Higonokami Japanese Folding Knife (friction folder) from Niwaki
Review by Michael Smith (Veshengro)
What, no spring and locking device, no corkscrew, not even tweezers? How can that be a pocket knife?
Well it can, and a good one at that.
This is a traditional folding knife from Miyamoto Musashi, brass handle, with an blade length of about 3-inches.
This knife is a little bit like an Opinel folding knife from France only that this is a pure friction folders, as in fact the very first Opinels were too, and has a handle of brass rather than of wood. The blade is carbon steel and appears to be handforged, judging by what appear to be hammer marks.
The Higonokami from Niwaki is one of those beautiful tools where, to all intents and purposes, nothing can ever fail and go really wrong with. Even if the rivet should ever, which I doubt, fail it could be repaired by use of another one or by use of a small bolt and nut.
The action is fairly stiff to start with, which will loosen with time. Should the movement become loose, as it probably will, it can be easily re-tightened with a sharp tap on the rivet with a hammer, using an anvil on the opposite side of the strike. The head of a club hammer or sledgehammer can serve as such.
Friction folders of this nature have been around in Japan for who knows how long and similar friction folders were once common in Europe, America and elsewhere. The old “penny knife” and the original Opinel were of that type, only with wooden handles, in the main, and have served everyone well.
No springs to fail and no other gadgets; just a single sharp blade that's held in place by friction and in the open position additionally by means of the user's finger on the small extension on the top of the blade which gives the knife the appearance of an old-time straight razor.
The tip is “Tanto-style” and blade and tip are extremely sharp right out of the box, as a light stab that drew blood definitely confirmed.
The price of £12.50 (US$20), in my opinion, is not excessive for a tool of this quality, as it will serve the user for a very long time to come.
© 2010
The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW and this author are happy to endorse this product.
Full Disclosure Statement: The GREEN (LIVING) REVIEW received no compensation for any component of this article, with the exception of being allowed to retain the sample.
