{"product_id":"wakizashi-sword-1095-carbon-steel","title":"Wakizashi Sword, Hand Forged 1095 Carbon Steel with Black Saya","description":"\u003cp\u003eA wakizashi is the shorter companion blade of the Japanese pattern, the same shape as the katana in a length that suits a small space. This one carries a 20 inch blade in 1095 high carbon steel, clay tempered, and runs 29.5 inches overall, with a black cord wrapped handle and a black lacquered wooden saya. It is forged and finished by hand in High Point, North Carolina, and it sells as a first Japanese piece or a gift.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecification\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOverall length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e29.5 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8 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, 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, 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. It takes a fine polish and answers to a clay tempered heat treat. Clay is laid along the spine before the quench so the spine and the edge cool at different rates. Once the blade is polished, a soft wavy line shows where they meet, and that line is the hamon, the mark the process leaves. The blade is single edged, with the gentle curve of this pattern. The honest trade is carbon steel, which darkens with use and rusts if left wet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe fittings\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe guard is the tsuba, the oval disc between blade and handle, iron, dark finished, with a pierced pattern. At the base sits the habaki, a brass collar that wedges into the mouth of the scabbard and keeps the blade seated. The tang runs the full length of the handle, held by a mekugi, a bamboo peg pushed through the side. Tap it out and the handle lifts off for cleaning.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe handle\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe handle is the tsuka, 8 inches, long enough for two hands. White rayskin goes on first and black cord runs over it, crossed one turn against the next so small diamonds of rayskin show through. The wrap is pulled tight by hand, so the spacing shifts piece to piece. A black end cap closes the butt.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe scabbard\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe scabbard is the saya, and it is wood, as this pattern asks for. The outside is lacquered black, and a horn piece at the mouth keeps the opening from wearing as the blade goes in and out. The habaki wedges into that mouth and holds the blade. A dark blue silk sageo is tied at the throat. Do not store the blade shut in the saya for months, since wood holds moisture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWho it suits\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is the piece people choose when a full katana is more length than the room allows.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuyers wanting a first Japanese pattern blade\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCollectors adding the shorter companion to a katana\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGift buyers after something that gets kept\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat comes in the box\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe 1095 wakizashi\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe lacquered saya and sageo cord\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA care card\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA free engraving quote\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eEvery piece is different\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery blade is forged, ground and finished by hand, so runs stay small and no two are alike. The hamon, the polish and the spacing of the wrap all vary from the photographs.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eLooking after it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eWipe the blade dry after handling and never put it away wet. The gray patina carbon steel takes on is normal and protects it. Oil it lightly before storage, and do not leave it shut in the saya. The handle comes off at the peg for cleaning. 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 the blade or handle, and clean line art engraves better than a photograph. A proof image goes out before the laser runs, and it adds 3 to 5 business days. 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 wakizashi?\u003c\/strong\u003e The shorter companion blade of the Japanese pattern, the same shape as a katana.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is a hamon?\u003c\/strong\u003e The wavy line a clay tempered quench leaves along the edge, seen once the blade is polished.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan the handle be taken off?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. A bamboo peg holds the tang, so tapping it out frees it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill this steel rust?\u003c\/strong\u003e It can. Dry it after handling and oil it before storage.\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\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow should I display it?\u003c\/strong\u003e On a stand or a wall mount, away from damp and direct heat.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor the longer piece beside it, see our \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hand-forged-katana-1095-clay-tempered\"\u003ehand forged 1095 katana\u003c\/a\u003e, and for a short blade in pattern welded steel the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/damascus-tanto-knife-rosewood-saya\"\u003eDamascus tanto\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":44140305711222,"sku":"VEF-SWD-1095-WAK-603","price":289.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/2427\/9670\/files\/wakizashi-sword-1095-carbon-steel-black-saya_e06d9855-37ea-4dd6-a706-7d419dbb82af.jpg?v=1788792558","url":"https:\/\/viperedgeforge.com\/products\/wakizashi-sword-1095-carbon-steel","provider":"Viper Edge USA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}