Hand Forged T10 Steel Katana with Gold Snake Tsuba - Black Lacquer Saya, Clay Tempered

The blade is forged from T10 carbon steel and clay tempered by hand, a process that creates differential hardness between the edge and spine. The result is a visible hamon - the undulating temper line that runs the length of the 28.3-inch nagasa - and an edge hardness of 60 HRC. The full tang construction runs the entire length of the handle, giving the piece structural integrity from tip to pommel.

The tsuka is wrapped over genuine white samegawa ray skin, with black cord applied in a traditional diamond-gap pattern. The contrast between the ivory-toned ray skin and the dark cord creates a clean, structured grip aesthetic 10.2 inches in length. Gold-tone menuki accents are visible through the wrap gaps, catching light at close range.

The tsuba is the visual centerpiece: a gold alloy handguard sculpted in the form of a coiled snake, scales rendered in fine relief across the entire surface. The warm gold tone sits against the pale base of the blade and the dark handle wrap, anchoring the design with unmistakable presence. A gold-toned habaki collar transitions cleanly between tsuba and blade.

The saya is hardwood finished in piano lacquer - deep black as a base with an irregular pattern of gold and olive speckle throughout, giving it an organic, almost stone-like surface quality. At 30.3 inches, it sheathes the nagasa fully. A black sageo cord is knotted at the kurigata, functional in proportion and understated against the saya's detailed finish.

At 40.5 inches overall and 2.65 lbs, this katana sits comfortably within traditional proportions. The combination of a clay-tempered T10 blade, sculpted gold snake tsuba, and piano-lacquered speckle saya makes it a cohesive collector's piece where every component was chosen for visual and material consistency.