T10 Carbon Steel Tanto with Real Hamon - Black Cord Handle, Gold Alloy Tsuba, Black Lacquer Saya

The blade of this tanto is forged from T10 carbon steel, heat-treated to a hardness of 62 HRC and hand-finished to bring out a natural hamon along the edge. The full tang construction runs the entire length of the handle, giving the piece solid structural integrity. At 28.74 inches nagasa and a total length of 22 inches overall, it occupies the compact, purposeful proportions that define the tanto form. Collectors drawn to Black T10 Carbon Steel Tanto pieces will recognize the combination of edge refinement and visual clarity that T10 delivers at this hardness level.

The tsuka is 10.62 inches long, wrapped in black cord over a foundation of genuine white rayskin (samegawa). The diamond-pattern wrap exposes the rayskin at regular intervals, creating a sharp contrast between the pale texture beneath and the dark cord above. Small gold-toned menuki are set beneath the wrap, visible through the gaps - a traditional placement that adds fine detail without disrupting the handle's grip geometry.

The tsuba is a round alloy fitting in a gold tone, cast with a samurai-theme relief that adds visual weight at the transition between blade and handle. Its dark framing collar (habaki and seppa area) keeps the gold accent controlled rather than dominant, fitting the overall dark palette of the piece.

The saya is shaped from hardwood and finished in a matte black lacquer that reads as deep and even across the surface. A tomoe mon motif is inlaid near the kurigata, a subtle decorative element that becomes visible on closer inspection. The braided sageo cord is worked in black and tan strands, looped and knotted at the kurigata in a multi-wrap style that adds visual texture to the otherwise clean saya profile. Browsing the full Short Tanto range offers useful context for how this piece fits within the broader tanto format.

At 2 lb and with a shipping weight of 3 lb in a 24 x 2 x 2 in package, this tanto is straightforward to store and display. The combination of T10 steel at 62 HRC, rayskin handle construction, and matte lacquer saya positions it as a well-specified example of traditional tanto craftsmanship in a consistently executed black-and-gold colorway.