Battle Ready

Iron Tiger Forge – Imperial Cloud Dragon Katana -1050 Differentially-Hardened Katana

5.00 · 3 reviewsQ&A · 10

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$189.99

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At a glance
Full specs →
Class
Battle Ready
Blade
1050 High Carbon Steel
Weight
2 lbs 8 oz
Culture
Japanese

Overview

Iron Tiger Forge - Imperial Cloud Dragon Katana -1050 Differentially-Hardened Katana

The Imperial Cloud Dragon Katana from Iron Tiger Forge is both an excellent entry point for the new collector of Japanese swords or a great sword for building out your collection at excellent value –  It brings high quality fittings, blade geometry and a real clay tempered blade at a great price. The tsuba and kashira hilt fittings feature in finely rendered antiqued brass a pair of coiled and intricately entwined cloud dragons – a symbol of Imperial power, wisdom and courage.

The differentially-tempered blade is forged from 1050 high carbon steel and it has been clay tempered in the traditional manner to possess a genuine hamon to give it a keen and hard edge supported by a shock absorbing blade body and spine. Its habaki and seppa are brass and the tsuba, fuchi and kashira are crafted from antiqued brass. The wooden tsuka grip is fitted with panels of black lacquered genuine rayskin and are overlaid with well-knotted artificial silk ito in a pale gold hue. The artificial silk feels much better in the hand and more authentic then the many of the “scratchy feeling” lower grade chemical fiber ito used on many budget katana

The sword is matched with a wooden saya scabbard which is coated in fine textured black lacquer. This textured black lacquer is much more resistant to scuffs and scratches then the more common high gloss lacquer used on many reproduction Katana. The saya is finished with a knotted black and white flecked sageo to match and complete the sword. A cloth sword bag for storage and transport is included.

Specifications

Every measurement that matters

Culture
Japanese
Blade
1050 High Carbon Steel
Weight
2 lbs 8 oz
Edge
Very Sharp
P.O.B.
5 5/8"
Thickness
6.9 mm - 5.2 mm
Width
32 mm
Grip Length
9 3/8" (Grip Wrap)
Class
Battle Ready

Reviews

What collectors are saying

5.0
3 verified reviews
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Showing 3 reviews
  1. Elias Katsaros
    Verified Buyer

    I just received the imperial cloud dragon Katana, beautiful and very sharp.
    Anything I received from KOA since 2021, I had excellent service and excellent quality swords, so far 16 different swords. Thank you very much KOA
    Elias

  2. Gary D.
    Verified Buyer

    Was Very pleased with this Beautiful Katana ! .. Thank you so much ! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐✌️

  3. Adalson

    I am very pleased with this katana. Everything is tightly fit together, the blade is decently sharp, and the grip is wonderful to hold. There were only two tiny blemishes on the munitions grade sword. A chip in the pommel, and a tiny scratch on the blade. Normally, I would drop the rating to 4 stars because of this. However, everything about this sword makes it feel like I got something better than what I paid for. You may not be able to see it on KOA’s images of this sword, but the saya has an elegant water droplet pattern, and an interesting Oni design on the pommel. My favorite thing about this sword is the grip. The handle has a full tang with two pins, and the wrapping doesn’t have that strange plastic-like feeling that other slightly lower end swords would have. The handle is beautiful, comfortable, and practical. Overall, I think that this sword is an amazing option for someone looking for a lower priced sword. The overall quality is excellent, and shipping was fast and convenient. The steel may not be the best steel you can get, but you can still slice things like cardboard without any chips or dents in the blade. I’ve previously had bad experiences with MiniKatana (please don’t buy from that website), so shopping with Kult of Athena has been a refreshing experience. I hope this review is helpful to those who may view it.

    Also the blade is perfectly straight.

Q&A

Questions from the community

Ask a question
Q What steel and heat treatment does the blade use? Common Question
A — KOA

1050 high carbon steel, traditionally clay-tempered with a genuine hamon (differentially hardened).

Q How does it handle and where is the point of balance? Common Question
A — KOA

Light, responsive katana with a point of balance about 5 5/8 inches from the tsuba.

Q Is the edge sharpened for cutting? Common Question
A — KOA

Yes, it comes very sharp and is classified as battle ready; always follow local laws and safe cutting practices.

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

Tsuba, fuchi, and kashira are antiqued brass; habaki and seppa are brass.

Q What is the grip construction and wrap? Common Question
A — KOA

Wooden tsuka with black lacquered genuine rayskin panels and a pale gold artificial silk ito wrap.

Q What scabbard is included? Common Question
A — KOA

A wooden saya with textured black lacquer and a black-and-white flecked sageo; a cloth sword bag is included.

Q What are the key dimensions and weight? Common Question
A — KOA

Overall length 39 7/8 in; blade length 28 7/8 in; width 32 mm; thickness tapers 6.9–5.2 mm; grip wrap length 9 3/8 in; weight 2 lb 8 oz.

Q Where is it made and by whom? Common Question
A — KOA

Made in China by Iron Tiger Forge.

Q Is it suitable for training or reenactment? Common Question
A — KOA

Suited for supervised cutting practice and collection; not intended for full-contact reenactment against hard targets.

Q How should I maintain the blade and fittings? Common Question
A — KOA

Keep the high-carbon blade lightly oiled, wipe clean after handling, and avoid moisture; periodically check and retighten the ito as needed and protect the lacquered saya from impacts.

Video

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  • Iron Tiger Imperial Dragon Cloud Katana | Kult of Athena Review

The Maker

Iron Tiger Forge

A Kult of Athena developed line, Iron Tiger Forge focuses on high quality Chinese swords and Martial Arts weapons. By working directly with the factory we are able to provide these products at unheard of prices for the level of quality and materials.

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