Black & Blue Katana - Manganese Steel Blade with Red Dragon Saya and Iron Tsuba

The blade on this katana is forged from manganese steel and finished with a deep blue coloring that shifts subtly from spine to edge, catching light differently depending on the angle. The hand-finished edge runs the full length of the 41-inch piece, and the steel shows a clean, polished surface that highlights the blue tone without distraction. For collectors exploring Blue Manganese Steel Katana options, this piece stands out for how the blue interacts with the surrounding hardware.

The tsuka is wrapped in a tight, even diamond-pattern cord over PU black samegawa - the ray-skin texture gives a firm base for the black ito, and small gold-tone menuki are seated beneath the wrap, adding subtle ornamentation without breaking the clean black silhouette of the handle.

The black iron tsuba is cast in a circular form with a dragon motif worked in relief across its surface - the carving has enough depth to read clearly from a distance. A gold-tone habaki sits immediately below the tsuba, providing a strong contrast between the dark guard and the blue of the blade just beyond it. The black sageo cord is tied at the kurigata in a traditional style.

The saya is where this piece makes its strongest visual statement. Black hardwood lacquered to a gloss finish serves as the base, and across the middle section a hand-painted red dragon wraps and coils against the black ground - the red-to-orange gradient in the scales and the fine linework on the claws make it the focal point of the entire piece. This dragon theme connects directly to the Blue Dragon Samurai Sword collection and is one of the more visually dramatic saya treatments available in this style.

Overall length is 41 inches with a total weight of 3 lbs. Full-tang manganese steel construction throughout. Ships in a 43 x 4 x 4 inch package at a shipping weight of 4 lbs. Sword stand not included.