Damascus Steel Shirasaya Tanto with Clay-Tempered Hamon in Black Sandalwood Saya with Copper Fittings

This shirasaya tanto features a 12.5-inch Damascus steel blade that has been clay tempered to produce a visible hamon line along the edge. The layered steel patterning runs across the flat of the blade, and the edge has been hardened to 60 HRC through differential heat treatment. The tip comes to a clean point with a hand-finished edge, and the overall blade has a chrome-toned polish that contrasts with the darker Damascus grain.

The handle follows traditional shirasaya construction - a straight, guardless design carved from black sandalwood. A single copper mekugi pin secures the full tang blade through the handle, and the 6-inch tsuka provides a firm one-handed grip. The wood surface is left with a natural finish that highlights the dark tone of the sandalwood.

Real copper fittings in a gold tone serve as the habaki and koiguchi, each engraved with distinct patterns. The habaki features an openwork geometric lattice design, while the kashira end cap carries scrollwork engravings. These copper accents break up the black-and-silver color scheme with warm metallic contrast. For more options with similar metalwork, browse the Clay Tempered Damascus Tanto collection.

The saya is crafted from black sandalwood with a natural surface finish, measuring 12.5 inches to match the blade length. It has a glossy, deep black appearance with two small copper pins visible near the mouth. The fit between blade and saya is snug, and the overall silhouette stays true to the clean shirasaya profile without any external cord wrapping or lacquer layers.

At 20.5 inches overall and 1.5 lbs, this tanto sits comfortably in the short sword category. The combination of Damascus steel construction, clay-tempered hamon, and sandalwood saya with copper fittings makes it a detailed collectible piece. Those interested in similar fixed-blade designs can explore the Damascus Tanto Fixed Blade collection for additional options.