Citadel – Lotus Wakizashi

The Lotus Wakizashi is a premium production Wakizashi with a limited edition run of 20 swords. It has a blade forged from DNH7 high carbon steel which has been differentially tempered to create a hardened edge with a visible hamon and a softer, shock-absorbing body and spine. DNH7 has performance properties similar to 1075 high carbon steel and when well-tempered creates a durable blade that will hold a keen edge. A cross section of the blade shows more complex geometry than seen on more common katana: The thickest part of the blade is along the shinogi blade ridge and not at the base of the mune spine. This more complex design consideration allows for the spine to be tapered, thus lessening the overall weight of the blade and giving it a cross-section similar to lopsided diamond instead of a wedge.

Notable attention to detail was paid to the fittings of this Wakizashi; the tsuba, fuchi and kashira hilt fittings are of pure iron which has been polished to a reflective sheen – The tsuba is hand cut and chiseled and the other fittings are likewise handcrafted to fit. The seppa are brass and are edged in filework whilst the habaki is patinated copper. The habaki has been individually filed and shaped to closely fit the sword and to follow its complex geometry precisely. It also has a length of bronze brazed along its cutting edge to strengthen the copper fitting at this important junction.

The wooden tsuka grip has a full-wrap samegawa rayskin which binds and strengthens the wooden grip – a benefit that is largely lost when one only uses strips of leftover rayskin to fit into the visible section of a grip. The rayskin prominently features a raised emperor node and this is the mark of a high quality rayskin wrap as there is only one such node on a skin. The tsuka was wrapped with imported Japanese silk ito and is tightly knotted and has the proper hishigami folded paper inserts beneath the folds to ensure a proper, traditional shape. Like many traditional Japanese swords, it has a single peg and does not require two because the tsuka was well-channeled to fit the nakago tang with a friction fit. An additional, spare tapered bamboo peg is included.

The saya scabbard is carved to fit from wood and finished with a semi-gloss black lacquer. The koiguchi, kurikata and kojiri are polished buffalo horn and extra attention was paid to carving the mouth of the scabbard to give it a good fit with the habaki – according to Citadel its craftsmen spend eight hours fitting and shaping this critical piece of the saya. A length of quality sageo cord is included.

Included with the sword is a cloth sword bag, as well as a well-padded storage and transportation sword bag with a tough nylon exterior and side storage pocket. A small cloth bag in the side pocket holds a stamped production certificate from the forge which certifies the manufacture date of the sword – It can be found in the side pocket of the bag along with its other accessories. Though a high quality sword on its own, this Wakizashi makes a fine companion to the Citadel Lotus Katana for a matched Daisho.