Tamahagane Steel Katana with Hand-Painted Floral Saya in Brown Honeycomb Lacquer and Copper Bamboo Tsuba

The nagasa of this katana is forged from Tamahagane steel, a traditional smelting material prized for its layered carbon structure. At 28.74 inches, the full tang blade is hand-sharpened and carries a chrome-polished surface with a hardness rating of 62 HRC. The damascus-pattern steel delivers visible grain lines along the flat, giving the blade a distinctive character that sets it apart from standard production swords.

The 10.62-inch tsuka is built over a core wrapped in genuine white samegawa (rayskin), providing both texture and structural reinforcement beneath the light brown ito cord. The cord is tightly wound in a traditional diamond pattern, secured at intervals to maintain tension and a comfortable grip. Knot paper wraps add an extra layer of integrity beneath the cord binding.

A round copper tsuba sits between handle and blade, cast with a dimensional bamboo leaf relief and finished with gold and silver gilding. The detail work on the tsuba includes textured vines and small silver accents that catch light against the warm copper base - a fitting centerpiece for the overall warm-toned color scheme of this piece. Collectors seeking similar metalwork can explore the Gold-plated Tsuba Katana collection.

The 29.92-inch hardwood saya is the visual highlight of this katana. Its center section features hand-painted red floral blossoms and golden vine scrollwork on a glossy black lacquer ground, while both ends are finished in a distinctive brown honeycomb-textured lacquer. Real horn koiguchi and kojiri cap the mouth and tip, and a black sageo cord is tied at the kurikata. The transition between the floral art panel and the honeycomb lacquer sections is separated by slim gold bands. Browse more artisan scabbard designs in the Handwood Saya Japanese Samurai Swords collection.

At 40.55 inches overall and 2.8 lbs, this Tamahagane steel katana balances visual complexity with traditional proportions. From the gilded copper tsuba to the hand-painted saya, every fitting is coordinated in a palette of brown, gold, red, and black - making it a striking display piece for collectors who value both material authenticity and decorative artistry.