Higonokami cheapo.

[As for Higo-style, there are the Katsu knives.]
Yes, definitely (I just saw a persian Damascus blade with ebony handle, must resist, must resist... fortunately, I'm not a Damascus fan). They remind me of what Kansei Matsumo does. Really nice, good materials, very clean fit&finish. I just don't like that much the open frame / half flipper / half friction folder version. Like the Böker Wasabi. It's a nice knife but it will not make its way into the core EDC.
 
herisson said:
[As for Higo-style, there are the Katsu knives.]
Yes, definitely (I just saw a persian Damascus blade with ebony handle, must resist, must resist... fortunately, I'm not a Damascus fan). They remind me of what Kansei Matsumo does. Really nice, good materials, very clean fit&finish. I just don't like that much the open frame / half flipper / half friction folder version. Like the Böker Wasabi. It's a nice knife but it will not make its way into the core EDC.
Click to expand...
Higos on steroids!
The Katsu might be 'Higo-style' knives but they are of different workmanship and price though affordable.

0oHWFSJ.jpg


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While doing the enabler, why didn't you add that persian blade thingy ? Katsu makes very nice knives, no doubt. You have noticed, certainly, the sleek hollow grind. Something on a whole different level than the average blocky scandi grind of the cheapos. No offense intended, but I had to say it.
 
Love the Higonokami.

Never before have I seen a model of knife that can vary in price so wildly. They have cheap ones from 15-20$ Canadian to 280$ for one by a well known master smith.

It is probably my favourite traditional and a genius design with that little thumb tab. Personaly I glue a little strip of cut up credit card in mine to prevent the edge from hitting the inside of the handle.

My favourite use for it is as a light thin folder I carry in my pocket when I am carrying a fixed blade. I think it makes a perfect companion to a fixed.

Btw those Katsu knives are outstanding for the price.
 
That little thumb tab is what prevented me of buying a "true" Higonokami. Originally, they were intended for sharpening pencils. So... right. I prefer a dependable EDC (like the Svord Peasant... despite the crappy finish). That "huge" lever is what makes a friction folder a real knifey knife that can do all a knife is supposed to do. Yes, it's pokey in the pocket, I know. This said, the Hiroaki Ohta and the Junpei Makkari "higonokamis" hit a sweet spot in my book : substantial lever and (not too much) hinderance in the pocket. Yes, they are tinies : they stay in the watch pocket...
 
herisson said:
While doing the enabler, why didn't you add that persian blade thingy ? Katsu makes very nice knives, no doubt. You have noticed, certainly, the sleek hollow grind. Something on a whole different level than the average blocky scandi grind of the cheapos. No offense intended, but I had to say it.
Click to expand...
I dont know 'The Persian Thingy' of which you speak but now Im interested?
A Persian blade done right is not to sneeze at.

No offense taken what so ever because you are right; there is NO comparison between the original simple humble cheapo Higonokami and the Katsu (though (again) the Katsu knives are surprisingly affordable).
 
Japanese are very conservative people.. even when it comes to old knives not functioning so good.
 
Lapedog said:
Love the Higonokami.

Never before have I seen a model of knife that can vary in price so wildly. They have cheap ones from 15-20$ Canadian to 280$ for one by a well known master smith.

It is probably my favourite traditional and a genius design with that little thumb tab. Personaly I glue a little strip of cut up credit card in mine to prevent the edge from hitting the inside of the handle.

My favourite use for it is as a light thin folder I carry in my pocket when I am carrying a fixed blade. I think it makes a perfect companion to a fixed.

Btw those Katsu knives are outstanding for the price.
Click to expand...

herisson said:
That little thumb tab is what prevented me of buying a "true" Higonokami. Originally, they were intended for sharpening pencils. So... right. I prefer a dependable EDC (like the Svord Peasant... despite the crappy finish). That "huge" lever is what makes a friction folder a real knifey knife that can do all a knife is supposed to do. Yes, it's pokey in the pocket, I know. This said, the Hiroaki Ohta and the Junpei Makkari "higonokamis" hit a sweet spot in my book : substantial lever and (not too much) hinderance in the pocket. Yes, they are tinies : they stay in the watch pocket...
Click to expand...
I havent put it to a 'hard use' test and have no interest in doing so but Id assume the Svord's longer 'lever' would make it safer in use than the small 'tab' of the Higonokami.
Then again, the Svord lever might be more noticable when the knife is stuffed into a pocket.

AFAIK some people carry the Svord in a spipjslip. I cant see that happening with a Higo.
 
Here it is. It makes me drool, it's just overall perfect in many ways...
Now, I am the enabler... Not my picture. I tell ya, I'm fighting the urge, really hard...

5slUnzW.png
 
A.L. said:
Japanese are very conservative people.. even when it comes to old knives not functioning so good.
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For their intended purpose, I think they work quite well but thats just me. The Higo can hardly compete with foe example a Sebenza or Rockstead nor were they ever intended to. I can certainly easily understand why/how some knife aficionados wouldnt care much for the cheapo Higo. We are very spoiled in regards to a wide selection of quality knives.
A cheap knife which work can have its own charm.
 
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[AFAIK some people carry the Svord in a spipjslip. I cant see that happening with a Higo.]

Yes, I do that. I carry my Higos in a spipsjlip because my shirts have an insewn little vertical pocket in the normal left pocket. The knife sits perfectly upright and unobtrusive. I draw it with the little sheath, drop the sheath, use the knife, recover the sheath and store the knife back where it belongs. It may seem complicated but it isn't at all. Just natural.
 
Well, your knife has a wooden handle and a different finish.
I should have written, that I cant see, why anybody would carry the ultra cheapo metal handle Higonokami in a sheath. I mean, why bother.
To each her/his own of course.
Personally, I just drop my Higo in a pocket.
 
Drop into any pocket is a paramount requirement in my book. It's an EDC by design, right ?
 
BladeScout said:
For their intended purpose, I think they work quite well but thats just me. The Higo can hardly compete with foe example a Sebenza or Rockstead nor were they ever intended to. I can certainly easily understand why/how some knife aficinados wouldnt care much for the cheapo Higo. We are very spoiled in regards to a wide selection of quality knives.
A cheap knife which work can have its own charm.
Click to expand...

I’ve had too many beers and my post was trying to be rather sarcastic. What I meant was that the knife folding on the frame hasn’t been fixed today because of the tradition..
 
BladeScout said:
Well, your knife has a wooden handle and a different finish.
I should have written, that I cant see, why anybody would carry the ultra cheapo metal handle Higonokami in a sheath. I mean, why bother.
To each her/his own of course.
Personally, I just drop my Higo in a pocket.
Click to expand...

Some of them have pretty loose actions and could possibly open in the pocket
 
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).
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Yeah the higo does not look slicy enough for me at all.
I guess it would be the perfect candidate for a ffg mod.
 
Sure, I could use a Higo, but I can afford to buy decent quality things these days. Since I no longer have to get by with the least expensive knife that will do the job, I choose not to. No Higos for me, but I am glad you enjoy yours.
 
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