Full Tang Folded Melaleuca Steel Katana with Hand-Painted Black-Teal Floral Saya and Gold-Black Cloud Tsuba

The blade of this katana is forged from folded melaleuca steel, a material prized for its layered grain patterns that emerge across the polished surface. A visible hamon runs along the edge, produced through the tempering process that differentiates the hardness between the edge and spine. The chrome-finished blade measures 40.55 inches overall and 1.259 inches at its widest, weighing in at 2.8 lb - substantial enough to feel authentic without being unwieldy on display. As part of the broader tradition of Japanese Folded Steel Sword craftsmanship, each blade carries distinct folded-layer character.

The tsuka is built on a full tang core, meaning the steel extends completely through the handle for solid structural connection. White samegawa ray skin wraps the wooden handle core first, providing a textured foundation, then black ito cord is wound in the traditional diamond pattern over it. The contrast between the pale ray skin peeking through the crossings and the black cord wrapping is clean and precise, finished with a black sageo cord matching the handle wrap.

The tsuba is one of the most visually complex elements of this build. Cast in copper, it carries a cloud-and-dragon motif worked in antique gold against a darkened ground. The relief detailing - visible clearly in the detail image - features curling clouds with a gold accent piece at center, giving the guard a dimensional, sculptural presence that reads as genuinely decorative rather than mass-produced.

The saya is where this katana makes its strongest visual statement. Constructed from hardwood and finished in high-gloss black lacquer, the scabbard body is hand-painted with a full botanical scene: gold and yellow lilies, orange-red blossoms, and small blue butterfly figures arranged across the black field. The koiguchi and kojiri are lacquered in sky blue with gold cloud scroll painting, creating a deliberate two-tone composition that transitions from the black body to the vivid teal end caps. For collectors interested in painted saya variations, the Melaleuca Steel Katana collection includes additional options in this style.

At 40.55 inches long, 1.259 inches wide, and 0.275 inches thick, the proportions follow traditional katana geometry. Shipping weight is 3.3 lb in a 42.9 x 3.9 x 3.5 inch package. This is a koshirae-style presentation piece - the full fitments, painted saya, and detailed tsuba make it a centerpiece for display rather than a bare-blade collector item. Sword stand not included.