Lee Valley Woodworker Knife = Japanese folding knife (Takagi Ranbo) or variant?

[Ultraman]

Hi everyone,

Ever since I read a thread about common/cheap local Japanese folders (see thread here), I've wanted one of those, such as the "Takagi Ranbo" model, from member nohz2002's website. Here is a picture courtesy of nohz's website (I will remove picture if requested):

Well, I stumbled across this from the Lee Valley website, they call it a woodworker's knife.

My question: except for the blade shape, they really look similar! Do you think they were made by the same maker? The Lee Valley offering does not have Japanese markings on the blade, however, nor any mention of country of origin.

Constructive comments or information appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Sparljo]

I was in a lee valley retail location a couple of weeks ago.
Always end up spending too much money when I go, but end up with real cool stuff.

These are made in china, they had a bucket of them on display, and I remember the boxes being labeled as such.

It seemed liked a 6 dollar knife priced at 6 dollars to be honest.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

With the slightly different bolster, it looks like a deliberate attempt to copy the style of the Japanese knife by copying it more closely than they had to.

 

[Ultraman]

I was in a lee valley retail location a couple of weeks ago.
Always end up spending too much money when I go, but end up with real cool stuff.

These are made in china, they had a bucket of them on display, and I remember the boxes being labeled as such.

It seemed liked a 6 dollar knife priced at 6 dollars to be honest.

Thank you very much, Sparljo, for the information. Very helpful! Guess I'll pass on it.
Thanks again

 

[Ultraman]

With the slightly different bolster, it looks like a deliberate attempt to copy the style of the Japanese knife by copying it more closely than they had to.

I agree, Esav. I should have known it was a copy due to the difference you mentioned, and the lack of markings on the blade. Thanks for responding.

 

[sharpinend]

They could well be made by the same company, but from my experience, Lee Valley likes to have 'foreign' markings on some of it's products. If the 'Takagi Ranbo' logo, or whatever that says, on their blade is the company name, I'd suspect that Lee Valley would gladly purchase that (stamped/branded) version of their knife to resell in it's catalog/stores. I don't imagine they'd specifically ask for a 'no brand stamp' version of the knife for their own use/sale. To some, the Asian characters would add an air of authenticity or quality to the knife/steel, that I think Lee Valley would pick up on and not want to omit.

My guess (and only a guess) is that it's a Chinese knockoff, by a company who didn't have the nerve or stupidity to go as far as copying the logo or brandname on the blades. Either way, it's a cool looking knife. I'd buy one.

 

[nozh2002]

This is very common handle stile and it is kind of enhanced higonokami - higonokami with scales.

Higonokami handle is pretty simple:

Takagi Ranbo just add wooden scales to it, bolster and hook-up for lanyard:

But different producer Hitachi-Musachi (also located in Hitachi town but not related to Hitachi supercorportion in other way) has almost identical handle (with slightly different hook-up):

but blade is SHirogami (not SK4).

Takagi Ranbo as I remember cost was about $8.

To unswer you question - it looks like that Japanese knives but I will not buy something without any markings who made it (except directly from manufacturers). For example Lee Valley also sell Higonokamy - but it has markings on the handle:

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=51165&cat=1,51222&ap=1

Thanks, Vassili.

P.S. But with this "stainless steel with a hardness of Rc54-56" I do not see any value in this knife. But have a look at Higonokami from same Lee Valley - it is Shirogamy steel with hamon etc... for $17.50

 

[Ultraman]

They could well be made by the same company, but from my experience, Lee Valley likes to have 'foreign' markings on some of it's products. If the 'Takagi Ranbo' logo, or whatever that says, on their blade is the company name, I'd suspect that Lee Valley would gladly purchase that (stamped/branded) version of their knife to resell in it's catalog/stores. I don't imagine they'd specifically ask for a 'no brand stamp' version of the knife for their own use/sale. To some, the Asian characters would add an air of authenticity or quality to the knife/steel, that I think Lee Valley would pick up on and not want to omit.

My guess (and only a guess) is that it's a Chinese knockoff, by a company who didn't have the nerve or stupidity to go as far as copying the logo or brandname on the blades. Either way, it's a cool looking knife. I'd buy one.

I actually was first introduced to it by a poster who praised how sharp it was. AFAIK, it doesn't match markings as the Takagi Ranbo and I was hoping to get that distinct local Japanese look to it Thanks Sharpinend!

 

[Ultraman]

This is very common handle stile and it is kind of enhanced higonokami - higonokami with scales.

Higonokami handle is pretty simple:

Takagi Ranbo just add wooden scales to it, bolster and hook-up for lanyard:

But different producer Hitachi-Musachi (also located in Hitachi town but not related to Hitachi supercorportion in other way) has almost identical handle (with slightly different hook-up):

but blade is SHirogami (not SK4).

Takagi Ranbo as I remember cost was about $8.

To unswer you question - it looks like that Japanese knives but I will not buy something without any markings who made it (except directly from manufacturers). For example Lee Valley also sell Higonokamy - but it has markings on the handle:

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=51165&cat=1,51222&ap=1

Thanks, Vassili.

P.S. But with this "stainless steel with a hardness of Rc54-56" I do not see any value in this knife. But have a look at Higonokami from same Lee Valley - it is Shirogamy steel with hamon etc... for $17.50

Thanks for your comments Vassili! I already have a higonokami (shipped to me with a broken point). If I get lucky, maybe some day I can find a similar style, i.e., single blade sheepsfoot blade using Japanese steel.

Thanks again.