Nagao Kanekoma – Higonokami Folding Knife (Blue Steel Warikomi, Brass Handle)

Heritage & History
The origins of Nagao Kanekoma trace back to Miki City, Hyogo Prefecture, a region renowned for its blacksmithing traditions since the early Meiji era. Around the late 1800s, master craftsmen such as Murakami-san and Komataro Nagao-san began forging knives for the public, laying the foundation for the Higonokami Knife.

In 1897, merchant Tasaburo Shigematsu returned from Kagoshima with a folding knife design featuring a tail-like lever. This inspired local blacksmiths, including Nagao, to start producing such knives. A major innovation was the adoption of a double-bevel edge, unlike the traditional single-bevel knives of the time.

The knife became widely known as the Higonokami Knife, achieving huge popularity—so much so that Emperor Taisho himself owned one. By 1902, the Higonokami Knife Association was formed, comprising around 40 companies and over 200 artisans. However, the rise of cheap imitations and advances in tools such as imported knives and mechanical sharpeners led to a decline in demand. By the mid-1950s, nearly all Higonokami makers closed or changed trade, leaving Nagao Kanekoma Seisakusho as the sole surviving blacksmith legally permitted to use the “Higonokami” trademark.

Specifications

• Material: Blue Steel “Warikomi” (laminated core forging)

• Blade Length: 100 mm

• Blade Thickness: ~3.0 mm

• Saya/Handle Length: 120 mm

• Saya/Handle (Flip Cover): Brass

• Construction: Folding knife with lever-style opening

Features & Performance

• Blue Steel core: Renowned for superb sharpness, edge retention, and traditional forging quality.

• Warikomi construction: The hard Blue Steel cutting core is laminated between softer layers for toughness and resilience.

• Compact folding design: Portable, practical, and true to the original Higonokami form.

• Brass handle: Strong, durable, and naturally develops a patina over time, enhancing its character.

• Traditional craftsmanship: Each piece is forged and finished by Nagao Kanekoma, the last authentic Higonokami maker.