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Japanese 1065 Steel Katana with Dragon Tsuba – 76 cm Blade
Availability: 4 in stock
SKU: KAT-0081065 steel is one of the modern steels that swordsmiths use to forge one-piece katanas. Unlike traditional tamahagane, which is irregular and difficult to work, this steel has a consistent composition that allows for more reliable and predictable tempering without sacrificing strength or a sharp edge. The dragon (龍, ryū) that adorns the guard of this piece, however, has a much older origin. Originating in China, it became a common motif on Japanese swords during periods of war, associated with water, the sky, and a power capable of both protection and destruction. Engraved on the guard, it served as a warning to the enemy even before the sword was drawn.
Identification
- Type of piece
- Katana (刀) - Japanese long sword
- Model
- 1065 Steel Katana - Dragon Tsuba
- Historical period depicted
- Edo period inspiration (江戸時代, 1603-1868), modern one-piece steel
Blade (Ha)
- Steel type
- 1065 carbon steel (one piece)
- Overall length
- 106 cm
- Blade length
- 76 cm (長さ, nagasa)
- Blade width
- 3 cm
- Spine thickness
- 6 mm
- Tip type (kissaki)
- Chu-kissaki (中切先)
- Hamon type
- Suguha (直刃), visible temper line
- Hardening method
- Differential hardening (焼き入れ, yaki-ire) on 1065 steel
- Blade finish
- Polished, elegant curve
- Edge condition
- Sharpened, with a real edge (刃, ha)
Grip (Tsuka)
- Tsuka length
- 28 cm (柄, tsuka)
- Core material
- Magnolia wood (朴の木, honoki)
- Samegawa (rayskin)
- White synthetic samegawa (鮫皮)
- Tsuka-ito (wrap cord)
- Black cord, diamond-wrapped (柄糸)
- Menuki (ornaments under the wrap)
- Discreet, integrated under the wrap (目貫)
- Fuchi and kashira
- Fuchi (縁) in gilded brass, black kashira (頭)
Guard and mounting (Koshirae)
- Tsuba (guard)
- Round, openwork with dragon relief (龍) (鍔)
- Tsuba material
- Openwork darkened iron
- Habaki
- Gilded brass (鎺)
- Seppa (spacers)
- Gilded brass (切羽)
- Mekugi (peg)
- Black lacquered bamboo (目釘)
Scabbard (Saya)
- Scabbard material
- Lacquered wood (鞘)
- Colour and finish
- Gloss black
- Sageo (scabbard cord)
- Matching black cord (下緒)
- Koiguchi (scabbard mouth)
- Black lacquered, integrated with the saya (鯉口)
General information
- Predominant colour
- Black
- Materials
- 1065 carbon steel, lacquered wood, iron, brass, textile cord
- Total weight
- 750 g
- Blade weight
- 500 g
- Balance point
- 7 cm above the tsuba (鍔)
- Recommended use
- Collecting, decoration
- Practitioner level
- Intermediate (blade with a real edge, requires experienced handling)
Unlike blades that combine various steels, this katana is forged from a single piece of 1065 steel, simplifying construction without sacrificing a good balance between hardness and flexibility. The blade is heated and cooled differentially to temper the edge, leaving a visible temper line along the edge, and then polished to achieve the finish and curve seen in the piece. The handle (柄, tsuka) is wrapped with a black cord in a diamond pattern, and the guard (鍔, tsuba), openwork with a dragon in relief, is assembled with the other metal parts before being attached to the black lacquered wooden scabbard (鞘, saya), with its matching cord (下緒, sageo).
- Katana (刀) forged from a single piece of 1065 carbon steel.
- Curved blade with suguha-type hamon (刃文), visible temper line.
- Openwork tsuba (鍔) with dragon (龍) in relief.
- Black tsuka-ito (柄糸), diamond-wrapped over white samegawa (鮫皮).
- Saya (鞘) of black lacquered wood, with matching cord (下緒, sageo).
- Fittings in gilt brass; black kashira (頭).
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