Bishamon Red Shirasaya Katana

This Shirasaya Katana by Bishamon has its wooden scabbard and grip finished in a vibrant dark red hue; its mounted blade is forged from sharpened and tempered 1045 high carbon steel with an etched hamon. The habaki blade collar is fashioned from brass and the blade tang is secured to the grip in the traditional manner with a mekugi bamboo pin.

Japanese blades that were not to be used for some time were often removed from their typical Koshirae mountings of tsuba and wrapped tsuka, and mounted into the featureless Shirasaya. Standard Koshirae mountings were prone to accumulate moisture over time, hence the placement of the blade into a protective wood-casing of the Shirasaya. Though Shirasaya mounting is primarily for storage, the blade is securely affixed and can still be used if necessary. Though this is ill-advised as the hand may slip onto the exposed blade during an impact.