Katana “Ryūrin”

Ryūrin Katana with a Clay-Tempered T10 Blade The saya is made of hardwood, finished in a deep green lacquer and decorated with fine black, red and gold speckles. Depending on the angle of the light, the pattern appears with varying intensity, giving the glossy surface a lively sense of depth. The braided sageo provides a lighter contrast to the rich colours of the saya. The tsuka continues the distinctive colour scheme of the katana. Beneath the tightly wrapped dark green Japanese silk lies genuine red-dyed rayskin, clearly visible through the diamond-shaped openings of the wrapping. Ornamental menuki add further detail, while the tsuba, fuchi and kashira are made from zinc alloy and decorated with dragon motifs. The gold-coloured habaki features a geometric mon and creates a warm transition between the blade and the fittings. The finely speckled surface of the saya is reminiscent of scales, while the dragon motif is echoed throughout the fittings. This interplay gives the katana its name: Ryūrin (竜鱗) – “Dragon Scale”. The hand-forged blade is made from T10 carbon steel and has been traditionally differentially hardened using clay. This process creates a genuine hamon that runs visibly along the cutting edge and gives the blade its distinctive appearance. The subsequent sand polish provides an even surface finish while further accentuating the temper line. With a blade length of 71 cm and a hardness of 55–58 HRC, the katana is designed for practical use. The blade is sharpened and suitable for cutting practice. A full tang secured by two mekugi provides a solid and reliable construction. The combination of T10 carbon steel, genuine clay tempering, real rayskin and Japanese silk wrapping also makes the Ryūrin technically appealing. Visually, the deep green saya with its fine black, red and gold speckling and the strong red accents give the sword a distinctive character, while the genuine hamon emphasises the traditional character of the blade. “A name reveals its nature.” (Japanese proverb) Features Hand-forged in the traditional Japanese style: Yes Suitable for technique training (Battodo): Yes Suitable for cutting practice (Tameshigiri): Yes Tsuka (handle): Hardwood wrapped in genuine rayskin Tsuba (handguard): Zinc alloy Fuchi (collar): Zinc alloy Kashira (pommel): Zinc alloy Menuki (handle ornaments): Zinc alloy Ito (handle wrap): Wrapped in Japanese silk Saya (scabbard): Hardwood, lacquered Sageo (scabbard cord): Wrapped in Japanese silk Overall length: 103 cm / 40.5 in Blade Material: T10 steel Clay-tempered (genuine hamon): Yes Battle-ready: Yes Folded steel: No Full tang: Yes (2 mekugi) Sand-polished: Yes Sharpened with Japanese water stones: No Bo-hi (blood groove): No Blade length: 71 cm / 28 in Blade thickness: 7 mm / 0.28 in Blade width: 3.2 cm / 1.26 in Hardness: 55–58 HRC