Damascus Steel Tanto with Gold Dragon Tsuba in Black Lacquer Saya - Flower Hand-Painted Koshirae

The blade is forged from folded pattern steel - commonly called Damascus steel - delivering the characteristic layered surface texture visible along its length. A hamon line traces the edge, produced during the hand-finishing process, and the chrome-polished nagasa measures 21.65 inches overall at 1.26 inches wide. The full tang runs the complete length of the tsuka, giving the piece structural integrity that collectors and practitioners alike look for in a properly constructed tanto.

The tsuka is wrapped in black tsuka-ito cord over a foundation of real white samegawa (ray skin), tied in the traditional diamond-pattern binding visible in the photos. The contrast between the white ray skin peeking through the black cord is one of the most immediately striking visual details on this piece. A gold habaki collar sits at the base of the blade, transitioning cleanly into the fittings above.

The tsuba is cast in a gold tone with a dragon motif worked into open-lattice fretwork - the cutout pattern allows light to pass through the guard and gives the whole fitting an ornate, layered depth. Paired with the gold habaki directly below, the fittings create a cohesive warm-metal accent zone between the black handle and the polished blade. Explore the full range in our Clay Tempered Damascus Tanto collection for similar koshirae configurations.

The saya is crafted from hardwood and finished in black piano lacquer - a high-gloss coat that reads almost mirror-like in direct light. Running along the face of the saya is a hand-painted trailing floral design in gold and green tones, depicting climbing flowers and foliage against the black ground. A black sageo cord wraps and knots at the kurikata fitting, which carries a small black cabochon accent. The combination of lacquer, hand-painting, and cord work puts this saya closer to fine decorative craft than standard production.

At 1.76 lb total weight and 21.65 inches in length, this tanto sits in the compact, desk-display-friendly size range. It ships in a 23 x 3 x 3 in package at 3 lb shipping weight. If you are building out a tanto-focused display, the Black Pattern Steel Tanto collection offers additional options with similar black-and-gold aesthetic profiles. Note: sword stand is not included.