Description

The famous Echizen Forge Smith Takeshi Saji is one of the most experienced and famous forge smiths in Takefu (Now Echizen City), Fukui Prefecture. During his long career, he has made a great and lasting impact upon the next generation of young Echizen forge smiths and craftsmen.

Kenta Nomura, Takeshi Saji’s grandson, joined Master Saji’s knife making company and started to make traditional hammer forged knives about 3 years ago. There are a number of experienced and skillful forge smiths and craftsmen at the company, so this environment gives Ryo a great opportunity to learn knife making and build up his skill and experience.

NKE-5 "Gold Hunter" R-2 Damascus

This one-of-a-kind knife grew out of Kenta Nomura’s experience exhibiting at the Atlanta Blade Show in June 2026. Encounters with many of custom knives and materials from around the world offered fresh perspectives and inspiration, sparking the ideas that would take shape in this creation.

For the blade, Kenta Nomura chose R-2 Nickel Damascus with a convex-ground edge, known in Japanese as hamaguri-ba, to combine cutting performance with edge strength.

The handle tells a particularly memorable part of the story. At the blade show, Kenta Nomura happened upon an unusual acrylic resin called Mica Pearl. Its surface was initially Green, recalling the lush greenery of Atlanta. Yet as he shaped and polished the material, beautiful, shimmering gold patterns emerged from within, revealing a character quite different from its original appearance.

A gold-toned brass bolster complements the handle’s luminous patterns, bringing a sense of definition and elegance to the finished knife. With its distinctive golden shimmer and a story rooted in discovery, this knife is becoming a truly individual piece for a knife collection.  We really would like to continue seeing Kenta Nomura and Takeshi Saji Team's special knife collections in future.

R-2 Nickel Damascus Blade : 2.4mm thick, 108mm blade, 210mm overall, Weight 131g

Specification

Knife Model: Nomura Kenta NKE-5 "Gold Hunter" R-2 Damascus

Blade Material:  R-2 Damascus

Rockwell Hardness (HRc): 62 to 63

Handle Material: Mica Pearl Custom Handle with Brass Hilt

Leather Sheath is included.
Overall Length:210mm
Blade Length: 108mm
Blade Thickness: 2.4mm
Weight: 131g