HIGO NO KAMI10 Pocket Knife by Nagao Seisakusho, Brass Finish

I purchased this as part of my growing knife collection. It looked unique, and it truly is. It has a true 'hand crafted' feel to it. And it appears very authentically Japanese. Not polished like what you would expect with other mass-produced folders. Did the paper test and it's razor sharp right out of the box. I could see using it as an occasional EDC. Very light and thin. I don't think the brass handle would be comfortable for any extensive or heavy work; would probably 'bite' into the hand. But for occasional light work it would be fine, and I think that is what it is intended for. The blade does not have a locking mechanism as in usual pocket knives, but there is enough friction in the pin joint to hold it in the handle, so no concern. When you 'sheath' the knife in the handle, make sure you allow a bit of it to show at the cutout area in the brass handle. Instructions inside the box are all in Japanese; would have liked an English version. I'm sure if I carry it the knife will easily be a conversation piece. Glad I purchased it.

Overall, it’s not a bad knife - it came duller than expected and it didn’t hold an edge (at first) - I think this is because it folds into a cheap brass sheath (probably brass). I bent the sheath so it laid straight (inline) with the knife blade and added a rubber spline (window screen spline) into the handle (sheath). I think this protects the blade a bit so it keeps an edge better. After sharpening, it seems to hold the edge. The metal is raw (not chrome plated or anything), so it’ll rust. But it’s a simple knife with a low profile, so I’m happy with it. It will cut.I don’t know that I agree with the “authenticity” of this knife (being some old world Japanese design) because it does feel cheap, but 15 minutes of googling made me think it might be a legit Japanese folding knife.I liked the simplicity and low profile (I’m not a fan of thick EDC knives because I work in an office where I don’t need all that).This knife has a small profile and I do like the simplicity of it. It does loosen up with use and it may open in your pocket (it opens in mine) - a Google image search of the knife implies that it’s legitimately made by a Japanese knife company - TBH, I was looking for a cheap knife that I’d probably lose, so genuine Japanese folding knife or cheap Chinese knockoff wasn’t an issue for me.Regardless, I like the knife - I’ve used it daily for a month and have been happy with my purchase.

This knife is an interesting mix -- the handle looks like it'd be a $5 box-cutter...then out pops this razor-sharp, hand-forged, 3-layer carbon-steel blade that's shooting WAY above its pay-grade, if you know what I mean. I like the heritage that this simple knife embodies -- the dying art of the samurai blade, made in a simple workshop by a single guy, etc.So the knife itself, then. I thought it was a little on the small side, but it's really a perfect size to put in a pocket and use for menial tasks...it has the "ideal" 3" blade/4" handle ratio. (I read somewhere that this is the ideal, YMMV) It's super thin, and just disappears on my pocket -- I'm gonna make sure it always stays a bit stiff in the hinge, so I don't reach into my pocket and slice off a fingertip, though.Out of the box, it was super stiff to open, and the handle displayed the flare shown in other reviewers' pictures. I gave it a quick press in my bench vise to straighten it up and it looks much better -- also, it opens/closes much easier and smoother after that and after just fidgeting with it for a couple of days. And it's hecka-sharp.Lastly, in my 3rd photo you can see in the hinge area of the blade, the 3-layer sandwich of the "warikomi" steel blade -- hardened steel in the middle for the edge, and softer steel on the outsides. There's a neat not-me-tube video of a craftsman splitting a bar of steel and inserting the core, if you look up "making warikomi blade" on that site.

In a time when every folding knife is marketed to have a lock that can hold the weight of a man or keep a rock solid lock up when whacked spine first into a pine board, there is something refreshing about a simple knife that just cutsThe Higo No Kami is just that. A well crafted carbon steel blade pinned to a folder brass handle and secured open by nothing more than a very tight fit and the pressure one would put on the back of the blade holding the tab tightly. There is no back spring, no half stop, and certainly no lock.However, it serves it's purpose. The blade is sharp and surprisingly stout. The action is VERY tight, but that keeps the knife from flopping open and will wear in as the steel polishes the brass it is mates up to. It is about as simple of a folding knife as one could make.The quality seems very well done. Lots of care was put into the steel which sports a fairly obtuse edge that will scrape hair out of the box but can be made crazy sharp easily. The engraving is clean and well done on both the blade and the handle. My only ding against them is that the tab is a bit mangled and the spot where the tanto was cut is not straight at the back of the spine.However, it is important to remember that these a very function over form knives. Much like an Okapi or Svord Peasant, it just has to cut and not worry about looking pretty.So for the price, you can do way worse if you are looking for a very simple old school knife that is useful yet nonthreatening and will turn heads in a good way. I highly recommend it as long as you know what to expect.