T10 Steel Katana with Clay Tempered Blade in Black-Gold Lightning Saya - Dragon Bronze Tsuba

The blade of this katana is forged from T10 carbon steel and clay tempered to produce a genuine hamon - the undulating temper line that runs along the edge and signals differential hardness between the harder cutting edge and the more resilient spine. The hand-polished chrome finish brings out the steel's natural clarity, allowing the hamon pattern to read cleanly across the full 40.55-inch length. At 1.259 inches wide and 0.275 inches thick at the spine, the geometry reflects classic katana proportions, and the full tang construction carries the steel uninterrupted from tip to pommel.

The tsuka is wrapped in black cotton cord over genuine white samegawa - the ray skin's raised nodule texture visible beneath each lozenge gap in the hishigami pattern. The contrast between the cream samegawa and the dark ito is sharp and deliberate, anchoring the handle's visual rhythm. A black fuchi and kashira complete the upper and lower fittings, keeping the handle palette consistent throughout.

The tsuba is this sword's most striking individual component. Cast in copper with a bronze-gold tone, it features a dragon motif in layered relief, with gold gilding applied to the carved details. The circular guard is densely worked - cloud scrolls, scaled dragon body, and smaller botanical elements fill the surface without crowding. Gold accents catch light differently than the darker bronze ground, giving the tsuba a depth that reads well both up close and at display distance. For collectors interested in dragon-themed fittings, this guard sits among the more detailed examples in the Best Japanese Katana category.

The saya is crafted from hardwood and finished with premium natural lacquer over a black-and-gold lightning pattern. The gold veining streaks irregularly across the black ground, producing the visual effect of cracked lacquer or forked lightning - an effect that shifts in character depending on the light angle. The surface is smooth to the touch, with the lacquer sealing the design beneath a consistent sheen. A black sageo cord is attached at the kurikata, its tassel hanging cleanly against the saya body. Collectors drawn to this style of mixed-color lacquer work will find the full range in the Marble Japanese Samurai Swords collection.

Overall assembled weight is 2.8 lb with a total length of 40.55 inches. The koshirae-style presentation - coordinated black fittings, black cord, bronze-gold tsuba, and the lightning saya - makes this piece a coherent visual set rather than a collection of unrelated parts. Sword stand not included.