T10 Carbon Steel Tanto with Hamon, Blue Cord Handle in Dark Red Lacquered Hardwood Saya

The 28.74-inch T10 carbon steel blade is the defining element of this tanto, hardened to 62 HRC through a clay tempering process that produces a genuine hamon - the undulating temper line visible along the edge is a direct result of differential heat treatment, not etching. The chrome-finish blade surface carries a hand-finished quality consistent with forge work, and the full tang construction runs through the entire tsuka for structural integrity.

The tsuka measures 10.62 inches and is built over a real white rayskin (samegawa) foundation in black, which provides natural grip texture beneath the wrap. Navy blue cord is tightly wound in the traditional hishi-gumi diamond pattern, with ivory-colored silk menuki knots seated at regular intervals - exactly as seen in the images. The contrast between the dark navy cord and the white diamond windows gives the handle a clean, high-visibility visual rhythm.

The alloy tsuba is finished in bronze tone and features an open-work ornate scroll design - a lattice of curved cutouts across the plate surface, framed by a gold-gilded rectangular collar (habaki side) and a copper-accented rim. The detail work on this guard, visible in the close-up, is more intricate than most production fittings at this tier. For more designs in this category, browse our Featured Japanese Tanto Swords collection.

The hardwood saya is lacquered in deep crimson-red with a distinctive matte speckled finish - dark flecks distributed across the burgundy base give it a textured, organic appearance rather than a flat gloss coat. At 29.92 inches, the saya is secured with a navy blue braided sageo tied in a formal knot at the kurikata, creating a bold color pairing with the red body. If the dark red saya aesthetic appeals to you, the Red Pattern Steel Aikuchi collection features additional options in this colorway.

Total assembled length is 40.55 inches with an overall weight of 4.4 lbs. The koshirae-style fittings - tsuba, fuchi, kashira - are coordinated across bronze and gold tones, giving the piece a cohesive finish. Blade width is 1.26 inches with a spine thickness of 0.27 inches. Packaged in a 23 x 3 x 3-inch box at a shipping weight of 3 lbs.