Damascus Steel Full Tang Katana with Gold Dragon Tsuba in Black Hardwood Saya - 28.74" Blade

The 28.74-inch nagasa on this katana is forged from manganese Damascus steel, producing the layered wave pattern that runs along the flat of the blade from kissaki to habaki. A visible hamon line traces the temper boundary, and the blade is hand-finished to 62 HRC - firm enough to maintain a refined edge through repeated use while retaining the flexibility the steel's construction provides. The chrome-bright polish amplifies every fold pattern, making the Damascus structure the undeniable visual centerpiece of the piece. Collectors interested in the full range of layered-steel options can explore our Damascus Samurai Sword collection.

The tsuka is 10.62 inches long and built on a full tang core, ensuring the blade and handle form one continuous piece of steel with no mechanical joint at the habaki. Genuine black rayskin (samegawa) is fitted over the wooden core first, its pebbly surface providing grip even when the ito becomes worn. Black cotton ito is then wrapped in the traditional diagonal pattern over the samegawa, the diamond-shaped gaps exposing the texture beneath and allowing the menuki to seat flush within the wrap.

The tsuba is an immediate visual anchor: a round gold-tone alloy guard cast in a dragon motif, with raised relief imagery covering both faces. The dragon theme is rendered with enough surface detail - scales, flowing mane, open mouth - to read clearly at arm's length. Matching gold-tone fittings (fuchi and kashira) continue the color story into the handle, tying the assembly together against the black ito.

The saya is shaped from hardwood and finished in a matte black lacquer coat that runs the full 29.92-inch length. Real-horn fittings cap the koiguchi (mouth) and kojiri (tip), adding durability at the two points most subject to contact wear. The sageo - the cord used to secure the saya to an obi - is woven in black and red, with a knotted tassel and a red dotted-fabric panel visible at the mid-section, giving the scabbard its own color accent that contrasts the otherwise all-black lacquer surface. For other swords featuring authentic rayskin saya treatments, see our Black Rayskin Saya Japanese Samurai Swords collection.

Overall length is 40.55 inches and total weight is 2.8 lb., with the blade width at 1.259 inches and thickness at 0.275 inches. The koshirae-style mounting - gold dragon tsuba, black rayskin tsuka, matte black saya with red-and-black sageo - gives this katana a coherent aesthetic that works equally well displayed horizontally on a wall stand or vertically in a presentation case.