Sokojikara Kitsune Handmade Katana / Samurai Sword

Prior to the intense heat of the hardening phase, smiths coat the newly formed, unrefined blade with clay – a thin layer along the edge, thicker on the body and spine. When the blade emerges from the hardening forge, the contrasting clay layers cause the steel to cool at slightly different rates, yielding two distinct hardness regions. The edge cools faster and is harder for greater impact resistance, edge retention and strength. The body and spine cool more slowly, rendering it “tougher”- less brittle and better equipped to absorb impact energy. Clay-tempered blades are sharper and more resilient than ordinary forged blades, and the clay-tempered, T10 high carbon steel Kitsune is no exception.

• Traditional Japanese swordcraft at its height – painstakingly handcrafted using only the finest materials for spectacular visual allure and tremendous potency
• Full tang 28 1/3″ T10 high carbon steel blade – expertly hand forged by seasoned swordsmiths using advanced techniques honed over centuries
• Centuries-old clay tempering process yields tough, impact-absorbing blade spine/body and history’s sharpest edge; also produces natural hamon line
• Classic tsuka wrapped in delicately textured genuine ray skin same and tawny braided ito; traditional wooden mekugi, brass menuki
• Elegant, exquisitely detailed tsuba flawlessly cast from iron like katana of ages past; accented with delicate branch relief
• Wine-red wooden saya embellished with angular beveling and distinctive black spatter pattern; complementary sageo
• Overall length: 41″ – impressively sized yet easy to wield and deft in battle