Damascus Steel Katana with Lightning-Pattern Black-Red Saya and Dragon Tsuba

The blade is forged from manganese Damascus steel, stretching 28.74 inches with a hardness rating of 62 HRC. The folded layers produce flowing surface patterns that catch the light along the entire length, while the visible hamon line traces the transition from spine to edge - a hallmark of traditional Japanese blade geometry. The hand-finished edge runs clean from the base to the sharp kissaki tip.

The full tang tsuka measures 10.62 inches and is wrapped in black cord over genuine rayskin in a traditional diamond wrap. Red samegawa panels show through the gaps, creating the black-red color contrast that carries through the entire piece. The grip feels secure in hand, with the rayskin providing natural texture beneath the cord.

Guarding the blade-to-handle junction is a black alloy tsuba cast with an intricate dragon relief. The carved figures emerge from a darkened background, giving the guard a sculptural quality that stands out against the gold-toned habaki collar beneath it. For collectors interested in similar Damascus construction, browse our Gold Damascus Steel Japanese Samurai Swords collection.

The hardwood saya is the visual centerpiece of this piece. At 29.92 inches, it is finished in matte lacquer over a base that has been painted with a lightning-crack pattern - jagged red and gold veins splitting across a deep black ground. The effect reads like cooling lava or fractured earth, and holds up under close inspection as genuine lacquerwork rather than printed film. A black braided sageo cord wraps the kurikata fitting at the middle of the saya.

Total assembled length is 40.55 inches and the piece weighs 2.8 lb. The koshirae-style fittings - dragon tsuba, real rayskin, matte lacquer saya - give this katana a cohesive visual identity built around the black-red lightning theme. It works equally well mounted on a display stand or handled during kata forms.