Dragon King – Pine Crane Katana

Please Note: The sageo cord is now solid black. Photos will be updated when available

Regal and endowed with the wisdom of a millennia are both the Crane and Pine in Japan and thus they have both been artfully melded into the symbology of this Katana. The Red Crown Crane holds a magnanimous perch in Japanese culture. Traditionally believed to live a thousand years the Crane stands well above the other birds in both stature and reverence and thus it is a symbol for wizened authority; One word from the Crane is a Japanese idiom for a final judgement on a matter that is not to be challenged. The Crane mates for life and is thus a strong symbol of honor and loyalty.

In Shinto the Pine Tree is often planted near the front gates to a shrine or temple, for it is believed that the Pines can invite the spirits of heavenly-descended gods to dwell within them. For this the Pines are thought be imbued with longevity, power and ancient wisdom. Crane and Pine stylistically entwined; this Katana has rooted to Japanese cultural symbolism for duty, honorable authority and heavenly wisdom. All matters of great spiritual import to the soul of the Samurai.

The blade of the Pine Crane Katana is forged from T10 high carbon steel and its flowing hamon was imbued into the steel when it was differentially-tempered in the traditional manner. A long-bladed Katana, its gracefully tapered profile makes it surprisingly light in the hand and a fast-striking sword.

The intricately detailed tsuba, fuchi and kashira fittings are crafted from bronzed fittings and the habaki and seppa mountings are silvered. The crown of the Crane on the tsuba is picked out in brass. Black tsuka ito cord is tightly wrapped over a wooden tsuka with fitted and inlaid panels of genuine rayskin. Silvered crane menuki were wrapped within the folds of the ito to complete the sword.

The saya scabbard is crafted to fit the blade from wood and is coated with a textured dark brown lacquer which is complemented with striped lacquer bands at the mouth of the scabbard. Its fittings are polished buffalo horn and the sageo is a charcoal tone with copper accents. A cloth sword bag is included.

A matched Wakizashi to make this Katana part of a daisho pair is available separately and is linked with a thumbnail on this page.