Higonokami - Folding Knife - Chrome Plated

The higonokami is Japan's most iconic folding knife, with a history reaching back to 1896 in Miki City, Hyogo. It is a friction-folder: a blade that folds into a steel handle, opened with a thumb lever called the chikiri, which also serves to keep the blade safely open during use. Compact, sharp, and endlessly practical, the higonokami became the everyday carry knife for Japanese people of all ages - used for everything from sharpening pencils to preparing food.

Its origins lie in the Meiji-era ban on samurai carrying swords in public, which left the blacksmiths of Miki City without their primary trade. The higonokami was their practical answer: a small, foldable blade that could be manufactured with existing skills and materials, sold to civilians, and carried without restriction. At its peak, forty licensed workshops produced higonokami in Miki. Nagao Kanekoma Factory is the last.

These knives are the genuine article. Bearing the registered trademark 肥後守定駒 (Higonokami Sadakanekoma), they are made by Nagao Kanekoma Factory - the only manufacturer and surviving guild member still authorised to produce knives under the higonokami name. Our models are presented in branded Banshu Hamono packaging.

Monosteel construction

These knives are monosteel (全鋼, zenkou), which means both blade and handle are steel, with no separate handle material attached. This is a traditional higonokami form. Two finishes are available: black oxide, with a darkened steel handle, and chrome, with a polished bright steel handle.

The blade is made from SK-5 carbon steel, a tough, easy-to-sharpen high-carbon steel that takes a razor-sharp edge, though it is not corrosion-resistant and will rust if not kept clean and dry.

There is one size available:

• Medium - 165mm open, 72mm cutting edge

Each knife is presented in a branded Banshu Hamono box with a cotton cloth wrapping.

Care instructions: SK-5 is a high carbon steel and is not stainless. Wipe the blade dry immediately after each use. Hand wash with mild soapy water if needed and dry thoroughly. Apply a light coat of camellia or food-safe mineral oil before extended storage. The blade will develop a natural patina over time - this is expected and part of the character of the steel. Do not put in a dishwasher.

Note on use: The higonokami is a friction folder with no locking mechanism. Keep your thumb on the chikiri lever during use to prevent the blade from closing.

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BANSHU HAMONO is a collective brand from Hyōgo Prefecture in Japan, with a blacksmithing history stretching back to the first katana workshop established in 1744. The traditions of the Banshu and Miki region have continued across generations - today a range of specialist craftspeople still produce cutlery and tools using age-old techniques, and Banshu Hamono works with them to bring these products to a wider audience.

NAGAO KANEKOMA FACTORY was established in 1894 by Komataro Nagao in Miki, Hyōgo. The Banshu region - shared with twin city Ono - has long been one of Japan's foremost centres for cutlery and steel tool production. Nagao Kanekoma became a higonokami maker shortly after its founding, at a time when the guild of licensed manufacturers numbered forty workshops. It is now the only one remaining, and holds the sole registered trademark on the higonokami name. The factory is currently managed by fifth-generation blacksmith Mitsuo Nagao.