Z-Sey's Crab Koshirae Tamahagane Katana is a unique and elaborate intricately designed piece made of high quality materials. Featuring a Shinogi Zukuri (curved blade with yokote and shinogi close to the mune) blade forged from tamahagane steel, it is differentially hardened, clay tempered, and Sashikomi Grade A++ polished to reveal an elegant suguha (straight) hamon.
In Japanese folklore, crabs are believed to embody the souls of fallen samurai and symbolize renewal, wealth, and good luck. Aptly named, this katana features koshirae with ornate crab motifs - as seen in the hand finished brass antique mokko gata (lobed shape) tsuba, fuchi, kashira, and menuki . Combined with the red copper seppa and habaki, the overall design of the sword is completed with a mekugi securing the blade to the handmade Haichi style tsuka which is covered in white large emperor node samegawa and wrapped in brown Japanese silk ito.
The blade is sheathed in an urushi saya fitted with horn koiguchi, kurugata, kojiri, and pale gold brass shitodome that prevents the brown Japanese silk sageo from fraying.
The term "Urushi saya" refers to how the handmade scabbard is lacquered with a sap from a tree closely related to the poison ivy and poison sumac plants. This sap, when used as a lacquer, cures beautifully through oxidization and polymerization to create a wonderful luster. It then hardens into a tough surface that is scratch resistant and impervious to water, acids, bases, alcohol, and minor heat.
There are more than 30 steps involved in creating an urushi saya with each step taking at least two to three days. Therefore, we do ask our clients to be patient as various elements including humidity and temperature can affect its production. However, an urushi saya is definitely worth the wait.
