Manganese Steel Black Blade Katana with White Marble Saya - Wave Tsuba & Brown Carved Handle

The blade on this katana is forged from manganese steel and finished in a deep black, with hand-carved wave engravings etched along the length of the fuller. The engraving follows the curve of the blade from the yokote toward the habaki, catching light at different angles and giving the sword a dynamic, almost fluid visual energy. The spine and polished edge provide a clean contrast to the blackened surface, highlighting the geometry of the tip and the precision of the hand-finished profile.

The tsuka is shaped from brown carved hardwood, with the grain pattern carved directly into the wood rather than left plain. Black-and-white braided ito is wrapped over the top in a tight diamond pattern, both securing the grip and adding a graphic, high-contrast detail. A small gold-tone menuki is visible beneath the ito wrapping, adding a traditional accent consistent with koshirae-style construction. The fuchi and kashira are finished in matching tones, completing the handle assembly cleanly.

The tsuba is a round iron plate cut in a wave theme - open negative space alternating with solid curved arms - finished in black to match the blade. The habaki sitting just below it is copper-tone, forming a secure seat between tsuba and saya throat. Together these fittings give the sword a coherent visual language across the transition point where blade meets handle.

The saya is built from hardwood and finished in a white lacquer with a marble-vein swirl pattern running its full length. Near the koiguchi, a hand-painted panel depicts a geisha figure in full color, rendered in a traditional Japanese illustration style - one of the more unusual decorative choices in the White Katana category. Black-and-white sageo cord is knotted at the kurikata, matching the ito color scheme across the full set.

Overall length is 41 inches with a shipping weight of 4 lbs. The sword ships in a 43 x 4 x 4 inch package. Full-tang construction runs the steel through the handle. No sword stand is included. This piece sits squarely in the White Saya Japanese Samurai Swords category for collectors drawn to the black-and-white contrast aesthetic with hand-painted decorative detail.