{"product_id":"hand-forged-katana-1095-clay-tempered","title":"Hand Forged Katana, 1095 Carbon Steel with Clay Tempered Blade and Black Saya","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe katana is the long curved blade of the Japanese pattern, single edged and curving to the point. This one is forged by hand in High Point, North Carolina from 1095 high carbon steel and clay tempered, so a soft wavy line shows along the polished edge. The blade is 28 inches, the piece is 40.5 inches overall, and the saya is black lacquered wood. People buy it to display, to collect and to hand down.\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\u003e40.5 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e11 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade steel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1095 high carbon steel, clay tempered\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade finish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePolished bright, soft wavy hamon line following the edge\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGuard\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOval iron tsuba, dark finish, pierced 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\u003eBlack cord over white rayskin, black end cap, bamboo peg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScabbard\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlack lacquered wooden saya, horn mouth piece, dark blue 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 1095 high carbon, chosen because it takes a fine polish and answers to a clay tempered heat treat. Clay is laid along the spine before the quench, so spine and edge cool at different rates. Once polished, a soft line shows where the two meet. That line is called the hamon, and it is the mark the process leaves behind, following the edge the full 28 inches. The trade with 1095 is the carbon in it, so the blade darkens with use and will rust if left wet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe fittings\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe guard is the tsuba, the disc between blade and handle, here in iron with a dark finish and a pierced 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, 11 inches of it. White rayskin goes on first, then black cord is wrapped over the top and criss crossed so diamonds of the rayskin show through the wrap. The wrap is pulled tight by hand and it gives the handle its texture. A plain black end cap closes the butt. Because the cord is worked by hand, the diamonds sit differently on every piece.\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 lacquered gloss black, with a horn mouth piece at the throat, so the wood at the opening is protected. A dark blue silk sageo is tied at the throat, and the piece hangs by that cord on a stand. The saya is fitted to this blade, so the habaki seats in the mouth. Wood moves with the seasons, so a saya that feels snug in winter may feel easier in summer.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWho it suits\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a piece people set on a stand where they can see it, and the clay tempered line is usually why they choose it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCollectors who want a hamon on a hand forged blade\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuyers building a Japanese pattern set\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 1095 clay tempered katana\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe black lacquered wooden saya\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe dark blue 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, heat treated and polished by hand, so runs stay small and nothing comes out twice the same. The hamon, the tone of the lacquer 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. Carbon steel darkens over time and that gray patina is normal, since it protects the steel. 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 here 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 a hamon?\u003c\/strong\u003e It is the line that shows along the edge of a polished blade after a clay tempered quench.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is a saya?\u003c\/strong\u003e The saya is the scabbard, made of wood on this pattern.\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 1095 rust?\u003c\/strong\u003e It can, so dry it after handling and oil it lightly before storage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill my piece look exactly like the photo?\u003c\/strong\u003e No, the hamon and the cord wrap 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 shorter companion in the same steel, see the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/wakizashi-sword-1095-carbon-steel\"\u003e1095 wakizashi\u003c\/a\u003e, and in a pattern welded blade there is the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/damascus-katana-rosewood-saya\"\u003eDamascus katana with a rosewood saya\u003c\/a\u003e. More sits in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/katana-swords\"\u003ekatana swords\u003c\/a\u003e, in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/high-carbon-1095\"\u003ehigh carbon 1095\u003c\/a\u003e, and in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hand-forged-swords\"\u003ehand forged swords\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Viper Edge USA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44140303974518,"sku":"VEF-SWD-1095-KAT-601","price":399.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/2427\/9670\/files\/hand-forged-katana-1095-clay-tempered-black-saya_32234a24-922b-4ad5-99d8-b6e16198115e.jpg?v=1788792558","url":"https:\/\/viperedgeforge.com\/products\/hand-forged-katana-1095-clay-tempered","provider":"Viper Edge USA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}