Melaleuca Steel Katana with Gold Dragon Saya, Lion Tsuba & Red Rayskin - Real Hamon

The blade on this katana is forged from folded melaleuca steel and hand-finished to reveal a genuine hamon line along the edge - the natural result of the differential hardening process applied during production. The chrome-polished surface catches light cleanly across the flat, making the hamon's irregular boundary especially visible. At 37 inches in overall length and 6 pounds, the piece has real presence on a display stand. For collectors interested in Darkred Katana pieces with bold color contrast, this sword's gold-and-red palette sets it apart immediately.

The tsuka construction starts with red rayskin (samegawa) wrapped directly over the full-tang handle core. The genuine rayskin provides a pebbly texture underhand and anchors the gold-and-red cord wrap that runs in the traditional diamond pattern down the grip length. A sculpted gold pommel cap closes the handle, shaped into a stylized design that echoes the dragon motifs carried through the rest of the fittings.

The tsuba is the visual anchor of the entire piece. Cast in gold-toned metal, it features a lion theme executed in high relief - the lion's face, mane, and surrounding decorative scrollwork are fully three-dimensional rather than flat-etched. The guard's open structure with its curved lower sweep adds an East-meets-West silhouette that distinguishes this koshirae style from a standard round or oval katana guard.

The saya is covered in genuine red rayskin, giving the scabbard the same pebbly surface texture as the handle for a unified visual language across the entire piece. Gold-toned dragon fittings at the koiguchi (mouth) and kojiri (tip) feature scrolling cloud and dragon relief carving in fine detail. A braided gold sageo cord is tied at the saya's mid-section, and two gold silk tassels hang from it - a formal ceremonial touch that reinforces the overall imperial aesthetic. Collectors building out a Multi-colored Scabbard Katana display will find this piece's gold-over-red finish a strong visual pairing with contrasting pieces.

Packaged in a 39 x 4 x 4-inch box at a shipping weight of 7 pounds, this katana arrives ready for immediate display. Note that the wooden display stand shown in product images is not included. Overall length is 37 inches; piece weight is 6 pounds.