for comfortable use with one hand. It can serve as a small hand axe.The tool's total length varies from, depending on the size of the handle. The blade's size can vary, but it is normally around ×. A stainless-steel blade is often polished to a mirror-like finish and is usually paired with a scabbard.
The blade is razor-sharp, and one edge is serrated for cutting through roots and tough soil. Functions include a knife, a saw, a digging tool, or a measuring device for planting bulbs.