Pocket knives(Higonokami)
The original Higonokami knives are exclusively manufactured in the Kanekoma forge by 4th generation blacksmith Motosuke Nagao and his son Mitsuo Nagao (Miki), descending from 5 generations of blacksmiths. Motosuke Nagao is now quite old and luckily his succession is guaranteed by his son.
The Legacy of Nagao Kanekoma
Over a Century of Japanese Bladesmithing
Since 1894, the Nagao family has stood at the center of a remarkable tradition in Miki City, Japan—an area long celebrated for its metalworking heritage. It was here that founder Komataro Nagao laid the foundation for what would become one of Japan’s most iconic folding knives: the Higonokami.
Five Generations of Master Craftsmen
Komataro Nagao (1st generation)
In 1894, Komataro established a small forge in Hirata, producing traditional Hirata knives. Before long, he began crafting Higonokami knives—simple, sturdy, and highly functional tools that would earn a revered place in Japanese everyday life.
Shigeharu Nagao (2nd generation)
Shigeharu continued his father’s work and achieved an important milestone: he officially registered the Higonokami trademark, securing the name that would define the family legacy.
Akira Nagao (3rd generation)
Akira inherited the craft and further refined production, preserving the precise and time-honored forging techniques central to the Higonokami tradition.
Motosuke Nagao (4th generation)
Under Motosuke, Nagao Kanekoma became the sole remaining authentic maker of Higonokami knives in Japan. His dedication safeguarded a craft that was close to disappearing.
Mitsuo Nagao (5th generation)
Today, Mitsuo Nagao carries the legacy forward with the same commitment as his predecessors. While honoring the classic techniques, he is also developing new interpretations that guide the Higonokami into the modern era.
Nagao Kanekoma Factory Co., Ltd.
The company was officially established in 2021, but its craftsmanship embodies more than 130 years of history. Every knife that leaves the forge carries the spirit of five generations—an enduring blend of simplicity, functionality, and timeless Japanese aesthetics.
A Higonokami pocket knife was traditionally used for small jobs in and around the house, to peel an apple, to sharpen pencils, during camping trips, etc. Actually it is the "Opinel" of Japan but made of a superior steel type. The blade is slightly curved and is roughly finished at the top. This reinforces the traditional feeling with this knife. The steel is hand-forged and extremely hard (usually Japanese Aogami "Blue paper steel" with a Rockwell hardness of> 62), the cheaper versions are made of S55C or SK steel (60-61 HRc). These very affordable knives are made under great time pressure in only 1 small smithy and are not perfectly finished from the factory, many people choose to finish the knife at home and polish it so that it gets a personal character.
The most famous model is called "Sada Koma" and is available in three sizes medium (M), large (L) and extra large (EL). This knife has a brass handle like on the photo on the right. Other handles are for example steel, titanium or silver.
These are the characteristics of a Higonokami knife:
- A handle made of a folded casing of brass, steel, or titanium, stamped with Japanese Kanji characters that shows the name of the maker and the steel type of the blade.
- The presence of a Chikiri (the lever at the end of the blade) The lack of a locking system.
- The fact that the blade completely disappears in the handle when the blade is closed. Note that the length of the blade is traditionally measured from the point to the Chikiri (lever).
- The actual cutting edge is much shorter (65 mm with a 90 mm blade).
The top four characters say 登録商標 which means "registered trademark", below those is 肥後守 (higonokami). The 定 below that simply means made/customized, and the last character is 駒 (koma) which comes from "Nagao Komataro" ("Nagao" being the family name and "Komataro" the given name), who carried on his Grandfather's work. Around this character is a ﾠﾡ mark called "kane" traditionally used by craftsmen as a sort of trademark symbol. The name "kane" may or may not come from the archaic 矩 (kane) "carpenter's square" which came to be associated with tradesmen.
Beware: The "Higo" knives with a Samurai figure on the blade are fine knives but formally no "real" Higonokamis.
Here a nice explanation about the origin of these traditional pocket knives.
We only sell the knives in our range to people aged 18 and older. By ordering a knife with us, you declare to be over 18 years old!
Express shipping of pocket knives and Higonokami is not possible!
Limited Edition
Katsumoto Hoseki Higo Damascus VG-10 BrassKatsumoto Hoseki Higo,
This Higo knife has a core of Japanese VG-10 steel (stainless) with a beautiful damascus outer layer. This double-sided sharpened knife is forged by hand. The blade is sturdy and manually sharpened and is…€ 45,00 € 35,00-24%
Motosuke Nagao Higonokami S55C BlackMotosuke Nagao Higonokami S55C black
This Japanese Higonokami knife is made of Japanese JIS S55C high-carbon steel (non-rustproof). This double-sided sharpened knife is completely hand-forged by the only master smith who can make…€ 25,00 € 19,00-24%
Motosuke Nagao Higonokami S55C Black -Emperor limited edition-Motosuke Nagao Higonokami S55C black, - limited edition -
This Japanese Higonokami knife is made from Japanese JIS S55C high-carbon steel (non-stainless). This simple but effective double-sided sharpened knife is completely…€ 29,00 € 22,00
Motosuke Nagao Higonokami S55C ChromeMotosuke Nagao Higonokami S55C Chrome
This Japanese Higonokami knife is made of Japanese JIS S55C high-carbon steel (non-rustproof). This double-sided sharpened knife is completely hand-forged by the only master smith who can…€ 25,00-17%
Motosuke Nagao Higonokami S55C Chrome -Emperor limited edition-Motosuke Nagao Higonokami S55C Chrome, - limited edition -
This Japanese Higonokami knife is made of Japanese JIS S55C high-carbon steel (non-rustproof). This double-sided sharpened knife is completely hand-forged
by the only…€ 29,00 € 24,00
Motosuke Nagao Higonokami SK-5 BlackMotosuke Nagao Higonokami SK-5 Black,
This Japanese Higonokami knife is made of Japanese SK-5 carbon steel (non-stainless). This hard core steel is clamped with a softer steel type for protection. Due to the high hardness of the…€ 26,00
Motosuke Nagao Higonokami SK-5 ChromeMotosuke Nagao Higonokami Chrome
This Japanese Higonokami knife is made from Japanese SK-5 carbon steel (non-stainless). This hard core steel is clamped with a softer steel type for protection. Due to the high hardness of the…€ 28,00Tijdelijke aanbieding!
Motosuke Nagao Higonokami Aogami Original BrassMotosuke Nagao Higonokami Original,
This Japanese Higonokami knife has a core of Japanese Aogami # 1 "Blue paper" carbon steel (non-stainless). This double-sided sharpened knife is completely forged by the only master smith who…€ 69,00 € 49,00-29%
Motosuke Nagao Higonokami Aogami Mizushibuki WaterdropMotosuke Nagao Higonokami with special water drop decoration,
This Japanese Higonokami knife has a core of Japanese Aogami # 1 "Blue paper" carbon steel (non-stainless). This double-sided sharpened knife is completely forged by…€ 49,00 € 35,00New!
Motosuke Nagao Higonokami SK Warikomi - mini - no bellMotosuke Nagao Higonokami mini.
This Japanese Higonokami knife has a core of Japanese Warikomi SK carbon steel (non-stainless). This double-sided sharpened knife is completely hand-forged by the only master blacksmith who is…€ 24,95
Motosuke Nagao Higonokami SK Warikomi - mini - with bellMotosuke Nagao Higonokami mini with bell,
This Japanese Higonokami knife has a core of Japanese SK Warikomi carbon steel (non-stainless). This double-sided sharpened knife is completely forged by hand by the only master smith who…€ 26,95-14%
Motosuke Nagao Higonokami Sasaba (Bamboo leaf) Black -Shirogami steel-Motosuke Nagao Higonokami Sasaba Black, 100 mm
This Japanese Higonokami knife has a core of Japanese Shirogami # 2 steel (non-stainless) with a black painted brass handle. This double-sided sharpened knife is completely forged by…€ 69,00 € 59,00
Motosuke Nagao Higonokami Sasaba (Bamboo leaf) Gold - Shirogami steel -Motosuke Nagao Higonokami Sasaba Brass, 100 mm
This Japanese Higonokami knife has a core of Japanese Shirogami # 2 steel (non-stainless) with a brass handle. This double-sided sharpened knife is completely forged by hand by the…€ 69,00-13%
Motosuke Nagao Higonokami Kengata (Sword Shape) BlackMotosuke Nagao Higonokami Kengata Black, 100 mm
This Japanese Higonokami knife has a core of Japanese Shirogami # 2 steel (non-stainless) with a black painted brass handle. This double-sided sharpened knife is completely forged…€ 79,00 € 69,00-13%
Motosuke Nagao Higonokami Kengata (Sword shape) GoldMotosuke Nagao Higonokami Kengata Brass, 100 mm
This Japanese Higonokami knife has a core of Japanese Shirogami # 2 steel (non-stainless) with a brass handle. This double-sided sharpened knife is completely forged by hand by the…€ 79,00 € 69,00New!
Mitsuo Nagao Higonokami Hammer Forged Original Brass -Tiger in the Woods-Mitsuo Nagao Higonokami Original "Tiger in the woods"
This large, handmade folding knife is crafted at the Nagao Kanekoma Factory (長尾兼古刃物製作所) in Miki City, Japan — the last workshop officially permitted to use…€ 229,00 € 169,00-27%
Mitsuo Nagao Higonokami Hammer Forged Black -Tiger in the Woods-Mitsuo Nagao Higonokami "Tiger in the woods"
This large, handmade folding knife is crafted at the Nagao Kanekoma Factory (長尾兼古刃物製作所) in Miki City, Japan — the last workshop officially permitted to use the…€ 219,00 € 159,00-27%
Motosuke Nagao Omamori Kogatana - sword shape -Motosuke Nagao Omamori kogatana,
This Japanese kogatana knife has a core of Japanese Aogami # 1 "Blue paper" carbon steel (non-stainless). This double-sided sharpened knife is completely hand-forged by the master blacksmith…€ 89,00 € 65,00-25%
Motosuke Nagao Higonokami VG-10 Rainbow TitaniumMotosuke Nagao Higonokami VG-10 with Rainbow Titanium handle 'Limited Edition'
This Japanese Higonokami knife has a core of Japanese VG-10 steel (stainless) with a stainless steel handle. This double-sided sharpened knife is…€ 79,00 € 59,00-18%
Motosuke Nagao Toumaki Fujimaki kogatanaMotosuke Nagao Toumaki kogatana,
This Japanese Toumaki knife has a core of Japanese Aogami #2 "Blue paper" carbon steel (non-rustproof). This double-sided sharpened knife is completely hand-forged by the masters Motosuke Nagao.…€ 79,00 € 65,00-18%
Motosuke Nagao Chirimen Bannou KogatanaMotosuke Nagao Chirimen Bannou kogatana,
This Japanese Chirimen kogatana knife has a core of Japanese Aogami # 1 "Blue paper" carbon steel (non-stainless). This double-sided sharpened knife is completely hand-forged by the master…€ 79,00 € 65,00New
Nigara SG2 Tsuchime Damascus Folding Knife Carbon Fiber HandleNigara SG2 Folding Knife Carbon Fiber Handle
This now very scarce version of this famous Nigara pocket knife has a core of Japanese SG2 steel (stainless) with a hammered (Tsuchime) stainless steel cladding. This double-sided…€ 549,00 € 449,00New
Nigara SG2 Tsuchime Damascus Folding Knife G10 HandleNigara SG2 Folding Knife G10 Handle
This now very scarce version of this famous Nigara pocket knife has a core of Japanese SG2 steel (stainless) with a hammered (Tsuchime) stainless steel cladding. This double-sided sharpened…€ 549,00 € 449,00-50%
Leather Cover (Sleeve) for Higonokami and pocket knivesHandmade protective cover for Higonokami knives and pocket knives.
Protect yourself, your clothes and your valuable knife from damage. A beautiful handmade genuine leather cover/sleeve is the solution. These leather covers from…€ 19,95 € 9,95
