Paper Crane Wakizashi (折り鶴 脇差)
The Paper Crane Daisho 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.
- Tamahagane Steel Blade
- Superior Hamon and Polish
- Heirloom Quality
- Blade length: 18 3/4"
- Handle length: 6 1/2"
- Overall length: 26 1/2"
- Weight: 1lb 10oz
- Half price
sharpening and maintenance for life
- Free Shipping (continental US only)
- 90 day money back
guarantee
- Check price and availability
- Matching Katana
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