Z-SEY Hira Zukuri Katana (Folded Steel)

Striking yet restrained, this Z-Sey katana has a hira zukuri (flat and ridgeless) blade forged from folded steel, differentially heat treated and clay tempered to reveal the beautiful jihada and elegant suguha (straight) hamon. A bohi helps to trim off any excess weight and shifts its point of balance toward the hilt, resulting in a katana with improved agility and maneuverability. The blade is traditionally sashikomi A+ hand polished by specialists who spend extra time using each polishing stone to clarify the blade grain and temper line. 

This katana’s blackened iron maru gata (round) sukashi (openwork) tsuba is also known as a kuruma (wheel) tsuba as it is modeled after the spoked wheels of feudal ox-drawn carriages. Its circular motion symbolizes the cycle of life and continuous progress. It also represents the Buddha Siddhartha Gautama’s teachings; the Noble Eightfold Path leading to enlightenment and nirvana; as well as the samurai mindset of detachment from mortality, acceptance of death, and unshakeable mental focus. 

Blackened brass fuchi and kashira are finely carved with swirling wave patterns and raised droplets of sea spray, a reminder of power, adaptability, and relentless force. Other fittings include brass menuki, silver-toned brass seppa, and cupronickel Yasurime style habaki. 

One mekugi secures the nakago to the wooden handmade Haichi style tsuka. White samegawa with large nodes covers the handle, providing additional structural strength and friction to prevent the tightly wrapped Japanese silk tsukamaki from slipping. 

This katana comes sheathed in a dark red nashiji saya fitted with horn fittings, brass shitodome, and sageo. The term nashiji, 梨地 historically refers to "pear skin pattern", a technique that imitates the skin of the Asian pear.