Cutting SeriesBattle Ready
Dragon KingSKU SD35210

Dragon King – Autumn Leaf Katana

5.00 · 9 reviewsQ&A · 10

Usually Ships in About 2-3 Weeks

$379.99

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  • Every blade inspected before shipping
  • 30-day returns
Class
Battle Ready
Weight
2 lb 10.7 oz
Culture
Japanese

Overview

Dragon King - Autumn Leaf Katana

The Autumn Leaf Katana by Dragon King embodies the spirit of Autumn on its surface, but a closer inspection reveals a deeper layer of symbolism; the nature of duality. In Autumn months the leaves of the Ginkgo tree blaze in hues of yellow and orange and thus the tree is a popular choice for lining parks and garden pathways. The Ginkgo tree is an ancient species of tree - the oldest in the world - and its fan-like leaves are split in the middle, with one half mirroring the other. In Japanese culture this makes the leaves of the Gingko a physical representation of duality in a similar sense to the concept of Yin and Yang.

The detailed tsuba of this katana has three Gingko leaves in a circular arrangement and the menuki feature grasshoppers and crickets, the insects symbolize good fortune and their songs are heard by the Gingko tree in evening hours. The blade is crafted from 5160 high carbon steel and its thick spine, chiseled geometric profile and through-hardened tempering make it an excellent sword for cutting soft and semi-hard targets without chipping the edge.

The tsuba is blackened stainless steel and the habaki and seppa are silver. The wooden tsuka is tightly knotted with brown ito over genuine rayskin. The saya scabbard is carved to fit from wood and is finished with a textured brown lacquer finish. Its fittings are polished buffalo horn and a sageo of knotted cord completes the scabbard. A cloth sword bag is included.

Please Note: The hue of the tsukamaki grip wrap and sageo cord may vary from what is pictured.

Specifications

Every measurement that matters

Culture
Japanese
Blade Length
30 1/4''
Weight
2 lb 10.7 oz
Edge
Very Sharp
Thickness
7.6 mm - 4 mm
Width
31.8 mm
Grip Length
11 3/16''
Class
Battle Ready
Type
Katana

Reviews

What collectors are saying

5.0
9 verified reviews
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Showing 9 reviews
  1. Tim A.

    Autumn Leaf Not a bad sword for the money, customer service was excellent.

  2. Roscoe

    Well made, ito is tight. Came sharp. Weight on mine without the saya is 2 lbs 4.2 oz. Saya fit is perfect. Excellent tatami and water bottle cutter. The tsuka has a decent shape. Core perfect condition. Dragon King is a few steps above Hanwei.

  3. Caleb Bates
    Verified Buyer

    Great sword for the money, extremely sharp and solid construction. The guard looks great and the gingko leaves are very detailed as are the cricket and grasshopper on the handle. The only problem I have is that after drawing it only maybe 20 times the sheath was way too loose to hold the sword properly. Other than that this is an honestly incredible sword for the price.

  4. Gregor W K

    Dragon King is not owned or part of Paul Chen/Hanwei but was founded by Frenchi Jin and distributed by CAS Iberia. I own this katana and really love how it cuts and stays sharp. Dragon King offers quality forged steel swords with unique fittings and colors on their sayas and wraps that really look good but are still traditional. The blade is longer than most katanas at 30 1/4 inches but still feels light and easy to cut with due to the point of balance and long tsuka. This is one of the four-season themed swords from Dragon King so the colors and fittings are earth tones with the unique but very strong iron Autumn Leaf tsuba. It cuts everything I used with ease and stayed razor-sharp. CAS Iberia Hanwei MSRP is $485 so its easy to see why Kult of Athena is always the lowest price at $348.95 with good customer service that always helps me.

  5. Gregor W K

    I own this katana and really love how it cuts and stays sharp. Dragon King offers quality forged steel swords with unique fittings and colors on their sayas and wraps that really look good but are still traditional. The blade is longer than most katanas at 30 1/4 inches but still feels light and easy to cut with due to the point of balance and long tsuka. This is one of the four-season-themed swords from Dragon King so the colors and fittings are earth tones with the unique but very strong iron Autumn Leaf tsuba. It cuts everything I used with ease and stayed razor-sharp. CAS Iberia Hanwei MSRP is $485 so its easy to see why Kult of Athena is always the lowest price at $348.95

  6. Gregor W K

    Dragon King offers quality forged steel swords with unique fittings and colors on their sayas and wraps that really look good but are still traditional. The blade is longer than most katanas at 30 1/4 inches but still feels light and easy to cut with due to the point of balance and long tsuka. This is one of the four-season-themed swords from Dragon King so the colors and fittings are earth tones with the unique but very strong iron Autumn Leaf tsuba. It cuts everything I used with ease and stayed razor-sharp. CAS Iberia Hanwei MSRP is $485 so its easy to see why Kult of Athena is always the lowest price at $348.95

  7. Elana
    Verified Buyer

    recently recieved it, got out for a little test cut and i’m quite pleased! cant spring for tatami or any more substantial cutting medium but it does a fine job with water bottles right out of the box, even with what i’m sure isnt the best form. my first order from KoA and it came very well protected, shipped and delivered promptly; the sword itself is beautiful, and seems rather well constructed. precisely detailed from tip to wrap and the embellishments on the guard and handle are very charming. i can’t speak to its handling compared to other swords, similar or otherwise, but it’s in no way awkward, and the handle has good definition and grip as not to turn in the hand or slip about. the only nitpick, and it is a nitpick, is that the scabbard doesnt hold the sword particularly firmly, though its not an issue if you arent holding it upside down or jerking it upwards; there’s no rattle or anything of that sort. i would certainly buy from dragon king again.

  8. Douglas Drake
    Verified Buyer

    Sword is very solid, tight and sharp…also good looking with a nice scabbard. Very happy with it!

  9. D. Drake
    Verified Buyer

    A very nice katana for the price, solid, beautiful and sharp. I’m very happy with it.

Q&A

Questions from the community

Ask a question
Q What steel is the blade and how is it tempered? Common Question
A — KOA

5160 high carbon steel, through-hardened.

Q How does it feel in hand and where is the balance point? Common Question
A — KOA

It has a longer 30 1/4 inch blade with a point of balance about 6 inches from the guard, giving a steady cutter with good reach.

Q Is it suitable for cutting practice? Common Question
A — KOA

Yes. It is listed as battle ready with a very sharp edge and is intended for soft to semi-hard targets.

Q What are the guard and fittings made of? Common Question
A — KOA

Blackened stainless steel tsuba with silver-colored habaki and seppa; polished buffalo horn saya fittings.

Q What is the handle construction? Common Question
A — KOA

Wooden tsuka with tight brown ito over genuine rayskin and insect-themed menuki.

Q What is the scabbard finish? Common Question
A — KOA

Wood saya with textured brown lacquer and a knotted sageo.

Q Does the design have cultural symbolism? Common Question
A — KOA

Yes. The tsuba features three ginkgo leaves representing duality; menuki depict grasshoppers and crickets symbolizing good fortune.

Q Where is it made? Common Question
A — KOA

China (manufacturer: Dragon King).

Q How should I care for it? Common Question
A — KOA

Keep the blade clean and lightly oiled, avoid hard targets, and periodically check the tsuka-ito and fittings for tightness.

Q Is sharpening or color variation mentioned? Common Question
A — KOA

Comes very sharp; note that the hue of the tsukamaki and sageo may vary from photos.

Video

See it in motion

  • Autumn Leaf Katana | Kult of Athena | Review and Cut Test

The Maker

Dragon King

Based in Dalian, China, the sword master behind Dragon King has made a name for themselves among collectors. Their extremely desirable swords prioritize function while also celebrating heritage, detail and decoration.

View more by Dragon King

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