Interesting knife, HIGONOKAMI

[jzmtl]

I came across these knives today, which is basically a japanese version of working knife. Simple friction folder with brass handle and laminated white or blue steel (high carbon, not stainless) blade that's hardened to 62~64 HRC. Decent price too, the 4" blade blue steel is only $27 shipped, and 3" white steel is $15 shipped. I thought they are pretty interesting and you guys would like to see.



There are a few more blade patterns not listed right now but should be up soon. I want the katana shaped blade, so I'm going to wait till they put that up.

http://stores.shop.ebay.com/BluewayJapan__W0QQ_armrsZ1QQ_fsubZ512764017

[I'm Still Bison]

I recall reading a thread on a forum a few years back that talked about those knives.The general impression was that they were very well built,wicked sharp,and a great bargain for such a low price.

[Sean]

Here is one similar from Lee Valley Tools.

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=51165&cat=1,51222

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Damn that Rockwell's high

[Benner]

Those are pretty popular with guys in the UK as they are legal to EDC and relatively cheap too.  I would be tempted to get one, but I have visions of it feeling like a Douk-douk which isn't exactly my favourite folder. 

[Sean]

Those are pretty popular with guys in the UK as they are legal to EDC and relatively cheap too.  I would be tempted to get one, but I have visions of it feeling like a Douk-douk which isn't exactly my favourite folder. 

Well,  at least if you pull something like the above or the Douk out of your pocket you can pretty much rest assured it isn't likely to be duplicated by someone else in the vicinity.  They are not that common.  I don't think I've ever seen anyone carrying a douk or carpenters knife.   

[Benner]

Those are pretty popular with guys in the UK as they are legal to EDC and relatively cheap too.  I would be tempted to get one, but I have visions of it feeling like a Douk-douk which isn't exactly my favourite folder. 

Well,  at least if you pull something like the above or the Douk out of your pocket you can pretty much rest assured it isn't likely to be duplicated by someone else in the vicinity.  They are not that common.  I don't think I've ever seen anyone carrying a douk or carpenters knife.   

Any knife in the UK is unlikely to be duplicated with todays laws and media hype. 

[Mike]

Looks like it could make a nice shaving razor, if the blade is thin enough.

Mike

[Anthony]

I had my eye on those knives for a while..I really like the large old technology folders I own (Douk and Mercator), and the blade shape on this Japanese knife is something I've never used.

[american lockpicker]

Is it made in Japan?

[jzmtl]

As far as I can tell yes. There are even less knife listed on that ebay store now, not sure why, maybe he'll put them up later.

Here's the composition of white/blue steel if anyone is interested, 1.3% carbon! Lots of tungsten too in blue steel.

Shirogami (Hitachi White Label (paper) or Hitachi White Steel):
C=1.3 Mn=0.2 P=0.025 Si=0.1 S=0.04
Aogami (Hitachi Blue Label (paper) or Hitachi Blue Steel) - same but with Tungsten and Cromium:
C=1.3 Mn=0.2 P=0.025 Si=0.1 S=0.04 Cr=0.2-0.5% W=1-1.5%

[american lockpicker]

I think I may get one of those, I always thought they looked interesting.

[Anthony]

As far as I can tell yes. There are even less knife listed on that ebay store now, not sure why, maybe he'll put them up later.

Here's the composition of white/blue steel if anyone is interested, 1.3% carbon! Lots of tungsten too in blue steel.

Shirogami (Hitachi White Label (paper) or Hitachi White Steel):
C=1.3 Mn=0.2 P=0.025 Si=0.1 S=0.04
Aogami (Hitachi Blue Label (paper) or Hitachi Blue Steel) - same but with Tungsten and Cromium:
C=1.3 Mn=0.2 P=0.025 Si=0.1 S=0.04 Cr=0.2-0.5% W=1-1.5%

...so which do you think is a better steel?  I know it's all subjective..

[jzmtl]

Personally I would choose blue steel because of the tungsten carbide content and corrosion resistance.

[Benner]

Did you ever get one of these in the end?