Niwaki SK Higonokami Folding KnifeKanekoma Higo Traditional Japanese set folding pocket knife made by Kanekoma with a hand forged 3" folded SK steel blade. The smooth brass handle starts off shiny but soon mellows to a lovely patina. Quite a stiff action that loosens with time, and can be retightened with a sharp rap on the rivet with a hammer. The Niwaki Higo knives are hand made by Kanekoma, 5th generation knife makers in Miki, down in Hyogo Prefecture. Founded in 1894, early knives were called higonokami because a lot of customers were from Kumamoto, an area previously known as Higo. In 1910 the name was registered, and only makers in the Miki region could use it, and Kanekoma are now the last of those makers. In an industry known for hanging on to traditions, their factory is one the most traditional we’ve come across.
Brass Higonokami Folding Knife
Our Niwaki tools are made from carbon steel - this means they will, through regular use, stain (and eventually rust) and gradually lose their edge. Caring for them involves three things…
1. Correct Use:
- Japanese steel is hard and sharp, and can be more brittle than some people are used to - it will chip if abused
- Do not cut wire, metal, stone, plastic or any other hard material (even bamboo fibres and some very hard woods, especially knots and burrs, can damage steel edges)
- Do not twist or apply uneven pressure
- Cut diagonally across branches (not straight across) so you cut along the fibres
- Pay attention to our maximum cut dimensions, and don’t overdo it (shears are not loppers)
- Use the base of the blades, not the tips, for heavier cuts
2. Keeping Them Clean:
- Remove leaf resin, rust and gunk with a Crean Mate and water
- Dry, wipe over with Camellia oil and store in a dry place