Higonokami Bannou (65mm White Paper Steel)

Note:
• Available from Friday, 06/12/2024, 10:00 A.M.
• Blind box-styled. This means the design of the knife will remain a mystery.
• Each knife design is unique & non-repeating.

Higonokami is the most famous folding knife in Japan. In the 1960s - 1970s, almost everyone had Higonokami in Japan. Now Higonokami is famous for outdoor knives all over the world.

This Higonokami Bannou Knife is a small pocket knife popular in Japan, used for various small tasks, especially outdoors. The blade of this one-piece steel knife extends seamlessly into the handle and everything about it radiates tradition. The handle is covered in tightly woven, neat Japanese cord and complemented by a small brass bell which gives this knife a truly unique look. The classic Japanese weaving technique on the blade is called chirimen.

Currently, all Higonokami are handmade by artisan craftsman Mr. Mitsuo Nagao, the fifth generation of Higonokami makers.

Higonokami is patented. Although there are plenty of people trying to copy the design, Mr. Nagao is the only person on earth who is allowed to make the original Higonokami knife.

Features:

• Blade Material: White Steel "Warikomi"
• Blade Length: 25" / 65mm
• Blade Thickness: ~2.5mm
• Overall Length: 6.1" / 155mm
• Handle: Wrapped Colored Cord
• Sheath: Woven Chirimen
• Weight: 80 g
• Full Tang
• Lanyard with Bell
• Made in Japan

What is White Paper Steel?

Shirogami or White Paper Steel is a very pure type of steel usually found in iron-rich river sand, with only carbon as an alloy.

White Paper Steel is identical to the legendary Tamahagene steel used for the production of Japanese katana but made in a more advanced method. It has a slim range of temperatures for hardening and thus requires the blacksmith to be very skilled.

This "Warikomi" Sandwich structure encloses hard steel with soft iron. Higonokai is a double-edged V-shaped, you can use either side, regardless of the dominant hand.