Higonokami cheapo.

BladeScout

BladeScout

Joined
May 16, 2010
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It doesnt (always) have to be expensive.
This Higonokami has been made like this since the 1890s and is a cheap but fine friction folder.

Most here have some experience with the Opinels and I have several of those as well. Mine are all carbon. They are fine slicers.

I like the Higo for the slim elegant profile.
They can be had in some fine Japanese steel but mine is the cheapest carbon version and works just fine.
The knife is brand new - only a few days old but it got the vinegar treatment.
I also placed a thin strip of 3M tape in the handle, so the edge doesnt get dull from hitting metal.

OHO is a breeze.

So what, if it the knife might develop slight blade play over time. Just bring out the mallet and use it on the pivot pin - problem solved.

I like the Higo at least as well as the Opinels and better than the Douk-douk.

I dont have a Mercator/OTTER-messer, so cant compare to that one.

The Higo was less than $10 including shipping from Japan and it arrived in less than two weeks.
Cant beat that.

Any Higos or other nice cheapos out there - lets see 'em!?


EDIT Exchanged the pic for one in focus.
 
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What I like doing to keep the edge from hitting the inside of the handle is to use some smooth-jawed pliers to bend the frame closed so it pinches the grind shoulder at the tip like a straight razor. The handle kind of flares open from the factory anyhow, so pinching it flatter gives a more uniform look. You often need to give the pivot a couple of light raps with a hammer to tighten it up after bending since it relieves a bit of tension on the rivet.
 
KnifeCenter carries a decent variety of inexpensive Higo. I've got one and like it although it's not something I usually carry.
Rich
 
I have one but it's never carried. The svord peasant is a better way of doing it.
 
I don't know why but the Higo, Opinel, Mercator, or Svord never appealed to me. I have to "have that feeling" that I'd carry a knife to purchase something nowadays.

I'm getting old and cranky.

Get off my lawn.
 
Even better way of avoiding the edge to hit the frame: take some thick and robust leather and push it inside the frame. Let the edge cut the leather slightly so that the knife makes a bed in the leather. The leather wont cut into two because it cannot expand within the frame.

That being said, I am not huge fan of friction folders and higonokami but I can see the appeal. For me the grind on higonokami is too much. Good for whittling but way too thick for utility (slicing).
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
What I like doing to keep the edge from hitting the inside of the handle is to use some smooth-jawed pliers to bend the frame closed so it pinches the grind shoulder at the tip like a straight razor. The handle kind of flares open from the factory anyhow, so pinching it flatter gives a more uniform look. You often need to give the pivot a couple of light raps with a hammer to tighten it up after bending since it relieves a bit of tension on the rivet.
Click to expand...


A.L. said:
Even better way of avoiding the edge to hit the frame: take some thick and robust leather and push it inside the frame. Let the edge cut the leather slightly so that the knife makes a bed in the leather. The leather wont cut into two because it cannot expand within the frame.

That being said, I am not huge fan of friction folders and higonokami but I can see the appeal. For me the grind on higonokami is too much. Good for whittling but way too thick for utility (slicing).
Click to expand...
Ive seen the strip of leather being used.
Pinching the handle should work as well, you just have to get it right the first time.

In my book the Higo slices okay. Its just a cheapo ... which works quite well considering the 'investment.' YMMV.
To each his own and all that.
 
Yo Mama said:
I have one but it's never carried. The svord peasant is a better way of doing it.
Click to expand...

I quite like the Svord.

But a Svord is a whopping five bucks more for the three inch version!:D

Then you have to add shipping on top of that.
For the price of a Svord, you can get two Higos ... shipped from Japan.

As for what is the better way of making a knife, the Higo has worked for a 100 yrs +
(As mentioned, I like the Svord as well)
 
I've always liked the looks of the Higo's over the Svords and Opinels, but only have experience with the Opinel's. I got a smoking deal on the ones I got, roughly $15 for 4 of them, one 7 and three 8's. If I ever find a deal like that on a Higo you can bet I'll buy 30 of them and spread 'em around the house. One of these days I'll snag one just to try it out.
 
BladeScout said:
Pinching the handle should work as well, you just have to get it right the first time.
Click to expand...

Nah. If you pinch it too far you can use a cold chisel like a tiny wedge to open the handle back up just using hand pressure. It's very easy. :)
 
I have just received several Higo type knives. They are not all typical Higos (there is a lambsfoot and a leafshaped blade in there), and they are not cheapies, alas! While the Svord Peasant got me hooked on this design, I had to mod it a lot to make it truly usable and it has since be gifted to a true peasant (they match well). My love is this Higonokami by Hiroaki Ohta (2.75" blade, hollow ground D2, very slicy). And I have just received its big brother with a 3.5" blade (really nice, nice, nice... but it's less easy in the pocket). While not cheap, they remain surprisingly affordable (for handmade stuff and a very clean F&F), so I may be able to apply.

9qEKeb0.jpg
 
McFeeli said:
I've always liked the looks of the Higo's over the Svords and Opinels, but only have experience with the Opinel's. I got a smoking deal on the ones I got, roughly $15 for 4 of them, one 7 and three 8's. If I ever find a deal like that on a Higo you can bet I'll buy 30 of them and spread 'em around the house. One of these days I'll snag one just to try it out.
Click to expand...
I like how the Higo is slimmer than both the Svord and the Opinel.
I have a couple of Opinels cut down to work as cardboard killers.
Even cut down, they are still way more bulky in the pocket than the Higo though, as the diameter of the Opinels near the blade hasnt been changed (apart from popping off the locking ring).

That being said, maybe the Svord and to a degree the Opi, are more sturdy/durable than the Higo.

Both the Svord and the Opi offers a better grip of course.

Though both the Svord and the Opi might be of stronger construction than the Higo, I doubt that matters much with standard use.


y60RlM8.jpg
 
herisson said:
I have just received several Higo type knives. They are not all typical Higos (there is a lambsfoot and a leafshaped blade in there), and they are not cheapies, alas! While the Svord Peasant got me hooked on this design, I had to mod it a lot to make it truly usable and it has since be gifted to a true peasant (they match well). My love is this Higonokami by Hiroaki Ohta (2.75" blade, hollow ground D2, very slicy). And I have just received its big brother with a 3.5" blade (really nice, nice, nice... but it's less easy in the pocket). While not cheap, they remain surprisingly affordable (for handmade stuff and a very clean F&F), so I may be able to apply.

9qEKeb0.jpg
Click to expand...
Thats a good looking knife.
Very clean.
Less is more.

As for Higo-style, there are the Katsu knives.
They seem like a bargain for what they are and several of them looks great.

I dont own one, but some of the Katsu looks to have locking blades. Combine that with the workmanship and the price (still affordable but just not cheapos), its of course not a direct comparison to the Higonokami.
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Nah. If you pinch it too far you can use a cold chisel like a tiny wedge to open the handle back up just using hand pressure. It's very easy. :)
Click to expand...
Id imagine, that it wouldnt be that difficult.
Its not like the handle is very tough or of thick material ... to say the least:D

Speaking of which; the handle and for that matter the spine of the blade can have some sharp edges, as the finish is not all that.

Then again its not an expensive knife.

My wasnt too bad when I got it but I went over it and sanded a few sharp edges on the handle and the spine.
Works well.
 
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