Shadow Dancer Handmade Bamboo Koshirae Katana

The O-Kissaki Bamboo Koshirae Katana is a highly functional replica akin to a Japanese nihonto. It is crafted from traditional tamahagane steel, iron dust transformed into a functional weapon using a series of ancient techniques.

The blade follows the traditional and samurai-favored shinogi-zukuri blade profile, but it features an extra large tip known as o-kissaki, making it a proper battle-ready piece for rigid and hard tameshigiri cutting tests like tatami mats or even bamboo.

The blade has undergone traditional folding steps that remove impurities from the steel while achieving the right level of hardness. It has been properly clay-tempered to harden the edge while keeping the spine more flexible. This has resulted in an authentic hamon that dances through the blade’s steel which has been enhanced through traditional stone polishing known as sashikomi. It lacks a bohi, or groove, to make it more impactful when used for striking.

The two-handed handle features a traditional silk cord wrap over a rough-patterned samegawa rayskin with a normal ridge known as an emperor node, providing the user with a firm grip. This grip is further enhanced by high-quality paper wedges, invisible to the eye but palpable to the touch, that give the handle much tightness.

Its fittings are a mix of cupronickel and silver, premium materials known for their durability and ability to withstand rigid cutting tests. The fittings are decorated with bamboo motifs, symbolizing resilience and adaptability for the samurai. The sword traditionally has a single bamboo peg holding everything together, allowing for the sword to be assembled/disassembled for proper maintenance.

The scabbard, known as saya, is custom-made to fit the blade, allowing for very smooth unsheathing, especially useful for Iaido training. Its fittings are made from real quality horn, with the sageo cord also being made of silk.

Each sword is hand-forged, which means that some products can vary slightly in their specifications.