Iron Clad

Higonokami SK Steel Folding Knife - Medium

Name: Higonokami SK Steel Folding Knife - Medium
Brand: Iron Clad
Price: 63.98 AUD
Availability: OutOfStock

$63.98 $74.95

IMPORTANT: Carbon steel knives can rust or patina quickly if not cared for properly. They require regular cleaning, drying, and oiling. If you are unfamiliar with carbon steel maintenance, we recommend choosing a stainless steel option instead.

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St Peters, NSW —
2 Bishop St, Unit 2, St Peters NSW 2044
+61 2 8234 8818
Crows Nest, NSW —
107 West St, Shop 1, Crows Nest NSW 2065
+61 2 8234 8848
Pickup only
Prahran, VIC —
180 Commercial Road, Shop 1, Prahran VIC 3181
+61 3 8199 9948
Pickup only

Detailed Specifications

Line	Higonokami SK Steel
Profile	Petty / Utility knife
Bevel Type	Double Bevel
Weight	42 g \| 1.5 oz
Edge Length	70 mm \| 2 3/4″
Heel Height	13 mm \| 33/64″
Width @ Heel	2.5 mm \| 3/32″
Width @ Mid	2.5 mm \| 3/32″
Width @ 1cm from Tip	2.4 mm \| 3/32″
Steel	SK Steel \| Carbon

Blade Construction	Warikomi - Soft Iron Clad
Typical hardness	58 to 62 HRC
Surface Finish	Migaki
Handle	Special Handle
Region	Miki
Best for	Gift buyers Household

Free shipping for knives over AU$200 Australia wide.

World-wide shipping via DHL Express, 3 to 6 days (not available in the UK).

The Higonokami is a type of traditional friction folder, usually carried by workers of all kinds to perform delicate tasks that require sharpness and precision over strength, for its intended purpose, it forms an excellent pair with other traditional farming or logging tools like Nata. By now, they are still widely adopted for works like sharpening a pencil and are popular as small gifts that are characterful and functional.

The most classic Higonokami is produced by Nagao Kanekoma Factory(永尾かね駒), with their name proudly engrave on the handle: 登録商標(Registered Trademark) 肥後守(Higonokami, name of the knife) 定駒(Defined/designed by Kanekoma). They insist the use of traditional technique Warikomi - a method of manually split soft iron to clad a hard steel in the middle - to produce these knives. This is the same method commonly used for Katana forging to produce a blade that have good overall strength and good edge retention that is also easy to sharpen.

The scales and the knife blade are pinned together by a rivet, which the blade pivots around, then friction created by the rivet between the scale and blade holds the blade from deploying when it is carried. This ancient form of knife was widely utilized way before the invention of ball bearings, and it is a very easy to own item due to the lack of a locking mechanism, which made it unregulated in many places. This SK carbon steel line is made with reactive iron cladding, which require you to look after it like any other carbon steel knives to keep it from rusting. If its done well, it would reward you with amazing sharpness that is easy to restore.

Pros	Cons
Ideal entry point to Japanese knives Ideal for the household Budget friendly	Prone to rust

Care Instruction

Don't cut hard things! Japanese knives are brittle so bone hacking is a NO NO!
Wash with neutral detergent after use, and wipe dry;
Please don't wash knife with dishwasher, it will damage the wood handle;
Be careful not to leave the knife close to a heat source for a long time;
It is a lot more dangerous to cut with a blunt knife than a sharp knife!
It is best to sharpen a Japanese knife regularly on a waterstone.
Oil the (carbon) knife if storing for an extended period of time to prevent rust.

Nagao Kanekoma Factory

Nagao Kanekoma Factory (永尾かね駒製作所), Miki, maker of the Higonokami

Nagao Kanekoma Factory (株式会社永尾かね駒製作所) is a knife maker in Miki, Hyogo, and the maker of the Higonokami (肥後守) folding knife. Its own site says the first generation, Komataro Nagao, began making knives in 1894, and that its current head, Mitsuo Nagao (永尾光雄), is the fifth generation.

We stock its Higonokami folding knives in pocket, small, medium and large sizes.

The company's history page says knives were first made in Hirata, now part of Miki, in the Meiji 20s, and names Komataro Nagao among the first makers. Around 1894, it says, a hardware wholesaler, Shigematsu (重松太三郎), is said to have devised the chikiri, the lever that lets the blade fold into the handle, working from a knife brought back from Kagoshima.

The page says the knife was sold as the Higonokami because most customers were in southern Kyushu, mainly Kumamoto. According to the page, a Higonokami knife cooperative formed in 1899 and grew to 40 registered makers at its peak, and in 1910 the name was registered as a trademark that only members of the Miki cutlery makers' cooperative could use.

Box cutters, electric pencil sharpeners and a campaign against knives in the Showa 30s hit production and sales, the page says, and Nagao Kanekoma Factory is now the only company that can use the Higonokami trademark.

“A Miki maker of Higonokami folding knives. The company says its knife making spans five generations.”

Est. 1894 | 明治27年

Known for The Higonokami (肥後守) folding knife

Website higonokami.jp Instagram @higonokami.kanekoma Facebook 肥後守 Read more about Nagao Kanekoma Factory

Knife details

Profile

Petty

ペティ

Utility knife · Double bevel

Small, slim double-bevel utility knife for peeling, trimming and small board jobs.

Steel properties

Hardness Fair
Edge retention Low
Toughness Fair
Rust resistance Low
Ease of sharpening High
Sharpness Very high

Our ratings, inferred from published lab tests and composition.

Steel

SK Steel

SK材

Carbon · Various

A JIS family of carbon tool steels, not stainless. We list Fujitora, Tosa Tanren and Higonokami knives in it.

Construction

Warikomi - Soft Iron Clad

割込・軟鉄

Core set into soft iron

Hard steel set into a split in soft iron, from the edge. The iron patinas and rusts.

Finish

Migaki

Polished satin

Smooth polished surface, satin to soft sheen rather than mirror. Scratches show.

Handle

Special Handle

Octagonal WA

The maker's own handle; material not disclosed. See the product photos for its look.

Frequently asked questions

What is a petty knife and when do I need one?

A petty is a small utility knife, from the French petit. It is commonly shaped like a small gyuto and runs from 120 to 150 mm, up to 180 mm. Its clearest role is detailed work where a larger knife feels cumbersome: fruit peeling, garnish work, condiments, and small board work beside a gyuto or santoku.

A knife maker, Tojiro, frames the petty as a useful second knife, not an automatic necessity, and recommends santoku plus petty or gyuto plus petty combinations. It is not a replacement for a full size chef's knife; it lacks the blade length and belly for efficient chopping, rocking, or breaking down larger proteins. Treat it as a precision tool, not an all-rounder.

How long is a petty knife?

Petty knife lengths vary by maker: KAI's guide defines a petty (ペティナイフ) as a small knife with a narrow blade measuring 150 mm or under. Its table gives 90 to 150 mm, and it describes the shape as a smaller gyuto with a pointed tip.

We list petty knives from 70 mm to 165 mm, including lengths above the limit used in KAI's guide.

Is SK steel stainless?

No. SK is the symbol for the carbon tool steels in JIS G 4401, and in the table Kobe Steel publishes, chromium may not exceed 0.30% in any SK grade.

The Japan Stainless Steel Association defines stainless steel as an alloy with at least 10.5% chromium, so SK steel is not stainless. We suggest washing and drying the knife after use.

Is Nagao Kanekoma the maker of the Higonokami?

Yes. The Higonokami (肥後守), a folding pocket knife, is made by Nagao Kanekoma in Miki City, Hyogo.

The company's own site dates its start to 1894 and counts five generations of makers down to Mitsuo Nagao, saying its line is the only one passed down among Higonokami makers.

Written by Knives & Stones

Higonokami SK Steel Folding Knife - Medium

Availability

Detailed Specifications

Nagao Kanekoma Factory

Knife details

Petty

SK Steel

Warikomi - Soft Iron Clad

Migaki

Special Handle

Frequently asked questions

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