1090 Carbon Steel Tanto with Red Piano-Lacquer Saya - White Ito Gold Alloy Fittings

The 13-inch nagasa is forged from 1090 high-carbon steel and heat-treated to roughly 60 HRC, striking a balance between edge retention and structural resilience. Hand-polished to a bright chrome finish, the blade tapers cleanly toward a precise tanto tip, with a surface that catches light evenly along its full length. For collectors exploring Carbon Steel Tanto Swords, this piece offers a straightforward demonstration of what a well-finished 1090 blade looks like at this price tier.

The full-tang construction runs the entire length of the 6-inch tsuka, ensuring the handle and blade move as a single unit. The core is wrapped in a gold-finished base layer, then covered with cream-white polyurethane leather ito in a traditional diamond-knot pattern. Silver menuki accents are set into the binding at regular intervals, adding texture and visual depth without disrupting the wrap's clean lines.

A gold-tone alloy tsuba sits at the blade collar, its surface carrying subtle relief texture that echoes the knot pattern on the ito. Matching gold-tone fuchi and kashira complete the fittings, creating a continuous metallic accent from guard to pommel. The color relationship between the gold hardware, white ito, and silver blade gives this tanto a restrained, layered look.

The saya is built from hardwood and finished with a deep red piano lacquer coat - a high-gloss surface that reflects light like polished resin. A rice-colored sageo cord is laced through the kurigata in a loose, open knot, its neutral tone anchoring the red and cream palette. This Red Aikuchi style saya is as much a display element as a functional scabbard.

At 21.5 inches overall and 1.54 lb, this tanto sits within traditional proportions for the form - compact enough for a desk or wall mount, substantial enough to feel well-made in hand. Blade width measures 1.26 inches, saya length is 13.5 inches, and the package ships at 3 lb in a 23 x 3 x 3-inch box.