Hand Forged Samurai Katana Sword w/ Detail Mantis Tsuba 1

Retail Price $3000

Katanas have been said to be one of the greatest swords ever created. This is ironic since Japan has such poor materials for making swords. The iron of Japan is inferior by most standards and there is a relatively small amount to be found on the island. These factors meant that when a sword was to be made it had to be of the best quality. The sword smiths would labor over the sword and many believed that part of the smiths soul became a part of the sword.

One of the leading factors of the swords superior quality was the lamination technique used by the Japanse smiths. To find a way to make a sword both flexible and hard a smith would use several types of steel in one blade. Typically the types of steel would be layered then fused seamlessly together. Any space between the steel would cause the sword to break on impact. It required extreme expertise in forging to create this kind of blade.

This Katana was hand forged and crafted authentically in all aspects of its creation. All the fittings and parts are genuine material. The balance of the blade is perfect and the sword is completely functional. This is a masterpiece of recreating the ancient Katana.

The Katana includes a Certificate of Authenticity, & Silk Sword Bag.

Attributes of the Weapon:

Blade: The blade of the sword has been hand forged with High Carbon Steel. It has been laminated in Kobuse style with the hard steel (Hagane) on the cutting edge and a 0.5% soft steel (Kawagane) core. This style allows the sword to be flexible while still maintaining a 58 HRC of hardness. This hardness not only makes the blade tougher but also allows the blade to hold a sharper edge for longer.

The blade has undergone the Yake-Ire process of clay covering. The result is a differential tempering of the blade creating the hamon. The Martensite is Nie (large crystals in the hamon).

The tip is O-Kissake with a well defined Yokote. The blade is razor sharp and comes full tang.

Saya (Scabbard): The scabbard is hard wood with a dark blue lacquer finish and blue sage-o.

Tsuba (Guard): The habaki is copper mounted over an oxidized copper seppa. The Tsuba is in a Moko Gata style with the Kozuka-Hitsu-ana and Kogai Hitsu-ana. Sakura and praying mantis are inlaid in silver alloy on each side of the Tsuba. The Fuchi is inlaid with a golden praying mantis and silver orchid blossom.

Tsuka (Handle): The Tsuka is hardwood over the tang with a ray skin Same and blue Ito (cord wrap). Mantis Menuki are on each side of the Tsuka. There are two Mekugi securing the tang. The Kashira (pommel) is another golden Mantis on a leaf.

Tsuba: The Mantis and Blossoms are inlaid Gold and Silver

Hamon: Authentically made in the Yaki-Ire process using a clay covering. The clay is applied to the whole blade with a thinner coat applied to the Ha. The blae is then heated and quenched. The Quenching produces a Pearlite solid in the blade and a Martensite solid in the Ha. The Martensite in the Ha creates a much harder edge defined by crystal formations of steel.

There are two different types of crystals Nie and Nioi. Nie are crystals that are visible to the naked eye. Nioi is too small to be seen and appears as a cloudy mark on the steel. This blade has both the Nie and Nioi crystal formations. The Nie and Noi are marks of an authentically made Hamon.

Hataraki: One of the signs of a well made blade is the Hataraki. The Hataraki is the activity in the Hamon created from the interaction of the steel during the Quenching process. This blade has ko-nie (small dots of Nie above the hamon), Ji-Nie (small patches of Nie in the Hamon), Sunagashi (streaks in the hamon), and Chikei (dark lines running through the hamon).

Yasurime: The Yasurime are the file marks that appear on the tang after it is completed by the sword smith. This is a way to identify the blade and the sword smith. This blade has a Sujikai style of marking.

Kissake: The blade is a O-Kissake or Long Kissake.