Katana Dragon Wave Maru Blade Haryū Koshirae 龍濤

Shinken (真剣) |Dragon Wave Katana: TangGu (湯谷) Maru Blade (丸造) + TangGu (湯谷) Haryū Koshirae (波龍拵)

This katana is forged in a Maru construction with high-performance modern steel. The blade features a notare-style hamon (化粧湾刃風刃文), polished to reveal its graceful wave pattern. The tsuba is a mokkō-gata tsuba (木瓜形鍔), forged from tetsu (鉄地, iron) with a darkened patina finish, providing both balance and strength. The fuchi-kashira (縁頭) are crafted from shiragane (白銅, white copper), adorned with dragon and wave designs (波龍図). The habaki (鎺) is made from polished copper, ensuring a smooth transition between blade and fittings. The menuki (目貫), depicting dragon motifs, are forged from shiragane (白銅), finely detailed and polished. The tsuka is wrapped in brown cotton ito (茶色木綿柄糸) over natural samegawa (鮫皮, ray skin), with hishigami (菱紙) forming a precise hishi-gumi (菱組) diamond pattern. The saya is finished in glossy kuro-urushi (黒漆), enhanced with a subtle sparkling effect. The koiguchi (鞘口), kurigata (栗形), and kojiri (鐺) are reinforced with water buffalo horn (gyūkaku 牛角). A brown cotton sageo (茶色木綿下緒), tightly woven, completes the mounting.

TangGu (湯谷) Maru Blade

This blade is hand-forged (Tezukuri / 手作り) using high-performance modern steel (現代鋼), with a monosteel construction known as Maru-zukuri（丸造）.

Blade Forging Details

• Blade Name: TangGu Traditionally Forged Maru Blade (丸造)
• Forging Method: This blade is forged in the Maru-zukuri style, using a single piece of modern high-performance steel, and fully heat-treated (全体焼入れ) throughout the entire blade for uniform hardness and durability.
• Materials: Modern high-performance steel (現代鋼)
• Purpose: Designed for Iaido (non-sharpened), Kenjutsu, and Tameshigiri (test cutting) practice

Blade Specifications

• Blade Length (Nagasa刃長): Approx 73 cm
• Tang Length (Nakago 茎長): Approx. 24 cm
• Width at Base (Motohaba 元幅): Approx. 32 mm
• Thickness at Base (Motokasane 元重): Approx. 6 mm
• Width at Tip (Sakihaba 先幅): Approx. 24 mm
• Thickness at Tip (Sakikasane先重): Approx. 4 mm
• Kissaki Length (Tip 切先長): Approx. 35 mm
• Mekugi-ana (Peg Hole 目釘穴): 1

Blade Characteristics

• Shape: Shinogi-zukuri (ridged blade 鎬造), Iori-mune (flat ridged spine 庵棟), Chū-kissaki (Medium-sized tip 中切先)
• Forging Pattern (Hada 鍛肌): None (Modern monosteel; no visible hada)
• Hamono (Blade Pattern 刃文): Decorative notare-style (湾刃風) hamon (Fully quenched blade; not differentially hardened)

Special Features and Workmanship

Hi (Groove) Engraving

• Type: Marudome-Hi (丸止樋), deeply engraved.
• Processing Range: Extends to the tip, fully polished inside the groove.

Polishing Work

• TangGu Polishing Levels:
  • High-grade shaping polish 上・成形研磨
  • High-rough polish 上・下研ぎ
  • High-reflection mirror finish 上・鏡面仕上げ研磨
• Key Features:
  • Refined blade geometry and balanced weight distribution
  • Exceptional sharpness, durability, and a clean, modern mirror-polished surface

Fittings and Mountings

Blade Fittings

• Tsuba (Handguard 鍔): Mokko-gata Tsuba (木瓜形鍔) – Forged from tetsu (鉄地, iron) with a blackened surface (yaki-sabi / 煮黒).
• Fuchi-Kashira (縁頭): Made from hakudo (白銅, white copper), blackened and engraved with wave and dragon motifs.
• Menuki (目貫): Made from hakudo (白銅), blackened and engraved with sword-and-dragon motifs.
• Habaki (鎺): Shakudo (赤銅) Habaki – Forged from shakudo (赤銅), polished surface (migaki 磨き).
• Samegawa (Ray Skin 柄鮫): Natural samegawa (鮫皮), under tsuka-maki.
• Handle Wrapping (Tsuka-maki 柄巻): Brown cotton ito (茶色木綿柄糸), wrapped with hishigami (菱紙) in hishi-gumi (菱組) pattern.

Saya and Accessories

• Saya (Scabbard 鞘): Traditional-style saya (拵風鞘), reinforced with water buffalo horn (gyūkaku 牛角) at the koiguchi (鞘口), kojiri (鐺), and kurigata (栗形) for enhanced durability.
• Saya Lacquer (鞘塗): Black sparkling lacquer (黒色閃光塗) with a glossy finish.
• Sageo (Cord 下緒): Brown cotton sageo (茶色木綿下緒), tightly woven.

Measurements

• Blade Weight: Approx. 0.65 kg
• Sword Weight (without Saya): Approx. 1.0 kg
• Total Weight: Approx. 1.3 kg
• Overall Length: Approx. 102 mm