Nisaku NJP800 Yamagatana Hori Weeding & Digging Knife, Japanese Stainless Steel 7.25-Inch Blade, 5.5-Inch Ergonomic Black Plastic Handle...

We use a variety of garden tools, including homemade and 3D printed, and this Hori is getting a lot of use this season. Great for digging and cutting and the sharp/serrated edges are convenient for the occasional trimming job. The tool made transplanting seedlings easy this Spring and I keep it in the bucket (along with a Korean Homi) for daily weeding tasks.

I've always had an appreciation for the pragmatic design of Japanese tools - especially the saws and chisels used in traditional Japanese carpentry. This 'hori' is no different and the quality is immediately evident in the blade's stainless steel finish. The blade itself is 1/8" thick (3.24mm), and the width is nearly 2". It feels nice and sturdy in my hands, and is neither too heavy nor too light. The embossed ruler on the concave side of the hori is fairly accurate for both inch and millimetre scales, which surprised me because I've come to expect the addition of this sort of feature to be done poorly. The only thing that I consider to be a potential issue with it is the polymer handle. I don't know exactly what kind of plastic it is and the description for the listing does not specify; but living in Arizona, the ever-present UV light can cause plastics to deteriorate and fail (if you leave it sitting outside). Though you can always opt for the version with a wooden handle, but that would mean sacrificing the hilt (which on a double-edged blade made for stabbing into the ground, I wouldn't want my hand to accidentally slide down the blade when it suddenly and forcefully encounters a rock). The partial-tang is also a little "meh" because it means the hori isn't balanced - but since it's technically not a knife, I feel like I'm probably being a little too picky. Finally, the plastic sheath that comes with it seems reasonable enough, especially if you're only using it for gardening. I bought this to carry in my rucksack on hikes or for occasions such as metal-detecting/hobby-geology. With that in mind, I don't feel as though the sheath will stand up to a whole lot of abuse over time, so I plan to make one from leather. Overall, I appreciate the craftsmanship - it's pleasing both aesthetically and ergonomically, even if it is just a tool for digging the weeds or whatever it is you choose to do. *It worked well digging up a few weeds in my yard, and the ground is quite solid here. If it doesn't hold up to actual use or I encounter any issues, then I'll update my review accordingly.