Clay Tempered 1045 Carbon Steel O Tanto with Golden Blade and Engraved Snake Saya in Black

This o tanto features a 12.5-inch nagasa forged from 1045 carbon steel using a clay tempering process. The differential hardening produces a visible hamon line along the golden-finished blade, with the edge reaching 62 HRC. The full tang construction ensures structural integrity from tip to pommel, and the blade arrives with a hand-finished edge.

The 6.3-inch tsuka is built over a black polyurethane leather samegawa wrap, bound tightly with black cord ito in a traditional diamond pattern. A single gold menuki ornament is set beneath the wrap, adding a subtle flash of contrast against the dark handle. The overall grip feels substantial and well-balanced for a piece of this size.

At the junction of blade and handle sits an iron tsuba finished in a gold tone, featuring engraved kanji-style characters on its face. Gold-accented fuchi and kashira fittings frame the tsuka, tying together the black and gold color scheme that defines this Short Tanto.

The black hardwood saya is finished in piano lacquer for a deep, reflective surface. Its most striking detail is the hand-painted snake motif rendered in a weathered gold tone across the upper body of the scabbard, giving the piece an antique aesthetic. A black sageo cord is tied at the gold kurikata near the mouth of the saya.

Overall, this o tanto measures 20.5 inches in length with a saya length of 13 inches, weighing 1.5 lbs. It ships at 2 lbs in a 26 x 4 x 4-inch package. Whether displayed alongside a Clay Tempered Aikuchi collection or standing on its own, this piece brings together golden blade finish, engraved saya art, and traditional fittings into a cohesive collector's tanto.