Higonokami
Made in Miki, Japan Since 1896
The Higonokami is one of Japan’s most enduring everyday objects — a brass-handled friction folder born in 1896, when the country’s swordsmiths turned their craft to pocket knives. At Keep Shooting we carry the genuine article: the SK Folder in solid brass, with a hand-ground SK5 carbon-steel blade and the signature lever tang. Simple, sharp, and steeped in history.
About Higonokami
The Higonokami is a piece of living Japanese history — a traditional brass-handled friction folder still made the old way. At Keep Shooting we carry the authentic Higonokami SK Folder, which you’ll find with the rest of our folding knives.
A Knife Born from Swords
The Higonokami first appeared in 1896 in Miki, in Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture — a city famous for metalworking — at a moment of upheaval. The Meiji reforms had ended the samurai class and with it the demand for swords, so the region’s blade smiths turned their skill to an affordable folding pocket knife for everyone. It has no lock: the Higonokami is a true friction folder, held open by the pressure of your thumb on its iconic lever tang, the chikiri. The name was trademarked in 1910, and today just one workshop is legally allowed to make the genuine article — the Nagao Kanekoma factory, where the Nagao family has forged knives in Miki since 1894. Owning one is owning a small, working piece of that lineage.
The SK Folder in Brass
The Higonokami SK Folder we carry is the classic pattern: a 1.5″ SK5 carbon-steel blade hardened to about 60 HRC, folded into a one-piece solid brass handle with the long lever tang standing proud of the spine. There are no screws, no liner, no clip — just two simple parts and a pivot, the way it has been for well over a century. SK5 takes a wickedly keen edge and is easy to touch up, though as a carbon steel it will develop a patina and should be wiped dry after use; a few drops of oil on the pivot keep the action smooth. It’s a featherweight, endlessly charming EDC for opening mail, whittling, or slicing an apple in the field.
The Genuine Article
The Higonokami has been imitated the world over — our Böker page, for instance, carries Higonokami-style reproductions — but this is the real, Japan-made original. If you love a simple, soulful blade, you’ll be at home in the rest of our knives and tools, alongside folders from Cold Steel and CRKT. Keep that carbon edge singing with a Lansky sharpener. Every order ships from Keep Shooting with fast handling and our satisfaction guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions — Higonokami
Yes, we maintain inventory of the most popular Higonokami products. Each product listing shows real-time stock status. If an item is temporarily out of stock, you can sign up for back-in-stock notifications on the product page.
Yes! All orders over $49.95 qualify for free shipping, including Higonokami products. Orders typically ship within 1–2 business days.
Keep Shooting offers hassle-free returns on Higonokami products. If you're not completely satisfied, contact our customer service team for a return authorization. All products must be in original, unused condition.
Yes, Keep Shooting is an authorized Higonokami dealer. All products are sourced directly and include full manufacturer warranty coverage.