1045 Carbon Steel Black Blade Katana with Dragon-Engraved Saya in Full Black Koshirae

The blade on this katana is forged from 1045 carbon steel and finished in a deep black that runs edge to spine. A genuine hamon line traces the length of the blade, the result of differential hardening during the forging process - visible as a lighter wave pattern against the darkened steel. At 41 inches overall with a blade width of 1.259 inches, the geometry is proportioned for display, and the full-tang construction runs the complete length of the tsuka for structural integrity throughout. Collectors drawn to Black 1045 Katana builds will find the blade finish and hamon combination here particularly well executed.

The tsuka is assembled with black same (rayskin) as the base layer, then tightly wrapped in black cotton ito in a traditional diamond braid pattern. Gold-tone menuki are set beneath the wrap at the grip position, catching light through the gaps in the ito and providing the only warm accent in an otherwise all-black handle assembly. The result is a handle that reads as unified and intentional rather than understated.

The dragon-theme iron tsuba is cast in black with visible relief detail on both faces. The openwork design follows the dragon motif across the guard plane, and copper-tone accents at the seppa area create a subtle transition between tsuba and tsuka. The habaki fits cleanly at the blade base, completing the mount without any visible gaps.

The saya is constructed from hardwood and finished with black lacquer, then hand-engraved with a full-length dragon design that wraps around the body of the scabbard. The engraving is recessed into the lacquer surface so the dragon imagery reads clearly at close range without interrupting the overall gloss finish. A black sageo cord is knotted at the kurikata in a traditional style, with the cord ends left at a display-appropriate length.

At 3 lbs and packaged in a 43 x 4 x 4 inch box, this katana ships ready for wall mounting or case display. The all-black koshirae with dragon engraving across both saya and tsuba makes it a cohesive statement piece for collectors building around dark-finish Japanese sword replicas.