{"product_id":"wakizashi-sword-clay-tempered-brown-saya","title":"Wakizashi Sword, Hand Forged and Clay Tempered, 20 Inch Blade","description":"\u003cp\u003eDrawn and set beside its saya, the scabbard, this one looks smaller than people expect. The blade is 20 inches of 1095 high carbon, clay tempered, with a pale line above the edge where the clay stopped. The saya is wood under a matte dark brown lacquer that takes light softly. On a table the pair covers about a forearm and a little more.\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 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, clay tempered\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade finish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHand rubbed satin with a visible hamon\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTsuba\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSquare iron\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHabaki\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBrass collar\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTsuka\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDark brown cotton ito over white rayskin, bamboo mekugi peg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSaya\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWood, matte dark brown lacquer\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSageo\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlack cord\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.\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. Clay tempering means clay is laid on the blade in a pattern before it is heated and quenched, so the edge and the body cool at different rates. What that leaves is the hamon, the wavy line where the hard edge meets the softer body. The finish is hand rubbed satin, which shows the line. The curve is shallow and carries into the kissaki, the point section, where the light changes. Carbon steel darkens with age, and it spots if you put it away wet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe handle\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe tsuka, the handle, is 8 inches. Enough for one hand, and for two if your hands are not large. Dark brown cotton ito, the cord wrap, runs over white rayskin, the pebbled skin that stops the cord creeping. Through it goes the mekugi, a bamboo peg, which holds the blade in. Push it out and the tsuka lifts off for cleaning. The tsuba, the guard, is square iron, and the habaki, a brass collar, sits at the base of the blade.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe saya\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe saya is wood. Plain wood under lacquer, not leather, and anyone who knows the category checks that first. The lacquer is matte rather than gloss, so it does not carry fingerprints. A black sageo, the cord tied at the throat of the saya, comes tied on. Nothing straps the sword in. It is held by friction at the habaki, and that fit is close while the wood is still new.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWho it suits\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe short one is usually somebody's first. It asks for less shelf than the long one. This is made to be looked at, on a stand or a wall, not swung at anything.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCollectors starting short\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePeople with a shelf rather than a wall\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnyone who wants the clay line up close\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuyers who already own the long one\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat comes in the box\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe wakizashi\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe wood saya with the sageo tied on\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA care card\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo stand is included, so order one separately\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eEvery piece is different\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eClay is laid on by hand and never lands the same way twice, so the line on yours will wander where ours wandered that day. Lacquer is built up in coats that cure a little differently. Rayskin is grown, not printed, so the pebbling under the wrap varies. Yours will not match the photograph.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eLooking after it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eWipe the blade with a soft cloth after you handle it, because fingerprints hold moisture and moisture is what marks carbon steel. Put a light film of oil on afterwards. No abrasive polish, since it takes the satin off. Keep the sword out of damp rooms. If it has been stored somewhere damp, leave the blade out of the saya until the wood has dried. More on our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/knife-care-sharpening\"\u003ecare 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. It goes on the saya rather than the blade, because the blade finish is the point of the clay work. Around 30 characters fits. We send a proof image before the laser runs, and it adds 3 to 5 business days to the order. Free on orders of 10 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\u003eHow much shorter is this than a katana?\u003c\/strong\u003e Twenty inches of blade, 29 overall. A katana is longer by most of a forearm, and you feel it when you lift both.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it fit a small shelf?\u003c\/strong\u003e At 29 inches overall it sits on a bookshelf where a katana will not. Allow a little extra for a stand.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the wavy line along the edge?\u003c\/strong\u003e That is the hamon, left where the clay stopped and the steel cooled at two speeds. It records the process, nothing else.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it rust?\u003c\/strong\u003e Left wet, yes. Carbon steel darkens with age, which is normal, and spots if neglected, which is not.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it legal to own?\u003c\/strong\u003e Laws on owning and carrying a sword differ by state, city and country, so check your local rules before you buy, and we cannot advise on that.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow long does shipping take?\u003c\/strong\u003e Most US orders arrive in 5 to 7 business days.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor this length with a pattern welded blade, see the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/damascus-wakizashi-ash-saya\"\u003eDamascus wakizashi with a pale ash saya\u003c\/a\u003e. If you would rather go long, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hand-forged-katana-black-lacquer-saya\"\u003eclay tempered katana with a black lacquer saya\u003c\/a\u003e is the same idea drawn out. The rest sit in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/katana-swords\"\u003ekatana and Japanese swords\u003c\/a\u003e, the same work in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hand-forged-swords\"\u003ehand forged swords\u003c\/a\u003e, and this shape again in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/historical-blades\"\u003ehistorical blades\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Viper Edge USA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44145098358902,"sku":"VEF-WAK-HC-1604","price":319.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/2427\/9670\/files\/wakizashi-01-carbon-brown-lacquer-saya_37eee449-19bb-4035-94dd-29289d4116d9.jpg?v=1788843741","url":"https:\/\/viperedgeforge.com\/products\/wakizashi-sword-clay-tempered-brown-saya","provider":"Viper Edge USA","version":"1.0","type":"link"}