Tomita Japanese Hori Hori Garden Landscaping Digging Tool with 7-inch Stainless Steel Blade & Sheath, Natural Wood Handle (Design 1, 1)

This has become my new "go to" hand tool when digging in the garden. After using it for a month and in parts of the garden where the soil is pretty hard and dry (almost rock like), I can say the blade holds up very well. The blade is 1/8" thick in the middle. Initially I was concerned it might not be thick enough because I usually take my trowel and push it into the soil and then press against the handle sideways as leverage, which causes a lot of stress on the tool. At no point after using it in tough ground did I feel the blade would bend. It is very strong and the pointed tip digs into the hard ground easily. I call it a blade because the edges are really sharp. One side is serrated so you can use it to saw through thick roots. I was digging out some tree saplings with thick tap root and the blade cut through it like a hot knife through butter. I'm glad the tool came with a sheath because I can definitely see myself cutting my fingers when reaching in the tool bin. I'm no expert on metallurgy, but it feels like good quality steel. Carbon steel is stronger, but I wanted stainless steel because I didn't want to worry about it rusting. The big selling point was that the tool was manufactured in Japan, which is known for their quality knives and tools. On the sheath, the labeling says that the tool was manufactured in Japan by Nisaku for Snow Joe, NJ. I think I have seen a similar tool with Snow Joe printed on the blade, but this one does not have the Snow Joe trademark printed on it. However, the stamping on the blade is in English stating the Japanese company and that it is made with stainless steel. On the concave side, measurement depth is stamped in both Imperial and Metric units. The last observation I want to mention is that I initially found the handle not particularly ergonomic. The handle is made of wood and blocky in shape, but over time I've grown accustomed to it. If this had been a problem for Japanese gardeners, I'm sure the company would have changed the handle for their domestic market a long time ago. I figure there's a reason this style of tool has stood the test of time. Addendum: This is the second year I've had this knife and I absolutely love it. It's my favourite garden tool. It's the most used item in my collection of gardening tools. At the moment I'm removing a tree stump. No I'm not using the knife to cut down the stump. I've been using a shovel to excavate the soil around the tree stump, but I use the knife to loosen the dirt between the roots. The dirt is mostly glacial moraine so it has a lot of clay and large stones so this knife is getting abused and hasn't failed at all. The steel is super strong and the serrated edge is able to easily cut 1/4" roots. I was so happy with this tool that I actually bought a second one for fear I might misplace the first one. Like sliced bread or ATMs, I can't imagine life without this tool.

This is an excellent tool for the garden. Typical Japanese build quality and design. The weight, hand feel and balance is very good and it is sharp enough for the task ( important features in a knife.....garden tool.....) Consequently, it feels comfortable and solid in your hand. The blade is hard chrome plated steel that is easy to clean ( I use a kitchen scourer and water and then dry the blade ). This is probably the best small tool I have found for working in the garden. Good for breaking up heavy soil and digging up/chopping out grasses and weeds. The sheath is not of the same quality, unfortunately. It's vinyl (vegan leather?!?) and doesn't do the knife justice. I suppose it keeps the cost down and the quality of the knife is the most important thing. I would happily pay more for a real leather sheath though. If you are looking for a high quality, well made weeding tool, buy this one. Made in Japan and it costs about the same as the Chinese versions.

Fantastic hori hori knife

Amazing garden tool! It does come with a sheath. This is definitely one of those things that you finally get and then wonder why you waited so long. I really like that It’s several tools in one. So I don’t have to stop and find a shovel, or snips, cause it’s both. Really convenient. I do a lot of gardening and this is definitely a must-have for serious gardeners. It’s great for getting out stubborn roots especially in a tight space. Be aware that if you move really fast in the garden and it’s hard to slow down (like me) this blade is obviously very very sharp and you might cut yourself. I sliced my finger to the bone on the second day. Totally my fault, I’m Just saying be really careful. I’m going to try to wear a thicker glove on my opposite hand.

Una gran herramienta para utilizarla en uno de mis pasatiempos que es la jardinería. Me parece de buena relación calidad-precio, y me fue de mucha utilidad para remover 9 aspersores de mis sistema de riego por actualización, tener las herramientas adecuadas sin duda facilita el hacer las cosas, asi que lo recomiendo.