Brass Higonokami Folding Knife, Small

The Higanokami knife was originally commissioned in 1894. The first blade was made by blacksmith Sadaharu Murakami for a hardware wholesaler. Its simple and durable construction quickly made it a favorite, and soon 50 different companies were manufacturing knives in this style. Then, in 1961, after a political assassination, knives like this one were outlawed.

Today, Miyamoto Manufacturing is one of the few still producing this timeless item. Set in a folded sheet of brass, the blade is made of white steel with no lock mechanism. Hand-forged and remarkably resilient, this blade is a tiny slice of history, and a reliable, pocket-friendly accessory.

Motosuke Nagao, a knife-maker established in Miki, Japan, descends from four generations of blacksmiths, one of them being Shigeji Nagao, who had a hand in creating the original higonokami folding blade in the late 19th century.