T10 Clay Tempered Katana with Real Hamon in Black Hardwood Saya - Tiger Tsuba, Black & Red Sageo

The blade is forged from T10 carbon steel and clay tempered - a process where differential clay application during quenching produces a harder edge and softer spine. The result is a hardness of 60 HRC at the edge with enough flex in the body to prevent brittleness. Running the full 28.34-inch nagasa is a genuine hamon, the natural crystalline boundary visible as a undulating line separating the hardened edge zone from the body of the blade. This is not an etched pattern - it is the direct visual signature of the clay tempering process itself.

The tsuka is 11.02 inches long, built over a full tang core and wrapped in black cotton ito in the traditional hineri-maki style, revealing the white genuine rayskin (samegawa) beneath at each diamond-shaped gap. The samegawa provides grip texture under the wrap and is a hallmark of traditionally constructed Japanese sword handles. The overall grip feel is firm and well-fitted, with white menuki accents adding visual rhythm along the length.

The tsuba is cast alloy in a tiger theme, finished in antique gold and copper tones. The sculpted relief shows a tiger with surrounding cloud or wave detailing - the depth of the casting gives it a three-dimensional presence that reads clearly from a distance. The fittings connecting tsuba to tsuka continue the warm metallic tone, maintaining visual cohesion across the assembly.

The black hardwood saya is finished in piano lacquer, producing a deep, high-gloss surface that reflects light cleanly. At 28.74 inches, it sheathes the nagasa with a precise fit. The sageo is braided in black and red, tied at the kurigata in a traditional wrap, and the color pairing against the black lacquer saya creates a sharp, deliberate contrast that anchors the overall aesthetic.

Total assembled length is 40.5 inches at a weight of 3.12 lbs. The proportions - blade to handle ratio, saya fit, and fittings alignment - are consistent with authentic katana construction standards, making this a piece that holds up to close inspection whether displayed on a stand or examined in hand.