This 180mm Nakiri marks the first tall-heel version of this model, created directly in response to customer demand. The idea was simple: keep the dark, dramatic character that people loved, but translate it into a vegetable-focused profile with extra blade height—offering more knuckle clearance, greater confidence on the board, and the same powerful presence in hand.
Forged with a clear aesthetic direction, the blade features deep, almost blackened tones, flowing dark Damascus waves, a brut-de-forge upper section, and a copper Damascus lower portion that introduces warmth and contrast without overpowering the blade’s moody character. The long, flat cutting edge provides the classic Nakiri push-cut performance, while the taller profile offers a planted, stable feel during vegetable prep.
At its core is 52100 carbon steel, chosen for its trusted performance in the kitchen. It sharpens easily, takes an extremely aggressive edge, and moves smoothly through dense ingredients. Thin behind the edge and clean through product, it delivers a cutting experience that is both precise and satisfying.
For this build, the blade is paired with a custom handle fitted and assembled in-house at Kakushin. The handle features a beautiful dark wood base with subtle, vibrant color accents, complemented by a marbled buffalo horn ferrule that ties the entire look together. The result is a handle that not only balances the blade visually but also adds a refined touch of character and warmth to the overall design.
This knife comes from a small, limited first run by Nguyên, with every blade hand-forged and hand-finished. Variations in tone, Damascus pattern, and contrast naturally occur from piece to piece—no two knives are identical. Images are representative; the knife you receive will be uniquely yours.
