Higo Hoseki Damast Folding Knife

Will sharpening it the 'skandi' way erase the Damascus pattern?

I am by no means an expert so can't make comparisons to other options on the market, but it looks great, is sharp and does the job!

Fit's perfectly into the £3.95 leather slip, it could have been made for it. Have had the knife a little time now and it's preforming perfectly, the pivot has polished in and after it's initial sharpening on Japanese water stones has only needed the occasional strop. The brass handle is forming a nice patina, it is traditional to allow it to patinate just as you should never highly polish fittings on a Japanese sword. I can't recommend this traditional pocket knife enough, it is forge welded damask sandwiching a top quality steel core. They're hand forged and finished, don't be fooled by the price their quality exceeds cnc made knifes costing hundreds of pounds. They are also a perfect carry here in the UK. A final tip is to insert a small strip of leather into the fold of the handle so the cutting edge will be protected when closed. Keep it soaked in oil and make it a push fit so it can be removed for cleaning if needed. Japanese sword oil with a few drops of clove oil added is the traditional oil to use.

This is a little work of art. Lovely Damascus pattern. Didn't come razor sharp out of the box like my other Hugo blades but a dit of work on my Lanksy rollbox and a strop and it is now like a scalpel.. Highly recommend this to anyone that likes Higonokami blades.

I have tons of knives - SAKs, Svord, A Wright, British Army Knife etc but let me tell you - the Higo is without a doubt the most aesthetic of them all. I got it to complement my full on brass EDC (brass pen, brass torch and now knife too). It's sharp out of the box and the Damascus looks gorgeous. As with any knife there are few negatives but let me be clear - the don’t overshadow how cool and unique this knife is. Firstly I hoped that it was gonna be one hand opener (like my Svord) but this isn’t the case as the tang is short and the pins are quite stiff so you will have to use both hands (closing one handed is possible). My second gripe goes along with the first- because it' stiff to open, the scales actually scratched the blade around the pins – sadly that’s a design flaw but I can live with it (it’s a tool I am gonna use so it will scratch anyway) The Damascus is not a real Damascus (such as many layers steel) but probably just etched – it will scratch so you need to be careful. Other than that I absolutely love it – proper Japanese hand made, beautifully crafted, classy materials (brass) and it’s very light so you wont even feel it in your pocket. They sell quickly so if you see one, buy it!

Hum'd and haw'd about buying this knife for so long, see my previous reviews between John and myself. Finally decided to take the plunge recently as I so badly wanted to add another damascus steel bladed knife to my collection. Needn't have worried as when knife arrived, within HH's 24 hours, it was shaving hairs off my arm straight out the box which is sharp enough even for a fusspot like me. Down side was it was a two handed open and close job when it first arrived as the pivot was so stiff. Despite being tempted to oil it I refrained from doing so and just kept it by my bedside cabinet and opened and closed it with both hands for a couple of minutes every night for 2-3 weeks. Now opens smooth as silk one handed. Result !!

A little confused about this knife's provenance - HH 's website shows the maker as Nagao Higonokami, but it arrives in a box printed with Boker 's details and no other information as to its origins (unless the large Japanese characters on the top of the box, which are a reproduction of those stamped on the knife handle, contain that information). Anyway, I wrote to Boker who replied informing me that they source these knives "from a supplier in Japan", which, although that doesn't tell me where or by whom they are actually made, is at least an indicator that they're the real Japanese article. But on to the knife itself - really pleased. A simple but perfectly crafted little pocket user. The friction joint has just the right amount of stiffness (I'm told that if it gets too loose you just hit the pivot rivet head with a hammer), the blade came sharp and easily sharpened further on the strop, the sexy Damascus steel a luxurious bonus.

Made to a much higher standard than the blue paper steel higo I ordered a few months ago, beautiful to look at, much better f&f and 'factory edge' and 13 pounds cheaper thant the BPS higo. All of these knives are fantastic at whittling.

A little piece of genuine Japanese craftsmanship in your pocket, what's not to love!? Ok, the blade isn't super sharp out of the box, it isn't stainless and it isn't highly polished, but the charm of this little legal-carry knife is way more than its price would suggest. The layers of Damascus steel are distinct and display prettily on the blade. It's very sturdy, with no play and whilst it's riveted and cannot therefore be tightened by screw if it becomes loose over time, a light tap with a hammer is the approved method to tighten it right back up again for years more service. Sharpening it is easy enough for most enthusiasts. Polishing it up and lacquering the brass might be fun to make it look even more classy, but just as a simple, sturdy, effective EDC, I can't think of anything nicer to own - certainly not close to this price-point.