This one-of-a-kind bushcraft knife embodies the enduring spirit of Aotearoa's wild landscapes—where ancient geological forces and human stories meet.
The blade is an integral damascus construction with hidden tang, hand-forged by Benjamin from a billet of 1084 steel, recycled bandsaw blade, and excavated wrought iron pipe. Its intricate, flowing pattern—revealed through etching—highlights the depth and precision of the forging process.
The handle is carved from stabilised Wairarapa Ocean Beach native driftwood, prized for its rich, weathered grain that speaks to the coastal forces shaping the whenua over time, providing strength, longevity, and a tactile connection to the shores.
Crowning the pommel is a cabochon of Hokitika glacial moraine Kawakawa pounamu, carved by Benjamin. This nephrite taonga carries ancient metamorphic history: formed under immense pressure deep within the Southern Alps millions of years ago, then carried by glaciers and rivers to the West Coast. For Māori, pounamu has always been a revered treasure—symbolizing strength, connection to ancestors, the whenua, and mana—traded along established trails as a valued resource and symbol of prestige and relationships.
The pounamu was blessed in its raw form before being gifted to us, and we handle this taonga with customary respect and every possible care. It comes with a unique Ngāi Tahu Pounamu Authentication Code, traceable to its Hokitika origins via the newzealandpounamu.com database.
Marisa custom-made the ambidextrous pancake-style sheath in vegetable-tanned leather, hand-embossed to echo the damascus pattern on the blade.
The Pounamu Crown is more than a tool—it's a narrative heirloom linking deep geological time, the mana of pounamu in Māori tradition, the ingenuity of European settler craftsmanship, and contemporary artistry: forged from Aotearoa's rivers, mountains, beaches, forests, and forges.
Blade length: 96mm
Overall length: 217mm
Year: 2022
Artists: Benjamin Madden & Marisa McLuckie
This art knife comes with its own signed Certificate of Authenticity.
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If you would like to purchase this piece but live outside of New Zealand or Australia, please contact us directly to discuss your international shipping options. Thank you!