Damascus Steel Tanto Aikuchi with Real Rayskin Saya - Black Samegawa, Gold Fittings

The blade on this aikuchi tanto is forged from Damascus steel, with folded layers that create a flowing grain pattern visible along the flat and near the edge. A real hamon line runs the length of the blade, the natural result of the hardening process rather than an etched imitation - the transition between edge and spine is clean and distinct under light. The blade geometry follows the classic tanto profile: a slight upward curve to the tip and a cross-section that narrows deliberately toward the point.

The handle is wrapped in genuine black samegawa - actual rayskin, not synthetic - whose tight pearl-dot texture provides both visual depth and a secure grip surface. There is no ito wrap over the samegawa, keeping the aikuchi aesthetic intact: a smooth, uninterrupted handle silhouette from kashira to habaki. The full tang runs the entire length of the handle for structural integrity throughout.

Gold-tone fittings define the handle's character. The kashira is cast with a ribbed, fan-like relief pattern, while the menuki on the handle face features delicate raised floral and vine motifs in a warm brown-copper tone. These details reward close inspection without overwhelming the overall restraint of the piece. A brass-tone habaki seats the blade securely in the saya and creates a deliberate material contrast with the darker fittings above and below.

The saya is covered in the same real black rayskin as the handle, creating a unified material language across the full piece. The natural pearl-dot texture of the rayskin catches light differently at every angle. A gold-tone kojiri caps the base, echoing the kashira and tying the presentation together. A small copper-tone koiguchi band at the saya mouth matches the handle fittings for a cohesive color palette of black, gold, and warm copper.

This tanto is an aikuchi - no tsuba - which places it in a distinct category within Japanese short-sword tradition. If you're exploring this style, our Damascus Tanto collection and the broader Damascus Steel Hamidashi range offer closely related configurations worth comparing. The piece ships as sword and saya only; stand not included.