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

People

Founder: Komataro Nagao 永尾駒太郎
Current Head: Mitsuo Nagao 永尾光雄

Craft

Known For: The Higonokami (肥後守) folding knife
Steel: SK steel, Aogami, VG10

Location

Address: 286-1 Torimachi, Miki, Hyogo 673-0456, Japan
Region: Miki, Japan
Coordinates: 34.80783, 134.95884

Brand

Logo

Native Name

株式会社永尾かね駒製作所

Why Nagao Kanekoma Factory Matters

Nagao Kanekoma Factory says its first generation, Komataro Nagao, began making knives in Hirata, Miki, in 1894, and that its current head, Mitsuo Nagao, is the fifth. Its history page says it is now the only company that can use the Higonokami trademark.

Does Nagao Kanekoma Factory Allow Unsolicited Visits?

Factory tours and Higonokami knife-making experiences available by appointment. Workshops run year-round, closed Saturday/Sunday/holidays. Contact factory directly to arrange visits.

Knives by Nagao Kanekoma Factory

Higonokami SK Steel

The Higonokami is a type of traditional friction folder, usually carried by workers of all kinds to perform delicate tasks that require sharpness and precisi... Read more

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. Read less

Pros

Ideal entry point to Japanese knives
Ideal for the household
Budget friendly

Cons

Prone to rust

Warikomi - Soft Iron Clad Migaki

Higonokami VG10

The Higonokami is a type of traditional friction folder, usually carried by workers of all kinds to perform delicate tasks that require sharpness and precisi... Read more

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 VG10 version of the Higonokami utilized full-stainless Sanmai billets for the blade and stainless steel sheet for the scale, completely eliminate the problem you'd found on traditional carbon steel-brass Higonokami. Although comes at a noticeably higher price, this is a very practical option for those who like this form, the low maintenance nature also make it worry-free as a gift as you friend won't find their beloved knife rusting 3 months later. Read less

Pros

Easy to look after
Ideal for the household
Ideal entry point to Japanese knives

Cons

High budget

Sanmai - Stainless Clad Migaki

Higonokami Aogami

Few Japanese knives have remained as simple and recognisable as the Higonokami. Created in the late 19th century in Miki, Hyogo, this traditional folding kni... Read more

Few Japanese knives have remained as simple and recognisable as the Higonokami. Created in the late 19th century in Miki, Hyogo, this traditional folding knife was once an everyday tool in Japan — used for everything from sharpening pencils and small craft work to the countless little cutting jobs where carrying a full-sized knife simply made no sense. More than a century later, the construction has barely changed, and that simplicity is really the charm. The blade uses Aogami, or Blue Paper carbon steel, in a traditional warikomi construction, where the hard cutting steel is sandwiched into softer supporting material. It is a very straightforward combination, but also a very effective one: Aogami takes a keen edge, holds it well and remains pleasant to sharpen on normal whetstones. The blade is double bevelled, so there is no left- or right-handed limitation. There is almost nothing unnecessary in the construction. A single sheet of brass is folded to form the handle, the blade rotates directly around the pivot, and the extended chikiri tang is used to open the knife and held under the thumb during use. There is no spring and no mechanical blade lock. Compared with a modern pocket knife it can initially feel almost primitive, but that simplicity is exactly what has allowed the design to survive for well over a century. These are also knives that tend to look better with use. The brass handle gradually darkens and develops its own patina, while the carbon-steel blade will do the same. That also means it needs some care: Aogami is not stainless, so the blade should be wiped clean and dried after use, and occasional oiling is worthwhile if the knife is being stored for a long period. Today there are countless folding knives that are more complicated, more polished and more mechanically sophisticated. A genuine Higonokami is appealing for almost the opposite reason. It is a small piece of Japanese tool-making history that remains inexpensive, practical and entirely usable — a knife reduced to little more than good carbon steel, brass and a pivot. Read less

Pros

Budget friendly
Ideal entry point to Japanese knives

Cons

Prone to rust

Warikomi - Soft Iron Clad

Frequently Asked Questions about Nagao Kanekoma Factory

Who is Nagao Kanekoma Factory?

Nagao Kanekoma Factory is a Japanese knife maker based in Miki, Japan, established in 1894. They are known for The Higonokami (肥後守) folding knife. Their signature steels include SK steel, Aogami, VG10. Available at Knives and Stones Australia.

What knives does Nagao Kanekoma Factory make?

Nagao Kanekoma Factory produces the following knife lines: Higonokami SK Steel, Higonokami VG10, Higonokami Aogami. We currently carry 7 products from Nagao Kanekoma Factory at Knives and Stones. They specialise in The Higonokami (肥後守) folding knife.

Where is Nagao Kanekoma Factory located?

Nagao Kanekoma Factory is located in Miki, Japan. Japanese knife-making regions each have distinct traditions.

Where can I buy Nagao Kanekoma Factory knives in Australia?

Knives and Stones is an authorised Australian stockist of Nagao Kanekoma Factory. You can shop online at knivesandstones.com.au, with free shipping for knives over AU$200 Australia wide, or visit our stores in St Peters (Sydney), Crows Nest (Sydney), Braddon (Canberra) and Prahran (Melbourne) to handle the knives before buying.

Higonokami Aogami

Higonokami Aogami Folding Knife - Small

Higonokami Aogami

Nagao Kanekoma Factory

People

Craft

Location

Brand

Why Nagao Kanekoma Factory Matters

Does Nagao Kanekoma Factory Allow Unsolicited Visits?

Knives by Nagao Kanekoma Factory

Higonokami SK Steel

Higonokami VG10

Higonokami Aogami

Shop Nagao Kanekoma Factory Knives

Higonokami Aogami Folding Knife - Small

Higonokami Aogami Folding Knife - Medium

Visit Us In Person

St Peters

Crows Nest

Canberra

Prahran

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