Iron Tiger Forge – Sakura Doragan – 1050 Differentially-Hardened Katana

The lives of the Samurai warriors in battle are akin to cherry blossoms – blooming brilliantly and beautifully, shortly before falling to the ground. The cherry blossom has long been recognized as a poetic symbol of the samurai and in this katana those blossoms are melded with the imperial majesty, wisdom and power of the dragon for a powerful and dignifying theme. As part of the Iron Tiger Forge line, this katana brings a heightened level of fittings and craftsmanship for its price point to make it an ideal entry point for the new collector or an excellent value for the established sword collector. A genuine clay tempered blade of high quality steel is set among high quality fittings and paired with a scabbard that is a fine-crafted ensemble piece to match and not a mere afterthought of an accessory as seen elsewhere.

The forged blade is of 1050 high carbon steel which was honed to sharp cutting edge and given a weight-reducing bohi groove to ensure it is swift and responsive. The tip flares out in a thickened wedge form to structurally support the tip in the thrust and prevent it from rolling or taking excessive damage in a thrust – a feature common to historical originals but often overlooked by many budget priced katana. The polishing of the blade highlights the beautiful wave-like hamon which denotes the crystalline-hard edge steel which was flash hardened through the clay tempering process to resist dulling and wear. This hard edge is supported by a comparatively softer body and spine which give the blade a shock-absorbing resilience.

The tsuba, fuchi and kashira which altogether form the koshirae hilt fittings of the katana are finely crafted from antiqued brass with lavish detailing picked out gleaming brass. The tsuka grip is carved from wood and fitted with panels of genuine rayskin which are wrapped over with knotted tsuka-ito cord of artificial silk with quality-cast menuki carefully fitted beneath the knotted folds. The artificial silk is an excellent improvement over the scratchy and rough chemical fiber ito that most katana at a similar price point have instead, providing a more natural and comfortable handhold on the katana.

The saya scabbard is carved from polished wood and is finished with a textured satin finished black lacquer. This type of lacquered finish is much more resistant to scuff marks and scratches than the glossy black lacquer commonly seen elsewhere, making it easier to keep your katana presentable. It is finished with a black and copper-hue flecked sageo of artificial silk as a final flourish to complete with attractive and fully functional katana. Included is a cloth sword bag for storage and transport.