Banshu Hamono Higonokami Folding Knife - Brass

• 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.

We ship with USPS and UPS depending on the destination. Every service we provide comes with tracking and up to $200.00 of insurance.

Complimentary Shipping (Domestic Only):

• USPS Ground Advantage is complimentary on orders over $100.00.
• USPS Priority Mail is complimentary on orders over $200.00.

Most items will ship within two business days (Monday to Friday, excluding holidays), though we often get orders out the same day if placed by 12 PM Pacific time. We do our best to ship on Saturdays, as well, whenever possible.

Please note: posters may ship separately from other items, but they'll be dispatched at the same time. Photographs will ship within two weeks.

Shipping Costs:

Shipping costs are non-refundable and are automatically calculated at checkout. Rates can vary based on several factors, including location, weight, dimensions, and shipping method. We offer various shipping options tailored to your needs for speed and affordability, and we do not profit from shipping. You are charged only what the carrier charges.

Depending on shipping rates, your package may be upgraded to a better service at no additional cost to you. Occasionally, for larger orders, we will include signature confirmation free of charge as a deterrent against theft.

For our full shipping policy, please see shipping policies.

Returns are accepted within 30 days of receipt of your order, provided the merchandise is in its original, unused condition and includes the original packaging. Unfortunately, returns received after the 30-day period will not be accepted.*

Exceptions:

• Lighters: We cannot accept returns for lighters that have been filled with fluid.
• Brass/Copper Products: Items that have had their vacuum seal opened or have been handled and exposed to oxidation are considered used and are not eligible for return.

If the return is due to 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.

For our full return policy, please see return policies.