Question for Sal or Ed: Collaboration Higonokami?

Blerv · #1

Sal and Ed,

Is this something Spyderco would ever be interested in looking into?

My understanding of these traditional Japanese blades is very basic. I do know they are some of the oldest friction folders that have survived history and often feature very classy elements but are finished as basic users. Brass handles, pinned pivots, Aogami Blue Steel, Damascus, etc.

Reading a bio about the last remaining fourth generational artisan makes these by himself, hence having to make them more on an industrial level. Other makers use a similar technique but cannot call them "Higonokami".

Anyways, just throwing a quarter in the wishing well since I'm sure he is getting older :) . I sure would like something like this, even if a two-handed slipit like the Pingo. The blade shape is awesome and you know I'm a sucker for brass or copper handles

. I have recalled others asking for a flat razor so maybe I'm not alone.

Edit: I snagged these pics from the web. They are not mine but the previous article on British Blades, "Higonokami Story", linked had some questionable Manga comics as the background of the knife pics. Very sorry. :o :mad:

Chipped Karambit · #2

I would be interested in that. I am moving to Beppu Japan and plan to pick up a higonokami there (even though I can't carry it or anything due to their knife laws after the Akihabara incident) I wouldn't mind having a US spyderco Version with a traditional version as a side carry. (Incredibly useful for my type, I was raised sharpening my pencil with a knife and that knife is oddly good for that) I would be curious about this.

Blerv · #3

Thanks for the thread bump friend! I was thinking I was the only one who enjoyed this aesthetic but wanted the Spydie touch :) .

DeathBySnooSnoo · #4

I've been enjoying a lot of simple and traditional folders lately and have a Black Cat knife on the way, I don't know that Spyderco would really do something ultra traditional justice, but it sure would be interesting to see what they came up with.

Blerv · #5

Yea not sure. I'm far more sold on this aesthetic than some (Des Horn). Slim gents folders are pretty cool, I love my Opinel. Showing up to a big blade show with a p!mped peasant knife might not impress peers though.

I'll prob end up buying one and just polishing/modding it up. I want a copper or brass knife so bad to go with my flashlight. :p

duvaldrummer · #6

I would totally be into a traditional friction folder, with a spyderco twist. :)

phaust · #7

I bet it would work well with a hole instead of the tab, both for opening and for pushing your finger against in use. I'd pick one up for sure.

Blerv · #8

I just realized the article I linked earlier had some...*cough*...explicit Japanese comic books as the background for a few knife pictures. Very sorry folks. :o

I snagged some pics and put them in the original post. Not really Kosher to go around snagging images off the web but the greater of two evils I guess. :p

razorsharp · #9

I love the look of higos. I want to pick one up in blue paper or white steel some dy off Ebay. I almost got one a few months back but the money had to go elsewhere. Maybe after I save for the Tuff :p

DeathBySnooSnoo · #10

Blerv wrote:Yea not sure. I'm far more sold on this aesthetic than some (Des Horn). Slim gents folders are pretty cool, I love my Opinel. Showing up to a big blade show with a p!mped peasant knife might not impress peers though.

I'll prob end up buying one and just polishing/modding it up. I want a copper or brass knife so bad to go with my flashlight. :p

Yes I would agree, I like the Des Horn but the Higonokami is a really good looking knife in its traditional form. I like the brass that is used on them too. I saw do it, be a great looking combo.

Pockets · #11

I'm not really into gent knives, but that is pretty cool.

Invective · #12

I got bored during class so I decided to draw what I thought a Spydercoesque higonokami would look like. I still have no idea how to embed stuffs so the link is http://imgur.com/3gP84. Had a bit of trouble deciding whether or not to add a finger choil but in the end I decided to go with it. Adds a Spyderesque feeling to the knife I thought. One of the problems I could foresee is the accessibility of the Spyderhole, as the traditional higos all have pretty squarish handles. I suppose a cutout could work a la the Rock Lobster but that seems to detract from the traditionalness of the knife. Even the choil to me seemed a bit weird drawing it in but I thought about all the other Slipits Spyderco makes and all but one has a choil as far as I'm aware.

Also, I am open to criticism and suggestions about both the design and the drawing (I am not good at drawing I know but I got bored lol :D )

Blerv · #13

Hey thanks for the mock-up :) ! At this point for some it's a bit of a pipe-dream but never hurts to ask or think outside the box!

Invective · #14

Yeah I was bored during class as I said, and if you saw my notebook, you'd find a lot more weirder designs I've mocked up.

And that's what I figured, it can't hurt to show what I've done, and if it happens to motivate Sal or Ed into designing one of their own then hurray for all of us :D

BBSWE · #15

The Higonokami is one of my favourite blade shapes. I had one in aogami blue (that I gifted to a friend), and one of Hanweis "double-higos". I would LOVE to see Ed Schempp's take on the design :D Don't care much for the brass handle though, get something more modern

Ed Schempp · #16

First of all I don't know where the "friction folder" originated. The concept has been around along time. There is a 1000 plus year old Roman design in the German cutlery museum in Solingen Germany. There were friction folders in early Americana. There is a prototype from a European maker that has been in the concept case traveling with Spyderco. When a Spyder hole is added to this design it can be hard to associate the design with a specific culture. I've generally done very iconic cultural pieces and it is a challenge to carry enough attributes of the knives I have chosen to be identified as a cultural piece. This knife would be difficult for many to associate specifically with the Japanese culture. The design has traditionally for many cultures to open using the tang tail. An ethnic version of this knife would best be represented by a Japanese maker, to keep the ethnic tie close to the design...Take Care...Ed

Blerv · #17

Thank you for your thoughts Ed :) . Greatly appreciated.

What I meant to say (but failed) is it's one of the older friction folders that has survived with very little change to the core design. Similar to the Opinel you can trace it's lineage and techniques back.

Invective · #18

Ed, I had the same thoughts but decided on adding the Spydiehole into the blade where it normally is. One idea I had though that would preserve the traditional form of the blade was putting the Spydie hole on the tail tang. This would allow one to "use" the Spydiehole to open the blade and keep the blade looking traditional. It would also lessen the need for a choil or Spydiehole cutout in the handle. Just my thoughts on the matter.

razorsharp · #19

full titanium handle- 1 piece construction- CNC'd into a handle shape. :D

Chris_H · #20

Ed Schempp wrote:When a Spyder hole is added to this design it can be hard to associate the design with a specific culture. I've generally done very iconic cultural pieces and it is a challenge to carry enough attributes of the knives I have chosen to be identified as a cultural piece. This knife would be difficult for many to associate specifically with the Japanese culture. The design has traditionally for many cultures to open using the tang tail.

But the round hole doesn't have to be the opening facility for a knife. It's their trademark and would identify the piece as a Spyderco. The other attributes would link it to its culture or ethnicity, wouldn't it?

Invective wrote:Ed, I had the same thoughts but decided on adding the Spydiehole into the blade where it normally is. One idea I had though that would preserve the traditional form of the blade was putting the Spydie hole on the tail tang. This would allow one to "use" the Spydiehole to open the blade and keep the blade looking traditional. It would also lessen the need for a choil or Spydiehole cutout in the handle. Just my thoughts on the matter.

The location of the trademark hole is important to Spyderco. It would have to be in the blade as it normally is rather than relocating it into the tang.