Hanwei Raptor Katana, Moroha Zukuri – Double-Edged Katana

This Moroha Zukuri Raptor Katana by Hanwei is an elegant piece. With a full tang blade forged from 5160 high carbon spring steel, it is ensured to be resilient, flexible, and has excellent edge retention. As its name suggests, this katana has a Kissaki Moroha Zukuri blade, a design where the tip is sharpened on both edges.

This style of blade is believed to have been invented by Amakuni, a smith who forged a Tachi blade around 800 AD. The design is seen as a link between the old Tsurugi Ken (straight swords) and the curved Tachi or Katana. With fullers that start where the edge ends and continuing all the way to the hilt, it helps to reduce the overall weight of the sword while improving its point of balance, allowing for quick attacks.

The katana is equipped with a black tsuba featuring a raptor, a theme that carries over the the fuchi and kashira. The tsuka is first covered with white same and wrapped with tsuka ito. Lastly, the katana is accompanied by a black lacquered saya with black sageo.

Note that the spine's edge is left unsharpened for the benefit of Iaido practitioners working with more conventional blade kamae (stances).