Folded Melaleuca Steel Katana with Real Hamon - Black Saya, Purple Cord Handle & Gold-Black Chrysanthemum Tsuba

The blade on this katana is forged from folded melaleuca steel, a layered construction that produces the characteristic ripple grain visible along the flat of the nagasa. Hand-finishing along the edge reveals a genuine hamon - the undulating temper line that runs from the habaki toward the kissaki, evidence of the differential heat treatment applied during the forging process. At 40.55 inches overall with a blade width of 1.259 inches, the geometry sits well within classical katana proportions. Collectors interested in the full range of folded construction options will find additional reference pieces in Melaleuca Steel Japanese Samurai Swords.

The tsuka is built over a hardwood core wrapped first in purple samegawa - the textured ray skin that locks the underlying layers in place - then finished with purple ito cord in a traditional diamond (hishigami) wrap pattern. Small decorative menuki are seated beneath the cord at evenly spaced intervals, visible as subtle raised points through the binding. The result is a handle that holds its shape under handling while making the purple-and-chrome color pairing the defining visual signature of this piece.

The tsuba is cast in copper and finished in a gold-black two-tone treatment. The chrysanthemum theme is worked into both the face and the rim of the guard, with gilded detail picking out the petal geometry against the darker background. Fuchi and kashira fittings carry the same tonal palette, keeping the transition between handle and blade visually cohesive.

The saya is shaped from hardwood and finished with a black lacquer coat that gives the scabbard a clean, high-gloss surface. A purple sageo cord is tied at the kurikata and finished with a decorative knot that echoes the tsuka wrap - the color continuity between cord, ito, and menuki ties the full koshirae together without any element feeling out of place.

Total weight is 2.8 lb with a shipping weight of 3.3 lb; package dimensions are 42.9 x 3.9 x 3.5 inches. The combination of chrome-polished melaleuca steel, purple fittings, and gold-black chrysanthemum ironwork makes this katana a straightforward choice for collectors who want a strong visual statement on a wall mount or display stand. Sword stand is not included.