Katana Soaring Tide Maru Blade Tsurushio Koshirae 翔潮

Shinken (真剣) | Soaring Tide Katana: TangGu (湯谷) Maru Blade (丸造) + TangGu (湯谷) Tsurushio Koshirae (鶴潮拵)

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 flowing wave pattern. The tsuba is a sukashi tsuba (透鍔) in crane motif (鶴図), forged from tetsu (鉄地, iron) with a darkened patina finish. Its openwork design (sukashi 透かし) balances lightness with strength. The fuchi-kashira (縁頭) are crafted from shiragane (白銅, white copper), decorated with wave designs (nami 波). The habaki (鎺) is made from polished copper, ensuring a smooth transition between blade and fittings. The menuki (目貫) are forged from shiragane (白銅), polished to accent the handle. The tsuka is wrapped in black cotton ito (黒色木綿柄糸) over natural samegawa (鮫皮, ray skin), with hishigami (菱紙) forming a traditional hishi-gumi (菱組) diamond pattern. The saya is finished in kuro-ishime urushi (黒石目塗), featuring a matte, stone-textured surface. The koiguchi (鞘口), kurigata (栗形), and kojiri (鐺) are reinforced with water buffalo horn (gyūkaku 牛角). A black cotton sageo (黒色木綿下緒), 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): Maru-gata Tsuba (丸形鍔) – Forged from tetsu (鉄地, iron) with an openwork crane motif (透かし鶴).
• Fuchi-Kashira (縁頭): Made from hakudo (白銅, white copper), blackened (煮黒) and engraved with wave motifs (波紋).
• Menuki (目貫): Made from hakudo (白銅), blackened (煮黒) and shaped in a wave design (波模様).
• 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): Black cotton ito (黒色木綿柄糸), 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): Kuro-ishime urushi (黒石目塗), featuring a matte, stone-textured finish.
• Sageo (Cord 下緒): Black cotton sageo (黒色木綿下緒), tightly woven for a secure and balanced appearance.

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