Folded Melaleuca Steel Katana with Samurai-Engraved Natural Wood Saya - Dark Red Blade & Gold Tsuba

The blade on this katana is forged from folded melaleuca steel, producing the layered grain patterns visible along the dark red-finished flat. A cross-section at the tip reveals the interleaved blue and copper-tone layers characteristic of the material - each sword carries a slightly different surface expression as a result of the fold count and finishing process. The full-tang construction runs uninterrupted through the handle, keeping the 3 lb assembly balanced across its 41-inch total length. For collectors interested in the steel itself, our Folded Steel Sword collection brings together pieces built around this same forging tradition.

The tsuka is wrapped in dark red ito cord over a cream-colored pu samegawa (ray-skin) base, a contrast that adds texture depth without competing with the blade's coloring. Gold menuki accents sit beneath the wrap at the grip positions. The tsuka-ito pattern is consistent and tight, maintaining grip geometry along the full handle length.

The tsuba is cast in a gold tone and features a raised samurai warrior scene in relief - figures and compositional detail are legible from a short distance, which is uncommon at this scale. The rectangular form with rounded corners sits flush against both the habaki and the tsuka collar, keeping the transition clean.

The saya is the most visually distinctive element of this piece. Natural hardwood in a pale cream finish has been hand-engraved with samurai warrior imagery covering nearly the full length of the scabbard - the artwork is burned directly into the wood surface rather than painted or applied as a sleeve. A dark red sageo cord with dark accent beads is knotted at the kurikata, matching the ito and completing the color relationship between handle and saya. Explore our Dragon Tsuba Japanese Samurai Swords collection for additional koshirae options with detailed metalwork.

Overall dimensions place the assembled sword at 41 inches with a shipping package of 43 x 4 x 4 inches at 4 lbs. The koshirae style brings together the dark red, gold, and natural wood tones into a coherent display piece built around folded melaleuca steel craftsmanship.