T10 Carbon Steel Shirasaya Sword with Rosewood Saya - Gold Flower Tsuba, Hamon Blade

The blade on this shirasaya is ground from T10 carbon steel, a high-carbon tool steel valued for its edge retention and ability to hold a crisp hamon temper line. That wavy temper line is clearly visible along the blade's length, running from the base toward the chisel tip - a detail that separates a hand-finished piece from a machine-polished one. The full tang construction means the steel runs uninterrupted from tip through the tsuka, giving the assembly solid balance in hand. For collectors interested in Clay Tempered Swords, the visible hamon on this T10 blade delivers the same visual drama in a classic shirasaya format.

The tsuka follows pure shirasaya convention - no ito wrap, no ray skin, just the natural rosewood shaped to a round-oval cross-section and finished smooth. The grain of the wood is clearly visible in the warm reddish-brown tone, and the two mekugi pins securing the tang are seated flush. The handle transitions directly to the blade with minimal gap, which is characteristic of well-fitted shirasaya joinery.

At the habaki collar, a gold-tone tsuba with an open flower lattice pattern provides the one decorative flourish in an otherwise minimalist design. The cutwork motif - circular voids arranged in a floral grid - catches light against the darker wood and steel tones. A thin black spacer separates the tsuba face from the wood, keeping the fit clean.

The saya mirrors the tsuka exactly: natural rosewood, round cross-section, visible wood grain, and a koiguchi mouth that seats the blade with a firm click. The wood on both saya and tsuka shows the same reddish-brown coloration, making the pair visually unified from pommel to tip. This consistency is what gives the shirasaya format its understated elegance.

Overall length is 39.37 inches with a 1.26-inch blade width, and the piece weighs 2.54 lbs. For collectors drawn to clean wood-and-steel aesthetics, this sits naturally alongside pieces in the Red Dragon Sword category - straight profiles, warm tones, and minimal ornamentation that lets the materials speak directly.