Higonokami Pocket Knife Zenkou BLACK KURO-UCHI 75mm (3.0")
Higonokami is the most famous Japanese pocket knife.Ā It enjoys the same kind of fame in Japan as the Swiss army knife does in Switzerland and around the globe.
Higonokami is a small, lightweight and durable pocket knife of simple design, suitable for versatile use. The Zenkou BLACK KURO-UCHI version is made from high-carbonĀ 55C steel as a single, monosteel piece (not laminated), hardened to around 60 HRC. The Kuro-uchi finish is a natural black, textured layer on the top of the blade, formed during forging.
55C steel is a carbon steelĀ alloyĀ which makes HigonokamiĀ ā ļøĀ not stain resistantĀ ā ļø, but easy to resharpen.Ā This knife needsĀ good maintenance and the blade will develop a light patinaĀ over time and use.Ā After the use rinse it well and dry it,Ā weĀ recommend oiling the bladeĀ regularly in order to prevent the development of rust.Ā Read more about how to take care of high carbon knivesĀ and patina in our Knife maintenance blog post.
The handle of the Higonokami knife is traditionally made from folded metal, most commonly brass or steel, with no additional coverings. In Tomita Higonokami versions, deliberate hammer marks highlight the handcraftsmanship, giving each knife a unique character. The handle also features kanji characters: the larger characters spell Higonokami, while the smaller ones indicate the registered trademark and the makerās name, Kanekoma.
Higonokami has no locking system, it uses friction to keep the blade securely in place. The blade can be extracted from its brass handle by pushing down on the iconic level, called chikiri. During use, we should keep a thumb on the level to prevent the knife from folding.
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The shape of the Higonokami pocket knife is based on the katana, which is not a coincidence since knife manufacturing is deeply embedded in the samurai tradition. The knife first appeared in 1896 in response to reforms in the 19th century, which banned the production of weapons, so blacksmiths began to produce knives, among others also these small pocket Higonokamis. The Higonokami is produced by Kanekoma, a company with over 100 years of experience in forging knives. When Higonokamis began to be manufactured in Miki, the knife manufacturing metropolis, it spread rapidly throughout Japan and the United States, where it was mostly used forĀ pencil sharpening - just one of the many functions of this versatile small pocket knife.Ā |
The 75mm (3.0") blade length version of the pocket knife is packed in a cute little cardboard box.Ā
āļø Fun fact: The small four Kanji characters on the handle of the Higonokami mean Registered Trademark. The first three big characters translate to Higonokami (the name of the knife), and the last two are the name of the maker (Kanekoma).
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Higonokami Pocket Knife Zenkou BLACK KURO-UCHI 75mm (3.0")
Higonokami is the most famous Japanese pocket knife.Ā It enjoys the same kind of fame in Japan as the Swiss army knife does in Switzerland and around the globe.
Higonokami is a small, lightweight and durable pocket knife of simple design, suitable for versatile use. The Zenkou BLACK KURO-UCHI version is made from high-carbonĀ 55C steel as a single, monosteel piece (not laminated), hardened to around 60 HRC. The Kuro-uchi finish is a natural black, textured layer on the top of the blade, formed during forging.
55C steel is a carbon steelĀ alloyĀ which makes HigonokamiĀ ā ļøĀ not stain resistantĀ ā ļø, but easy to resharpen.Ā This knife needsĀ good maintenance and the blade will develop a light patinaĀ over time and use.Ā After the use rinse it well and dry it,Ā weĀ recommend oiling the bladeĀ regularly in order to prevent the development of rust.Ā Read more about how to take care of high carbon knivesĀ and patina in our Knife maintenance blog post.
The handle of the Higonokami knife is traditionally made from folded metal, most commonly brass or steel, with no additional coverings. In Tomita Higonokami versions, deliberate hammer marks highlight the handcraftsmanship, giving each knife a unique character. The handle also features kanji characters: the larger characters spell Higonokami, while the smaller ones indicate the registered trademark and the makerās name, Kanekoma.
Higonokami has no locking system, it uses friction to keep the blade securely in place. The blade can be extracted from its brass handle by pushing down on the iconic level, called chikiri. During use, we should keep a thumb on the level to prevent the knife from folding.
|
The shape of the Higonokami pocket knife is based on the katana, which is not a coincidence since knife manufacturing is deeply embedded in the samurai tradition. The knife first appeared in 1896 in response to reforms in the 19th century, which banned the production of weapons, so blacksmiths began to produce knives, among others also these small pocket Higonokamis. The Higonokami is produced by Kanekoma, a company with over 100 years of experience in forging knives. When Higonokamis began to be manufactured in Miki, the knife manufacturing metropolis, it spread rapidly throughout Japan and the United States, where it was mostly used forĀ pencil sharpening - just one of the many functions of this versatile small pocket knife.Ā |
The 75mm (3.0") blade length version of the pocket knife is packed in a cute little cardboard box.Ā
āļø Fun fact: The small four Kanji characters on the handle of the Higonokami mean Registered Trademark. The first three big characters translate to Higonokami (the name of the knife), and the last two are the name of the maker (Kanekoma).
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Description
Higonokami is the most famous Japanese pocket knife.Ā It enjoys the same kind of fame in Japan as the Swiss army knife does in Switzerland and around the globe.
Higonokami is a small, lightweight and durable pocket knife of simple design, suitable for versatile use. The Zenkou BLACK KURO-UCHI version is made from high-carbonĀ 55C steel as a single, monosteel piece (not laminated), hardened to around 60 HRC. The Kuro-uchi finish is a natural black, textured layer on the top of the blade, formed during forging.
55C steel is a carbon steelĀ alloyĀ which makes HigonokamiĀ ā ļøĀ not stain resistantĀ ā ļø, but easy to resharpen.Ā This knife needsĀ good maintenance and the blade will develop a light patinaĀ over time and use.Ā After the use rinse it well and dry it,Ā weĀ recommend oiling the bladeĀ regularly in order to prevent the development of rust.Ā Read more about how to take care of high carbon knivesĀ and patina in our Knife maintenance blog post.
The handle of the Higonokami knife is traditionally made from folded metal, most commonly brass or steel, with no additional coverings. In Tomita Higonokami versions, deliberate hammer marks highlight the handcraftsmanship, giving each knife a unique character. The handle also features kanji characters: the larger characters spell Higonokami, while the smaller ones indicate the registered trademark and the makerās name, Kanekoma.
Higonokami has no locking system, it uses friction to keep the blade securely in place. The blade can be extracted from its brass handle by pushing down on the iconic level, called chikiri. During use, we should keep a thumb on the level to prevent the knife from folding.
|
The shape of the Higonokami pocket knife is based on the katana, which is not a coincidence since knife manufacturing is deeply embedded in the samurai tradition. The knife first appeared in 1896 in response to reforms in the 19th century, which banned the production of weapons, so blacksmiths began to produce knives, among others also these small pocket Higonokamis. The Higonokami is produced by Kanekoma, a company with over 100 years of experience in forging knives. When Higonokamis began to be manufactured in Miki, the knife manufacturing metropolis, it spread rapidly throughout Japan and the United States, where it was mostly used forĀ pencil sharpening - just one of the many functions of this versatile small pocket knife.Ā |
The 75mm (3.0") blade length version of the pocket knife is packed in a cute little cardboard box.Ā
āļø Fun fact: The small four Kanji characters on the handle of the Higonokami mean Registered Trademark. The first three big characters translate to Higonokami (the name of the knife), and the last two are the name of the maker (Kanekoma).
