Folded Melaleuca Steel Katana with Dragon-Painted White Saya in Black & Gold Koshirae

The blade is forged from folded melaleuca steel, a multi-layer construction that produces the distinctive flowing grain visible along the flat of the sword. The folding process refines the steel's internal structure, and the result is a chrome-finished blade surface that catches light at every angle. A visible hamon line runs the length of the edge, highlighting the transition between the hardened cutting edge and the body of the blade. The full-tang construction extends the steel through the entire handle, ensuring structural integrity across the full 40.5-inch length.

The tsuka is wrapped in PU black samegawa beneath a tight black cord over-wrap. The diamond-pattern wrap provides a secure, consistent grip surface, and the all-black colorway keeps the handle visually cohesive with the sageo and other fittings. The menuki details sit beneath the wrap at the grip points, and the black fuchi and kashira caps complete the handle assembly cleanly.

The tsuba is cast from copper in a gold-and-black finish, with a raised dragon motif sculpted in relief across the surface. The dragon wraps through cloud forms on both sides of the guard, with fine detail work visible in the scales and claws. The warm gold tone of the tsuba creates a deliberate contrast against the black handle wrap, serving as the visual anchor between the blade and the hilt. For collectors drawn to dragon-themed fittings, our Silver Dragon Tsuba Katana collection offers additional guard variations worth exploring.

The saya is shaped from hardwood and finished with multiple coats of lacquer over a white base. A hand-painted dragon scene covers the full face of the scabbard - the dragon rendered in black ink with red accent details against the white ground, with the artwork fading into a dark gradient toward the kurigata. The black sageo cord is knotted at the kurigata in traditional fashion. Because the saya artwork is applied by hand, subtle variation between pieces is inherent to the process.

At 3.17 lb and 40.5 inches overall with a 1.26-inch blade width, this katana is proportioned for wall-mount display or full koshirae presentation. If you prefer a shorter format with similar folded-steel construction, the Brown 1000 Layer Folded Steel Katana collection includes comparable blade options. Sword stand not included.