Paper Crane Katana (折り鶴刀)

The Paper Crane Daisho (Katana and Wakizashi) is without
doubt the greatest achievement in sword making artistry yet
available from Hanwei. The blade is crafted from Hanwei's own
Tamahagane steel (see below) while the fittings reflect the
atmosphere of the Japanese theater. The Daisho's name stems from
the origami (the art of paper folding) cranes that decorate the
striking Tsuba and Fuchi/Kashira, all of which feature
highly-prized "Nanako" or stippled backgrounds. The Menuki
feature thespian masks, a symbol shared by the Japanese theater
and its western counterpart. The Saya of the katana houses a
Kozuka (small knife) while that of the Wakizashi carries a Kogai
(hair pick) The Kozuka and Kogai are decorated with musical
instruments of the theater. The Paper Crane theme is carried to
the outstanding hand woven silk Sageo, the result of many hours
of skilled work on a hand loom.
Tamahagane steel is made by building and firing a Tatara, the traditional
Japanese sword-steel smelter. This charcoal- fired furnace produces a very pure
steel from iron sand, and this steel "Kera" or bloom can be broken and separated
into high- and low-carbon pieces, which respectively form the "skin" steel and
"core" steel of the blade. The skin steel is forged and folded repeatedly, to
remove slag inclusions and voids and is then wrapped around the core steel
before the resulting billet is forged into a blade. Careful heat treating,
shaping and polishing reveals the tight "Hada" or layer pattern of the blade and
the white particles of the "Hamon" or temper line. While this process results in
the aesthetic qualities much admired by collectors it also produces a very
functional blade, as the high carbon content of the skin steel makes a very hard
edge possible while the softer core steel gives the blade its resilience and
ability to absorb shock.
- Made by Hanwei
- Fully functional live blade Shinken Katana "real sword"
- Tamahagane Steel Blade
- Superior Hamon and Polish
- Heirloom Quality
- This katana is hand made and each is unique - size and weight will vary
- Blade length: 28"
- Handle length: 10 1/4"
- Overall length: 39 1/4"
- Weight: 2lb 5oz
- Half price sharpening and maintenance for life
- Free Shipping (continental US only)
- 90 day money back guarantee (see details)
- Check price and availability
- Matching Wakizashi
- See detailed size and weight for all shinken
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