Shadow Dancer Nami Koshirae Katana (Hyoshinshi Hideyo Nyudo Replica)

Shadow Dancer's Nami Koshirae Katana is a Hyoshinshi Hideyo Nyudo replica. Active from 1818 to 1848, Hideyo was the apprentice and son-in-law of Suishinshi Masahide, one of the most famous swordsmiths at the end of the Edo period. Highly acknowledged by Suishinshi himself, Hideyo often did Daisaku, signing the name or forging a blade on behalf of his master.

True to the original, this replica has a shinogi zukuri (curved with yokote and shinogi close to the mune) blade forged from tamahagane steel. This is a traditional made from iron sands fired in a clay kiln, and then folded to further refine the steel. The blade undergoes differential heat treatment to produce a hardened edge while maintaining a softer and more flexible spine. This process also results in a beautiful suguha (relatively straight) hamon which is accentuated through Sashikomi polishing.

This blade also has a bohi that decreases the katana's overall weight for better agility and speed, improve its point of balance, and optimizing the tachikaze (the sound a katana makes when a proper strike is made).

Featuring high quality fittings, the koshirae for this katana includes an antique finished cupronickel mokko gata (lobed shape) tsuba, fuchi, and kashira with an intricate nami (waves) motif. Others include an antique finished cupronickel menuki, silver plated brass seppa, and Yuko style cupronickel habaki.

A mekugi secures the blade to the wooden Rikko (hourglass shape) style tsuka covered with white samegawa with regular nodes. The tight tsumami-maki (both strands of the cord are pinched at the crossover) uses Japanese silk tsuka ito.

Completing this beautiful masterpiece is a saya fitted with antique finished cupronickel koiguchi, kojiri, and kurigata, also with the same nami design. The high quality sageo from Japan also complements the overall nami theme.