BattleBlades – Zugaikotsu Honsanmai Laminated Shinken

This Katana from BattleBlades melds a unique "Zugaikotsu" (skull) themed Katana with a premium blade forged in the traditional manner with panels of folded steel which are laminated together by a highly skilled bladesmith to create a composite blade construction. The blade of this Honsanmai katana started with several different components of 1095 steel, with each component folded - a traditional technique to remove impurities from the steel. These components were then forge-welded together to create a laminated blade which has a spine and core of softer steel melded with jacketed side panels of wear-resistant steel and a hard steel edge. Once it was forged into a complete sword blade the blade was then differentially-tempered with clay in the traditional manner to further harden the blade edge. The blade edge has a hardness of 59-60 HRc and the spine and body of the blade are 40-45 HRc.

The blade was completed with a high-level Hazuya hand-polish which carefully brings out the visible ripple-pattern Hada of the folded steel, the hamon line and the thin line that denotes where the laminated edge of the blade melds into the body of the blade. The blade has no bo-hi groove and it retains a thickened spine to ensure that it cuts and slices with maximum force. The skull shaped tsuba and skeletal fuchi and kashira components are crafted from durable antiqued metal and they are paired with a matching habaki and seppa. The wooden tsuka grip has panels of genuine rayskin which are wrapped over with knotted premium silk tsuka ito cord.

The sword is paired with a wooden saya of well-carved wood with a glossed finish; its speckled silk sageo cord completes the katana. Included is a silk sword bag.

Like the Japanese swords of many vendors - it is common for the lacquer finish on the scabbard to have some visible scuffs, scratches and other minor cosmetic blemishes visible when examined closely.