KATSU KINGFISHER-T01, Copper Damascus Blade, Titanium Alloy plated with Antique Copper Handle, White or Black MOP Shell Inlays, Lockback, 粋 中山 design

About This Knife 

This is a small, nimble knife, not a fearsome beast.

You can easily carry it in your wallet or pocket, making it a refined craftsmanship piece that can showcase your elegance and composure at any time; 
its delicacy and preciousness also make it a perfect gift for that special someone; 
and if you're a discerning collector, there's even more reason not to miss it.

As this is designed by Hidetoshi Nakayama(中山 英俊).

Hidetoshi Nakayama is a genius in every sense of the word. His works span numerous fields such as jewelry, accessories, pens, and knives. The collecting world covets his works because they perfectly embody the Japanese meticulous attention to detail, relentless pursuit of quality, and, most importantly, Mr. Nakayama's unique imagination in his creations. This ensures that each of his works brings unexpected joy to users, and its charm remains enduring, ready to be passed down through generations.

This time, KATSU KNIVES is extremely honored to collaborate with Mr. Nakayama, redesigning and limitedly reproducing the original Friction Folder, which was a hit and is now a rare collectible from yeas ago. This is the KATSU Kingfisher series.

On this knife, you will see the iconic design elements of the original, as well as the signature Spine lock mechanism. Different from the traditional Higonokami locking mechanism, Mr. Nakayama has made a slight departure by securing the tang lock in place by pressing it into the notch of the spine. Push down on the spine and the tang is released and able to be closed.

For the naming of this knife, we both instantly thought of the kingfisher(カワセミ). The kingfisher is an important symbol in Japanese culture. It is believed to be a lucky bird that brings auspiciousness, and is also regarded as a messenger of love. Also, because people often see them elegantly perched on branches, they also symbolize restraint and calmness.

This beautiful and elegant bird species used to be widely distributed in Japan, but due to human alteration of the environment, these beautiful creatures have become increasingly rare. We also hope to raise awareness of the endangered and beautiful bird species through this means.

The most striking feature of this knife is the mirror-polished mother of pearl inlays on the handle. This design, often seen on products from top luxury brands, undoubtedly brings a sense of luxury and uniqueness to the entire knife.

These inlays come from the shells of rare natural mother of pearls. It's a rarity to find one that matches perfectly in color and texture, while maintaining its uniqueness. All inlays are handcrafted, undergoing over a dozen processes from selection to final polishing. Each inlay, even if it's less than a quarter of the size of a pinky nail, has a margin of error of 0.3 mm from the edge of the base during cutting, and after mirror polishing, its thickness must not deviate more than 0.2 mm from the standard. This is a task that only the most experienced craftsmen can handle, and it is precisely because of their extraordinary skills that these inlays perfectly exhibit their translucent and mesmerizing colors.

When you unfold this knife, you will be drawn to its Copper Damascus blade. The fine polishing and unique three-dimensional copper patterns make the entire knife even more distinctive. Behind this is the exquisite craftsmanship that KATSU KNIVES is proud of. Each blade undergoes several layers of stacking, fusion, and forging, until the final etching and polishing. This is a more complex process than making common Damascus materials. And all of this is done just to make you feel its unparalleled uniqueness every time you open it.

Please note, the entire kingfisher series is limited edition. They are all unparalleled works of art, so don't miss out.

Features

• Designed by Hidetoshi Nakayama(中山 英俊).
• The blade material is Copper Damascus, giving the entire blade a highly dimensional and unique pattern.
• The handle material is titanium alloy plated with antique copper, imparting an elegant and vintage feel to the entire handle.
• The inlays on its handle are sourced from nature white/black mother of pearl shell, meticulously hand-inlaid and mirror-polished onto the handle. Due to the natural characteristics of the material, the processing is extremely complex, and these inlays make the entire knife sparkle.
• The main pivot screw is crafted from titanium alloy and shaped like cherry blossoms, adding a classical elegance to this piece.

Specifications