Asano baby sickle, carbon steel & poplar

A diminutive razor or sickle hoe with a sharpened slightly curved carbon steel blade and poplar wood handle. From Asano Mokkousho, of Tsubame-Sanjo, Niigata Prefecture Japan. Ideal for container and glasshouse gardening where the small size allows easy access in tight spaces and between tight planting, be that for weeding, cultivating, or gently easing seedlings free for transplantation. Also good for pulling weeds from among paving and joints in walls. Being carbon steel these can rust if left wet or stored damp, and are best lightly oiled if left for extended periods. With a blade of about 8cm and a handle of 15cm.