1045 Manganese Steel Tanto with Vine Tsuba in Black Lacquer Saya - Koshirae Style

The blade of this tanto is forged from manganese steel, heat-treated to a hardness of 62 HRC and finished to a high-polish chrome mirror surface. At 28.74 inches in nagasa length, it carries the clean curvature typical of koshirae-style tanto work, with a full-tang construction that runs continuously through the handle for structural integrity. If you're exploring options in this steel tier, our 1045 Tanto collection offers additional variants worth comparing.

The handle is built over a full-tang core wrapped first in real rayskin (samegawa) in black, providing the traditional nodular grip surface that has defined Japanese sword handles for centuries. Over this, black cord is wrapped in a traditional diamond pattern, with silver-toned menuki ornaments visible through the wrap - details clearly visible in the product imagery.

The tsuba is the visual centerpiece of this tanto. Cast in alloy with a white base and gold-tone raised vine detailing across the entire guard surface, it creates a deliberate and striking contrast against the all-black palette of the handle and saya. The oval habaki collar sits neatly between tsuba and blade, finished in a complementary silver tone.

The saya is crafted from hardwood and finished in a matte black lacquer, with a carved dragon motif running along the body - visible in the product image as a relief engraving rather than a painted design. A black sageo cord is knotted at the kurigata in traditional style, completing the overall koshirae presentation. For a focused look at black-finish tanto options, the Black Tanto Knife collection covers the full range.

At 22 inches overall and 2 lb, this tanto is proportioned for wall display, collection shelving, or as a study piece for Japanese sword aesthetics. The combination of a vine-themed white-gold tsuba, real rayskin handle, and dragon-engraved black saya gives it a distinctive visual identity within the koshirae tanto category.