Shogun Tsuru (Crane) Katana, 1095 Steel, with Cleaning Kit

Shogun Tsuru (Crane) Katana, 1095 Steel, with Cleaning Kit

Master-Forged Blade from Longquan

Handcrafted in the legendary sword-making town of Longquan, this katana is a testament to a tradition spanning over 2,000 years. The 1095 steel blade is forged and tempered using a traditional clay-coating method. This process, known as differential hardening, creates two distinct zones within one blade:

• An extremely hard edge (Ha): With a hardness of 56-58 HRC, it ensures exceptional sharpness and edge retention.
• A softer, more flexible spine (Mune): With a hardness of 45-48 HRC, it can absorb impacts and prevents the blade from breaking.

The result is a clearly visible and authentic hamon (temper line), which is proof of this meticulous process. Each blade is hand-honed and must pass a test of cleanly cutting a sheet of paper before it leaves the forge.

Koshirae in the Sign of the Crane

The mountings (Koshirae) of this katana are as impressive as its blade. All fittings are made of brass and given an antiqued finish, lending them historical authenticity.

• Tsuba, Fuchi, and Kashira: The guard (tsuba), collar (fuchi), and pommel (kashira) are adorned with detailed reliefs of cranes in flight.
• Handle (Tsuka): The wooden core is covered with genuine rayskin (Samegawa) and tightly wrapped with a black cotton cord (Tsuka-ito) in the traditional style.
• Scabbard (Saya): The wooden scabbard is painted with a glossy black lacquer. It is complemented by a black Sageo cord.

Complete Collector's Set

This katana comes with all the accessories you need for its display and maintenance:

• Cotton sword bag: For safe storage.
• Deluxe Cleaning and Maintenance Kit: Presented in an elegant wooden box with the "Shogun" logo.

The cleaning kit includes:

• Bottle of oil (Choji) to protect the blade
• Cloth for applying the oil
• Rice paper (Nugui-gami) for cleaning the blade
• Uchiko powder for sword maintenance and polishing
• Mekugi-nuki Brass Hammer (To remove the mekugi pins from the tsuka to disassemble the handle)

Specifications

Please note: There may be minor deviations in design and the above specifications from item to item.

Safe Use Guidelines

Although this sword is a masterpiece, it is a fully functional, extremely sharp, and dangerous weapon. It is not a toy.

WARNING: Sharp Sword – This is not a toy!

• Always handle the sword with the utmost caution and respect. It is razor-sharp and can cause severe or fatal injury.
• Not intended for stage combat or blade-on-blade contact. The differentially hardened blade is hard but brittle, and the edge can chip or break on impact with steel.
• The sword is intended for collectors, kata (forms) practice, and test cutting (tameshigiri) on appropriate soft materials (e.g., tatami mats).
• Never cut at hard objects (wood, bone, metal).
• Keep the sword out of the reach of children and unauthorised persons. Use is strictly at your own risk.

Sword Care

The 1095 high-carbon steel blade is not stainless. To maintain its beauty and prevent rust, it requires care. Everything you need for maintenance is already included in the provided cleaning kit. After every use (even after simple handling), wipe the blade clean with rice paper, apply uchiko powder if necessary to remove old oil, and then apply a fresh coat of Choji oil. Store the sword in a dry environment.