Shinwa Sokutei 62588 Freedom Scoya, 5.9 inches (15 cm), No Scale

Just what I expected from Shinwa. Superior in use to traditional western bevel gauges in my opinion, as its low profile is easier to carry and performs the same tasks. Solid brass bolt and nut are appreciated.

Better than most similar tools at 5x the price! Must have!

This T-bevel epitomizes Japanese craftsmanship. It is well-machined. There is no flash left on the edges, yet they feel almost sharp because the edges are square and clean. It is sleek and simple, yet has weight to it. If you let the blade drop into the scales under its own weight, it sounds like scissors closing or the sheathing of a katana. The knurled brass knob holds without problem. The scales are sturdy, and because the blade is fully encased by them when closed, this T-bevel should be able to take some abuse without getting bent out of shape... but, why would you treat a tool like this carelessly?

The first one I received was poorly finished by hand at the pinned end. The unit was not ground smoothly from end to end as shown in the item listing. It looks like the end was finished by hand with a belt sander with a courser grind than the rest of the body. It doesn't interfere with the function, but they cut corners on the finish. I returned the first one, thinking I just got a bad one. The second one was slightly better so I decided to keep it, though it is hard to tighten sufficiently as another person noted.

This is a great little folding bevel gauge. It is pretty hefty for it's size and has a nice brass knob which securely keeps your angle that you set it one. Made of stainless steel so you won't have to worry about it being banged up too much. It is a bit sharp at the pointy edge, but I guess that's how they all are to get a nice 45 degree angle. Otherwise a quite nice gauge to have handy when transferring angles when you work. Not made in Japan though.

I've owned one of these for many years and recently bought a 2nd one. The current build quality is unchanged from the excellent one I bought probably 15 years ago. I love the fact that it's all stainless and brass so I don't have to worry about rust as long as I take reasonable care of it. Finished very nicely, smooth operating - it's everything you want in a bevel. Also - from previous interactions I've had with Shinwa in the U.S., their customer service is *outstanding.* HIGHLY recommended.

I love these. I have the small and big one in my daily tool pouch and got another set to be in my shop. Co workers see it and think it’s going to be really expensive because of how well it works. Great price great product

I was looking for a T Bevel, preferably from Japan. Along with the price this item seemed to tick all the boxes, so I purchased it. But, there are some issues to be aware of:1. This item arrived and I was surprised when the packaging said it was "Made in China." Although many nice things are made there, the description of this listing is misleading. And I should have looked closer at other reviews that made mention of this in which case I would have kept looking.2. There are many scratches on the tool. For something brand new, I expected it to come in better condition. But this doesn't affect the tool's usage.3. So what's the one thing that a T Bevel should do well? It needs to hold an angle. However, I tightened the brass locking nut with considerable force and the angle can still change with relatively little force. There is a flat head screwdriver slot on the locking nut. If I tighten it with a screwdriver, it is more secure, however, I can still move the angle with one finger. I took it apart to clean off any grease to increase friction, but was only a 5% increase in performance. Perhaps a larger washer or combination of bolt/wash/nut would create more force to resist rotation. Either way, out of the box it can't hold an angle well. This is the biggest disappointment of this tool. I was hoping it could be a good tool to last a lifetime. But I will likely need to find a better one.In conclusion, for the price and it's design, it's still a decent value. If it cost any more, I would return it based on this experience. But I will hold onto it knowing I need to be very careful when using it. Would I recommend it? Well not to anything who needs a reliable, and accurate T Bevel.