T10 Steel Katana with Clay Tempered Blade, Real Hamon in Black Piano Lacquer Saya

The blade starts with T10 carbon steel - a high-carbon tool steel prized for edge retention and responsiveness to differential heat treatment. Each blade is clay tempered, meaning a layer of refractory clay is applied along the spine before quenching, allowing the edge to harden to approximately 60 HRC while the spine remains comparatively flexible. The result is a genuine hamon: a naturally occurring, one-of-a-kind temper line that runs along the entire length of the 28.3-inch nagasa and serves as direct physical evidence of the process used to make it.

The handle assembly prioritizes both aesthetics and grip integrity. Real white samegawa - ray skin - is fitted over the hardwood core, its naturally pebbly texture providing traction beneath the wrapping. Black cord is then hand-laced in the traditional diamond pattern over the samegawa, creating the characteristic raised nodes visible along the tsuka. The 10.2-inch handle length supports a two-handed grip and contributes to the sword's total 40.5-inch length and 2.65-lb overall weight.

The gold-tone alloy tsuba is cast with an openwork floral motif - chrysanthemum-style petals rendered in relief with silver-accent detailing that catches light against the darker elements of the mounting. Flanking the tsuba, the habaki and fuchi carry matching metallic tones that create visual continuity from blade to handle.

The saya is shaped from hardwood and finished with multiple coats of piano lacquer, producing a mirror-smooth black surface that reflects its surroundings. A band of pearl rayskin wraps the upper portion of the saya, introducing a subtle textural contrast to the high-gloss finish. The black-and-white braided sageo is attached at the kurikata, completing the mounting with a cord accent that echoes the handle wrap above.

Taken together, the monochrome black saya, black cord tsuka, and white samegawa create a restrained, high-contrast palette, with the gold floral tsuba serving as the single deliberate point of ornamentation. The combination reflects the aesthetic discipline that has defined Japanese sword furniture for centuries - each component functional, each detail intentional.