Higonokami Mini Folding Pocket Knife Japanese Sanmai SK Steel Blade (Brown)

Japanese quality, it's so tiny!

This tiny little knife is very cool looking -- it looks kind of like a very very very small sword. The blade is very sharp, and seems to be of pretty high quality. The handle quality is also good. And even the keychain case is made out of a nice leather.... However, please note that this knife is very very small. It's the smallest pocket knife I've ever owned. Size-wise, it's more like one of those tiny knives that fold out of the side of some nail-clippers, for picking the dirt out from under your nails -- but it's much sharper than that, so I wouldn't recommend sliding this under your nails haha.But it's so small, I'm having trouble figuring out what I'd really use this for -- I don't have huge hands, but I can barely get two fingers around the handle of this thing -- so even for a simple task like cutting open the packing tape on a box, it's hard to get a comfortable grip on the knife, or any leverage -- I keep worrying it's going to slip out of my hand while I'm trying to cut things, and that I'm liable to end up cutting myself instead. It also lacks any kind of finger/thumb guard on the handle on the side where the sharp part of the blade is when open -- what I mean is, it feels like it'd be relatively easy for my fingers to slide down onto the blade if I'm using even a small amount of force when making a cut....On the handle on the side of the blade that isn't sharp (when open), at the least the the flipper mechanism is there to provide a little bit of traction to keep your fingers from slipping off of the shaft and onto the blade -- but it's more important to have that sort of protection/traction on the sharp side.I also found the blade did not open very smoothly at all, at first -- I ended up apply a bunch of lubricant and WD-40, and opening and closing the blade a few dozen times, and that did loosen it up nicely -- but it certainly still doesn't pop open or closed swiftly, for better or worse.The blade is also so thin that I'd worry about using it as a mini pry-bar -- so I don't think it can really take the place of any of my other EDC pocket knives, pry bars, or multitools... Although for anything were you might need a very small, sharp knife for doing highly detailed, delicate work -- then this knife be perfect for certain use-cases like that.It's such a cool looking knife, it's a shame that I don't think I'll really be using it much -- I wish it was just an inch or two bigger maybe. But, again, for those that like super small knives, this could be a winner.

This is a well-made, miniature higonokami knife that mimics the full-size knives in every way. It's got a brass outer shell with "higo no kami" engraved on it) and the blade is steel. It arrives fairly sharp, is easy to sharpen with a good whetstone (the steel is quite hard), and keeps its edge well. The sheath is leather, with a secure snap closure, and it has a lobster-claw catch to attach it to a keychain or d-ring (I have mine on my EDC sling bag). I found that I needed to work the rivet a bit to make it easier to open -- it's pretty stiff right out of the box, but a little oil and some repeated opening/closing took care of it (not too much oil, though -- it comes already lubricated!). It's not really meant for heavy use, but as a box opener, or just as a conversation piece or keepsake it's really nice, especially if you like Japanese knives in general or higonokami knives in particular.

The media could not be loaded. I don't mind that this looks rather crude. The materials seem sturdy, and the blade is very sharp. The sheath also appears to be genuine leather and well made. I’m sure I will be grateful to have this handy if the need arises. However, the blade is difficult to open, and I am quite nervous about harming myself when handling it. There is no grove on the blade to catch a nail on and pull it out. The size also makes it challenging to keep my fingers clear when closing it.

This knife is tiny. A true pen knife, shown in the picture next to a pen.That aside, I am really happy to have this. It has a very traditional feel.The leather pouch I well made with a solid snap and keyring clasp.The knife itself is very sharp and well made.My only complaint is that it is very difficult to open. I think they hammered the rivets a bit too hard.It still gets 5 stars for this price.

The FieldSora Higonokami Mini Folding Pocket Knife is definitely more of a unique, handmade souvenir piece than a practical everyday knife. The craftsmanship is apparent right out of the box, and its compact size makes it perfect for a keychain or just as a collector's item. Given the price, it feels more like you're paying for the tradition and handmade quality behind it than anything else.That said, the blade wasn't as sharp as I had hoped when it arrived. I expected something a bit closer to razor-sharp, but instead, it was more on the dull side. I tried sharpening and honing the blade myself, but I quickly realized the steel is incredibly hard—almost like working on a file. While it will definitely take some effort to get it to the sharpness I want, I’m confident that once I do, it will hold that edge for a long time due to how tough the steel is.If you’re looking for a small, durable knife with a bit of history and character, this is a great choice. Just be prepared to spend a bit of time getting the blade sharpened if you're planning to use it for more than display.

I like this little knife. Its solidly constructed but the opening action is very stiff. The thing I'm not crazy about is the fact that it comes so incredibly dull, its nearly useless out of the box. I was able to get it very sharp on my sharpener but this should have been done from the factory. The steel seems to be of decent quality and I do believe it to be high carbon as indicated. The knife is super tiny so it would make a good woodworking knife or general shop knife. It can be very hard to sharpen small knives like this but its really worth it with a high carbon blade like this. Keep in mind that this thing is NOT a fishing or outdoor knife, it'll rust at the drop of a hat so keep this one in the shop.