This Is What You Get When Spyderco Reimagines an Iconic Japanese EDC Folder

Paul Alexander, one of Spyderco’s “most popular and prolific designers,” created this high-end, futuristic blade.

Published May 28, 2025

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Updated May 28, 2025

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In the late 1870s, the Samurai, Japan’s elite warrior class, were outlawed. In the following years, many blacksmiths who once provided swords to the Samurai turned to crafting smaller, more discreet bladed implements.

This eventually led to the creation of one of the most iconic pocket knives of all time, the Higonokami. For the most part, this style has remained unchanged for generations. But now, Spyderco has taken a swing at a similar style — a modern (or perhaps futuristic) reimagining.

While Spyderco’s Cobol EDC knife might not look like a traditional Higo, it does draw from the same influence and shares several notable features in common.

Spyderco Cobol EDC Knife — The knife bears a long, slender, katana-inspired blade made from Böhler M390 steel.

Steady as Higo

While the obvious comparison between the Cobol and Higonokami is their very clearly Japanese-inspired styling, that’s hardly the only thing they have in common.

Still, it bears mentioning that Paul Alexander, the knife’s designer, borrowed heavily from Japanese design, especially with its katana-inspired tanto blade shape. (Interestingly, most Higonokami knives actually have a reverse tanto blade shape.)

However, they also share some functional similarities. Like traditional Higonokamis, the Cobol is a non-locking folder. However, unlike Higos, it is not a friction folder.

Instead, the Cobol utilizes a Ball Joint Non-Locking Mechanism, which is kind of like a combination of a slip joint and a friction folder, using a combination of its joint and hand pressure to ensure the blade remains securely deployed.

Spyderco Cobol EDC Knife pivot closeup — You can see the Ball Joint Non-Locking Mechanism in the handle above.

A modern marvel with samurai style

While the Cobol’s inspiration reaches back hundreds (if not thousands) of years, it is a thoroughly modern knife, materially speaking. It measures 8.25 inches overall, with a 3.63-inch blade and 4.77-inch handle.

The katana-inspired tanto blade is built from Böhler M390 steel, one of the most popular and reliable super steels on the market. While it features Spyderco’s signature Round Hole deployment, it also has a front flipper option.

The handle is crafted from solid titanium and has a reversible deep-carry wire pocket clip. Altogether, this slender flipper weighs just 2.2 ounces.

While it likely won’t supplant the classic Higonokami, it’s pretty exciting to see Spyderco reinterpret the design (intentional or not). Lovers of Japanese style and novel knifemaking will surely be pleased.