Tamahagane Steel Katana with Black Lacquer Saya - Dragon Tsuba, Green Ito & Hamon Blade

The blade of this katana is forged from tamahagane - jewel steel produced by smelting iron sand and charcoal in a traditional tatara furnace. High-carbon and low-carbon portions are sorted after smelting, then forge-welded together so that the harder steel forms the cutting edge and core while the tougher low-carbon layer encases it. The result is a 28.3-inch nagasa with the structural integrity that defines a classical nihonto. For collectors seeking authenticated tamahagane construction, browse our Authentic Tamahagane Katana collection.

After forging, the blade undergoes clay tempering to produce a natural hamon. Hazuya and jizuya stones are then used section by section to reveal the temper line and surface grain pattern. Final polishing brings the full detail of the hamon into focus, giving the chrome-finish blade its mirror-like clarity along the shinogi and a clearly defined temper boundary closer to the ha.

The tsuka is wrapped in green ito over real white samegawa (ray skin), with knot-paper menuki accents placed at traditional intervals. The wrapping follows a standard diamond-pattern hishigami technique, and the full-tang construction ensures the handle remains solid and rigid under the full weight of the sword.

The tsuba is a hand-carved black iron piece centered on a dragon theme - intricate relief work depicts scaled bodies and cloud forms across the entire surface. A reddish-brown seppa sits between the tsuba and the tsuka, adding a warm contrast against the black iron. The green-and-white braided sageo is knotted through the kurikata on the saya in a traditional style, completing the koshirae.

The saya is crafted from hardwood finished in gloss black lacquer, providing a smooth, protective housing for the blade. Overall length is 41 inches; the sword weighs 3 lbs. Shipping weight is 4 lbs in a 43 x 4 x 4-inch package. A well-suited piece for collectors focused on traditional Japanese swordmaking materials and koshirae presentation. Explore more options in our High Quality Katana Sword collection.