Crucible Handachi

The term "Handachi" means "half tachi", a transitional form between tachi and katana, appearing during the Muromachi period and popular between the late 16th to late 17th centuries. During the Edo period, it was usually part of a samurai's attire for official trips or hunts.

True to its name, Shadow Dancer's Crucible Handachi has a shinogi zukuri (curved with yokote and shinogi close to the mune) blade forged from folded crucible steel and differentially heat treated to produce a visually stunning blade that is very durable and retains its edge remarkably well. Due to the use of folded steel and heat treatment process, the blade's jihada (grain) and suguha (relatively straight) hamon are prominent, made even more visible through Sashikomi polishing.

This sword comes equipped with a simple blackened iron mokko gata (lobed shape) tsuba; brass fuchi, kashira, and menuki; along with copper seppa and habaki.

A mekugi secures the blade to the beautiful wooden Haichi style tsuka covered with genuine samegawa that has been given an aged or antique appearance. The complex tsumamimaki then uses silk tsuka ito, a technique that Shadow Dancer claims to be able to produce along with Zsey.

This captivating piece is then completed with an artificial urushi saya fitted with a silk sageo from Japan.