T10 Steel Hand-Forged Katana with Clay Tempered Blade in Black Lacquer Saya - Gold Dragon Tsuba

The blade starts with T10 carbon steel, hand-forged and clay tempered to a hardness of 60 HRC. The clay tempering process creates a genuine hamon - a subtle, wavy line running the length of the cutting edge where hard and soft steel meet. No two hamon patterns are identical, making each blade visually distinct. The 28.3-inch nagasa is hand-finished to a refined edge and polished to a bright chrome tone that catches light cleanly along the shinogi.

The tsuka is built on a full-tang foundation for structural integrity. Real white samegawa rayskin wraps the hardwood core first, providing a textured base with natural grip. Black cotton ito is then wound over it in the traditional diamond pattern, creating visible white samegawa diamonds at each opening. The 10.2-inch handle length gives comfortable two-handed reach and keeps the overall balance point in proportion with the 28.3-inch blade.

The gold-tone alloy tsuba is the visual centerpiece of the fittings. Cast in a round form with a dragon relief on both faces, the aged gold finish reads as antique brass in person - detailed enough to show scales, claws, and cloud motifs around the dragon figure. The matching gold-tone habaki transitions cleanly between tsuba and blade, tying the fittings together as a coordinated set.

The saya is shaped from hardwood and finished in black piano lacquer - a high-gloss surface that deepens the black to near-mirror quality. Scattered across the lacquer are irregular gold-tone floral and botanical motifs that catch light at different angles, giving the scabbard a quiet decorative presence without overwhelming the overall black-and-gold palette. A braided black sageo cord ties at the koiguchi and drapes naturally along the saya length.

At 40.5 inches overall and 2.85 lbs, this katana is sized to fit standard horizontal sword mounts or vertical floor stands. The black-and-gold color scheme is consistent from tsuba to saya tip, making it a cohesive piece for themed collections, cosplay displays, or Japanese interior styling.