{"product_id":"damascus-katana-rosewood-saya","title":"Damascus Katana Sword with Rosewood Saya and Brass Fittings","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is the katana shape in pattern welded Damascus, single edged and curving to the point, the layers etched so they follow that curve. It is forged by hand in High Point, North Carolina over a high carbon core. The blade is 28 inches, the piece is 40 inches overall, and the saya is oiled rosewood with brass at the mouth and tip. It goes to people who collect and display.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecification\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e28 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOverall length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e10.5 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade steel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDamascus, pattern welded over a high carbon core\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade finish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLayer pattern etched the length of the blade, following the curve\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGuard\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRound brass tsuba, pierced wave pattern\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePommel or collar\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBrass habaki at the base of the blade\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeep red cord over white rayskin, brass end cap, bamboo peg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScabbard\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOiled rosewood saya, polished brass fittings, deep red silk sageo\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEngraving\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 dollars per piece\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMade in\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eForged and finished by hand in High Point, North Carolina.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWarranty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifetime warranty against defects, free sharpening for life.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe blade\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe steel is Damascus, pattern welded over a high carbon core and then etched, which brings the light and dark layers up. On a blade of this length the pattern has room to move, and it runs the full 28 inches and follows the curve rather than sitting in straight bands. No two blades come out of the etch with the same figure. The core underneath is carbon steel, and that is the honest trade here. The blade darkens over time and it will rust if it is left wet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe fittings\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe guard is the tsuba, the disc between blade and handle, here a round one in brass with a pierced wave pattern. At the base of the blade sits a brass habaki, the collar that seats the blade in the mouth of the saya. The tang runs the length of the handle, held by a mekugi, a bamboo peg pushed through from the side. That peg is all that holds it on, so the handle can be taken off for cleaning.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe handle\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe handle is the tsuka, 10.5 inches of it. White rayskin goes on first, then deep red cord is wrapped over it and criss crossed so diamonds of the rayskin show through the wrap. The red against the white is what most buyers notice first. A brass end cap closes the butt and picks up the brass elsewhere. Every wrap is pulled by hand, so the diamonds sit differently each time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe scabbard\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe scabbard is a saya, and on the Japanese pattern it is made of wood. This one is rosewood, oiled rather than lacquered, so the grain and the red brown color of the wood stay visible. Polished brass fittings sit at the mouth and the tip, where a saya takes the most handling. A deep red silk sageo is tied at the throat, and the piece hangs by that cord on a stand. Rosewood is a natural material, so the grain and the depth of color vary from piece to piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWho it suits\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is the one people buy when they want the pattern to be what you see from across the room.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCollectors who want a pattern welded blade at full length\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuyers who prefer brass and wood over black and iron\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnyone furnishing a study or a display case\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePeople buying a milestone gift that gets handed down\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat comes in the box\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Damascus katana\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe oiled rosewood saya with brass fittings\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe deep red silk sageo cord\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA care card\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eEvery piece is different\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach blade is forged, ground, etched and finished by hand, so runs stay small and no two patterns repeat. The figure in the steel, the grain of the rosewood and the set of the cord diamonds will differ from the photographs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eLooking after it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eWipe the blade dry and never put it away wet. Damascus has carbon under the pattern, so it darkens over time and that gray patina is normal. Put a light coat of oil on before storage. Do not leave the blade inside the saya for months, since wood holds moisture. The handle comes off at the peg for cleaning under it. More in our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/knife-care-sharpening\"\u003eknife care and sharpening page\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003ePut a name on it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eLaser engraving is 20 dollars per piece, added on this page. Around 30 characters fits on a blade or along the handle. We send a proof image before the laser runs, and it adds 3 to 5 business days. Clean line art engraves cleanly, photographs do not. Free on orders of 10 pieces or more. See the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/engraving\"\u003eengraving page\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eQuestions buyers ask\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is Damascus steel?\u003c\/strong\u003e It is steel pattern welded in layers and etched, so the light and dark bands show.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is a sageo?\u003c\/strong\u003e It is the silk cord tied at the throat of the saya.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan the handle be taken off?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes, the bamboo peg pushes out and the handle slides off the tang.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill Damascus rust?\u003c\/strong\u003e It can, since the core is carbon, so dry it and oil it before storage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill my piece look exactly like the photo?\u003c\/strong\u003e No, the pattern and the grain come out differently every time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it legal to own?\u003c\/strong\u003e Sword and long blade laws vary by state, city and country, so check your local rules before ordering.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor the same length in clay tempered 1095 see the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hand-forged-katana-1095-clay-tempered\"\u003e1095 katana with a black saya\u003c\/a\u003e, and for the short blade in the same steel see the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/damascus-tanto-knife-rosewood-saya\"\u003eDamascus tanto with a rosewood saya\u003c\/a\u003e. More sits in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/damascus-swords\"\u003eDamascus swords\u003c\/a\u003e, in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/katana-swords\"\u003ekatana swords\u003c\/a\u003e, and in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/damascus-steel\"\u003eDamascus steel\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Viper Edge USA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44140304007286,"sku":"VEF-SWD-DAM-KAT-602","price":549.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/2427\/9670\/files\/damascus-katana-sword-rosewood-saya_a0f6e7dd-e8f7-4eb9-950f-36d6cc2e7bd3.jpg?v=1788792558","url":"https:\/\/viperedgeforge.com\/products\/damascus-katana-rosewood-saya","provider":"Viper Edge USA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}