Banshu Hamono Higonokami Folding Knife - Black

• Oiling the blade regularly can help prevent the development of rust. Knife maintenance oil or plain refined sunflower oil will work.
• When the caulking becomes loose after long use, place it on something hard and tap on it with a hammer to adjust.
• When the caulking is too tight to open the blade, hit the knife on the table with the "Chikiri (tail)" faced down.
• Brass will patina over time, but can also be polished back to its original shine using a polish like Brasso.
• As Higonokami knives are handmade, each Higonokami has its own characteristics and its tightness is not always the same.

In 1896, Tasaburo Shigematsu brought back a knife he found from the Kyushu province and asked a knife maker named Teji Murakami from Hirata in the Miki region to manufacture it. With the recent abolition of the samauri class, blade-smiths welcomed the chance to create small tools and knives.

The knife was ultimately named a Higonokami knife. “Higo no Kami” in Japanese means “Lord of Higo”. Higo is the old name of the Kyushu province, where the original knife came from, but “Higo no Kami” is also an aristocratic title historically given to powerful samurais. 

In 2013, the Mujun Company identified an emerging problem. Older expert craftsmen were slowly disappearing as mass-produced cutlery made the market increasingly competitive, and diminishing returns were discouraging the younger generation from learning their ancestors' trade. In response, Mujun collaborated with the Ono Kanamo Association, a local blacksmith association, to establish Banshu Hamono. This label encompasses a collection of items made by various blade-makers in the Banshu region of Hyogo prefecture, the oldest region where the blacksmith industry began in Japan. Banshu Hamono has since become a driving force in preserving the traditional skills of expert craftsmen and nurturing the future craftsmen of Japan.

For our domestic customers, we offer complimentary USPS Ground Advantage shipping on all orders above $100.00. Ground Advantage comes with tracking services and $100.00 of insurance with a shipping time of two to five business days. Depending upon shipping rates, your package may be upgraded to a better service at no cost to you. Occasionally, on larger orders, we will add signature confirmation free of charge as a deterrent to theft. 

Items will ship within two business days (Monday-Friday excluding holidays). Photographs ship within two weeks. 

Shipping rates are automatically calculated at checkout and can vary by several factors including location, weight, dimensions, and shipping method. We offer a variety of shipping methods based on your needs in terms of speed and affordability.  Every service we provide comes with tracking and $100.00 of insurance.  

For our international customers, we ship via UPS. If you are an international customer, please also be aware of your own local laws. We are not responsible for any loss due to confiscated packages by customs in your country. Prior to purchasing, please do your own research on customs, prohibited items, restrictions and limited delivery locations via your shipping method. International customers are responsible for all additional customs/brokerage charges. 

For more information on our full shipping policies, please see shipping policies.

Returns are accepted up to 30 days after receipt of your order if the merchandise is in its original, unused condition, along with the original packaging. Brass products such the Higonokami Brass Folding Kinfe that have been handled and begun oxidizing are no longer considered new and unused and will not be eligible for a refund. Returns received after the 30 day period will not be accepted.

If the return is a result of our shipping error or a defective product, we will refund the non-expedited shipping costs of the return. Otherwise, return shipping costs are non-refundable. Please keep in mind, orders that initially shipped free will have the original shipping charges deducted from the refund. For our full return policy, please see return policies.