HIGONOKAMI KNIFE - BRASS - "BLUE PAPER STEEL" BLADE - OUTINOMI x MAGASIN VIVANT!
The iconic Higonokami with an Aogami "BLUE PAPER STEEL" blade.
Created in 1894 by Komotaro Nagao & Teji Murakami, the Higonokami is a traditional small pocket knife, omnipresent in Japanese culture. Fundamentally rustic, with a thick, razor-sharp blade, it is ultra-versatile, useful for DIY tasks, in the office (ideal for sharpening pencils), in the kitchen, or while camping. Very slim when folded, it is kept in one's pocket on a daily basis.
What defines this knife is its radical simplicity. It has no spring and no blade lock. It opens manually thanks to the Chikiri (the small lever that protrudes from the blade), upon which the thumb naturally rests to hold the blade open during use.
- Blade length: 75 mm.
- Handle length: 95 mm.
- Blade thickness: 3 mm.
- Steel: AOGAMI "BLUE PAPER STEEL" San Mai triple-layer (see description👇🏼)..
- Handle: Silver/Gold mottled finish steel
- Production: Handmade by the NAGAO KANEKOMA KNIFE FACTORY (Miki, Japan).
History of the HIGONOKAMI:
Japan, Meiji Era, 1873: samurai were no longer allowed to carry the katana. As a result, sword production decreased drastically, and many talented blacksmiths turned to the production of knives that were not classified as weapons.
In 1894, Komotaro Nagao and Teji Murakami, highly renowned blacksmiths from the city of Miki who had switched to cutlery, decided to offer a simple and affordable pocket knife for the general public.
In 1907, the name "Higonokami" was trademarked. "Higo no kami" means Lord of Higo, referring both to the knife's region of origin and to an aristocratic title historically given to revered samurai.
Although the Higonokami is sometimes called the little brother of the katana (the inspiration for its blade shape), it is above all a small, versatile tool that is ubiquitous in Japan, carried daily by farmers, craftsmen, hunters, fishermen, and even school children to sharpen their pencils.
In 2021, Mitsuo Nagao, the 5th generation of the dynasty of cutlers started by Komotaro Nagao, created the Nagao Kanekoma Knife Factory. Today, he is the only manufacturer permitted to use the "Higonokami" brand.
Exclusive collaboration: OUTINOMI x MAGASIN VIVANT!
Together with Outinomi, we select the best of Japanese craftsmanship and utilitarian design—tools as simple as they are intuitive for all basic tasks, while guaranteeing strictly professional quality.
This young company was founded in 2024 by Lucas Hoffalt, a "designer-artisan" who graduated from the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs. Outinomi acts as a bridge between the last great Japanese blacksmiths and Western artisans.
Lucas offers tools with a soul, often originating from small traditional forges. His approach is distinguished by an extremely sharp selection process, ranging from new tools to rare "vintage" pieces (Showa era) that he restores himself, sourced for their exceptional forging quality. He values Japanese carbon steel, which he considers vastly superior to modern mass-produced goods.
For Lucas, the tool is not perceived merely as a utilitarian object, but as a piece of functional design endowed with its own aesthetic, texture, and poetry. It is this quest for beauty and excellence that naturally led him to Japanese craftsmanship, one of the most demanding in the world.
AOGAMI steel
Aogami steel or blue paper steel is a high-end, highly pure Japanese steel, extracted from iron-rich river sand. Its name actually comes from the blue paper packaging in which it is delivered by the manufacturer, Hitachi.
Its high carbon content allows for:
- An extremely hard blade for a razor-sharp edge (HRC between 62 and 65),
- A durable edge, and therefore a reduced sharpening frequency,
- Ease of sharpening on a whetstone, thanks to the low chromium content.
The San Mai structure: The art of the Japanese sandwich
The San Mai (literally "three layers" in Japanese) is a traditional forging technique inherited from the manufacture of Katanas. It consists of forging a blade composed of three distinct layers of steel:
- The Core (The Edge): A central blade made of hard steel (often Aogami or Blue Paper Steel). This high-carbon steel makes it possible to obtain a "razor" edge of exceptional fineness and durability.
- The Flanks (The Protection): The core is sandwiched between two layers of softer steel (soft iron or stainless steel). These sidewalls act as shock absorbers: they provide flexibility to the blade, preventing it from breaking under stress, while protecting the core from oxidation.
Why is it better? It is the perfect balance: you benefit from the cutting performance of a very hard steel without the fragility of a monoblock blade. This is the guarantee of a robust tool that is easy to sharpen and retains its edge much longer than conventional industrial products.
Blue Paper Steel has a high carbon density, beware of oxidation; a natural patina will form on the blade.
- Hand wash
- Avoid soaking the handle or the blade
- Dry thoroughly
- Store individually
- Wipe the blade with camellia oil if you do not use it regularly
- Sharpen regularly, with a minimum grit of 1000# to avoid damaging the edge.