Higo no Kami Aogami-Honwarikomi Tokudai (sizeXL), Nagaokoma, Import from JAPAN

This blue paper steel Motosuke Nagao "authentic" Higonokami. I bought this after giving my not authentic, but virtually identical (not blue paper steel) knife as a gift. The former Higo came in a green plastic sheath; this one came in the gold and blue box. This knife came with a small chip in the blade, the blade had a little wave toward the end, and it wasn't as sharp as the "fake" Higo. However, they are virtually identical. I love these knives for some reason. They are handmade, old method, and not as practical as a modern knife. They look like little samurai swords and the flat grind and high carbon steel means they can really hold an edge. I like the lamination line in the blade. They are all unique and give it a handmade look. I see some people polishing out the lam line and that takes the history and uniqueness away from the knife. If you do that, stop it! These knives have been made with traditional methods since the 1890's. It's part of history; you aren't making the knife better by making it look more modern. Apart from these are the more expensive Higonokamis and will have collector value, I don't see much difference in the cheaper version. The Motosuke Nagao knives are made by a man in his 80's and the last member of the guild that makes these knives. These knives will still be made using the same methods after Mr. Nagao is finished making them. They just won't have the official guild designation. They are just very cool knives, whichever you decide to purchase. Both look vintage, like your grandfather gave it to you when you were a kid, and they have grind marks and scratches on them. They look like tools that work and not like a trophy for your wall. I love these things!!

I wasn't sure what I was buying when j ordered this knife. As I searched the inter web for information, I found it to have an interesting history. First off, it's basic. It's a rough blade on a simple handle with no locking mechanism. The finish is rough and needs work and that's one of the things I like about it. The edge was sharp enough to use as a utility knife but nowhere near sharp enough to shave with. The little lever of the blade is very rough also. The spine of the blade has square edges and heavy grind marks. The brass handle on my knife had a few dings in it but nothing too bad. Opening this knife takes getting used to if you have a modern folder as most do. I'm so used to flicking my folders open and closing then with little thought. With a little practice, you can get good at opening with one hand. Don't be surprised if you get a few cuts in the meantime. First thing I did with it was open a few packages at work. It pierced tape with its sharp point with ease and cuts cardboard with little effort. The second thing I did was drop it on concrete. Ugh! I chipped the tip! I then used a Work Sharp tool to fix the top and really sharpen the edge. It took very little time to give the edge a nice polish and get it razor sharp. It will shave hairs off my arm with little effort. I did a few light carving strokes in some cedar wood to see how it holds up and it didn't seem to effect it at all. I also rounded the spine and lever to make it a little more appealing. I'll need to do a bit more but I'm pleased so far. I added a bit of paracord to the lanyard hole so that I can pull the knife out without digging in my pocket. The paracord keeps the knife vertical in my pocket and it doesn't get stuck in the bottom. I did notice that the pivot is beginning to loosen up a bit since I first got it. I hope it doesn't get too loose and open up inside my pocket because that would be a very bad situation. All in all, a good little knife if you don't mind a little work to make it better.

Cool knife. No frills, basic, and potentially dangerous... just what I was looking for. The blade is real forged steel.. aogami core with softer cladding. Sharpen it up on some stones and it's blisteringly sharp. I like the simple bevel and the thick spine which gives it a rustic charm. The brass handle I thought was pretty sturdy. Much sturdier than I was expecting. You have to make sure you are using the correct technique and not trying to overburden the blade because there's no locking mechanism so its potentially dangerous given its as sharp as a razor. But for cutting cardboard, opening boxes, trimming a thin branch here or there, cutting an apple open, cutting tape, paper, etc...it's perfect. The steel is real carbon aogami which means it'll rust if not cared for but it also means it sharpens easily and gets crazy sharp. Like hair whittling sharp. Mine came fairly tight too which was nice... the blade stays shut unless and until I purposefully open it. It's elegant in its simplicity and is super cool!

It’s certainly a unique knife with its own character. It’s fully functional, made with good steel and it’s sharp nearly as a proper shaving razor. However, the craftsmanship is much to be desired. The blade is not quite straight, the finishing touches, such as filing in places, is rough. The chikri (I think that’s the proper name for the lever) is far from being symmetrical. If you look for a perfectly crafted knife — you won’t find it here. It certainly could have been done better. It’s made “good enough.” But to be honest, I expected a mini katana type craftsmanship from Japan. Either it was done by a lazy apprentice or they don’t have a good QA — I am not sure. Certainly, it’s not the greatest value for the price. But, if you lower your expectations a bit, and learn to live with and appreciate its imperfections — you might have a lifelong companion. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a decent piece of hardware just far from being a work of art. I suppose it’s not intended to be a work of art but rather a useful tool. And as that, it’s good.