Japanese Nail Clippers with Side Nail File, Stainless Steel, Made in Japan

Seki City, Japan has been known for high quality knives since at least the 1980s, the successor to Solingen and Sheffield. I have several. So it's no surprise that these are outstanding. As for the "samurai" thing, the best katana blades were made in Bizen, a region just to the west, but I can't blame KAI for marketing :) They of course have nothing to do with tamehagane steel used for sword blades. I had just done my nails prior to receiving it, but clipped a bit of thumbnail to test them. As described in other reviews, it cuts cleanly without snapping off a piece, and it doesn't fly across the room. Very sharp. They are larger than most fingernail clippers, but this is a huge plus in my book. Using my left hand to clip the nails of my right is a huge pain with little clippers, as I'm right-handed; and sorry to say my left hand is pretty inept. These have the sharpness, purchase, and leverage to make it a breeze. My nails are thick, I've often used toenail clippers for them. Don't know how some people find it "too bulky to use", it's great. Requires very little force. I also like the gentle curvature of the blades. So many clippers seem to have extreme concave edges that are fine for a pinky nail, but way too curved for a man's thumbnail. These are just right. The nail file slot thing is okay, but I'll never use it. Have German sapphire files for filing. Could be used in a pinch. In short, highly recommend. If your toenails aren't thick you could likely use these for those too. Especially for the price paid, these are excellent. Very good steel.

[*4 1/2 Stars] Well-built, stainless steel construction and remarkably sturdy. Blades are SHARP, and the design provides truly outstanding leverage so clipping even the thickest nails is very, very easy. (The leverage on these is the best of any I have tried, so if less effort is your priority, look no further.) It comes fitted with a removable elastomer clippings catcher, which catches my clippings very dependably. The clippers are definitely in-between standard finger nail clippers and toenail clippers. I like that aspect a lot - I plan to use them for both. The file built into the side of the clippings catcher appears to be a fine diamond surface. It is a good file material, but too small: about 1 1/2" long by only 1/8" wide, so more like a extra-narrow strip of filling surface. My problem is, it's really only useful for longer nails - since the file strip is embedded in the clippings catcher, it's very hard to get my short nails flush on the file surface. -1/2 star for the file. I have also bought the Feather Company "Pareda" clippers, and previously owned the Seki Edge SS-01 "Deluxe Nail Clippers." the Seki Edge are similar to this model in some ways, but they are smaller, more lightweight and have a hard plastic clippings catcher instead of elastomer. They also do not have the ultimate leverage/power that this model offers, so they require a *little* more effort to cut, but not much. The Seki also feature a disappointingly small nail file built into the clippings catcher. The Feather Co's Pareda clippers are the most unique, and the most heavyweight as well. The medium size is large, but not as large as this Kai model. The Pareda may be my top choice, though, because they have a patented under-bite on the jaws that create a truly feathered edge to the freshly-cut nail. Looking at it, I am still a bit stymied as to how - and WHY - this works... but it surely does. This means less filing, if any, is needed for a smooth finish. (Although, as it happens, the Pareda also has one of the nicest metal files i have EVER seen, even amongst my metalworking tools!. It is larger than the other brands' and built into the handle rather than the base.)

These are excellent nail clippers and definitely feel like a premium product. They’re sharp, precise, and cut very cleanly without any struggle. The stainless steel build feels solid and well made, and the side nail file is a nice extra touch. After using them for a while I liked them so much that I ended up buying a pair for my father as well. Overall, a great purchase if you’re looking for high-quality nail clippers that feel built to last.

These are very well made. The blades are very sharp and make a smooth cut. The side file is awkward to use. The clippers are heavy and huge, like toenail clippers. Using them on my standard size fingernails is not as easy as it should be. I wish I had returned them.

These seem to be of good quality and feel robust in the hand. I had some of a similar size that could not cut or even break a nail. I feel these will not have the same issue. The main issue for me is these are too large for fingernails. I thought I was purchasing the right size but I guess not. Still, they are priced well for the Japanese quality I have come to expect.

I have a lot of kai scissors for sewing and they're my favorite. I recommend them all the time and they get used in a commercial setting and are the best sewing/fabric scissors I've ever used, even better than a popular, more expensive, German made brand. I've also had Kai (Shun) and cheaper Kai kitchen knives, and they're top notch as well. This is the first product I've had from them that I'm not a fan of. I didn't realize there's a plastic housing/grip but I really don't like it, and the nail file is integrated into this plastic piece. I have big hands and feet (I'm a 6'2" American dude) and the plastic thing makes it hard for me to get to the edges of my toenails. Even without the plastic thing, I don't love these. The product itself is very high quality, I just don't like the design. I was so sure they'd be great because they're a made in seki Kai product, that I threw away the packaging before I even used them, otherwise I'd return them. I also have seki edge (green bell) ss107 and those are perfect for me, although they don't have a file.

Easy to use, clean cuts, no mess. Love it.

very good clipper

These blades are sharp, and cuts clean, only require a mild sanding with the included nail file on the side. The cut nails fall nicely in the catchment area for easy removal. These might be a bit unwieldly for those with tiny fingers though. (W26 x L90 x 18 mm)

Simple to use, very sharp nail clippers with a very smooth action unlike other clippers that fall apart. These are well constructed and deliver.

使い始めだから切れ味は良いです！ 古い奴よりサクッサクッ切れる音 分厚いところはパチっと行く 爪切りの隙間は以前のと同じで標準。 不満あるとすれば切ったあとの爪切りの戻りがスムーズじゃない所かな。戻りに抵抗あって次の所切ろうとしても隙間が狭くて入らない。 使っていく内に馴染むかもしれないけど最初の使い心地としてはそんな感じ ちゃんと切れるし爪も飛びにくいから、値段に対してこの出来なら満足！

After doing a bit of research, I couldn't decide between this one, and another above average Japanese made nail clipper. The reviews initially of certain Japanese made nail clippers seemed to suggest they're quite a bit better. Though it's hard to say, time will tell. However, initial impressions after a few uses, is that the tolerances for a good cut may be slightly better than all of my other nail clippers. They do seem to cut more smoothly, resulting in a less sharp feeling of the nail - needing less filing afterwards to remove any sharper edges. I even keep my other nail clippers sharpened with a little maintenance, but none of them cut as nicely, so maybe there is something to it. If you figure your typical set of clippers costs ~ $10 at a box store, or you need to pay 3X as much for a pair that does a better job, you probably would save a bit of time in the long run not having to spend as much time filing your nails. Both pairs of Japanese clippers I bought do share one aspect I've found more impression - the build quality. The tolerances for how everything comes together, the mechanism, the way the pressure is applied, it's obvious they are built better - both seem to be engineered slightly more, using thicker metal stock, or designed with gussets to improve the rigidity, and resulting in a more "solid" feel.

Works really well, best nail cutter I have experienced so far. It is expensive but will be worth the money if it can last for for at least a decade (last I used was from scoll and it good but lasted only for 4-5 years.