Paul Chen Paper Crane Katana - SH2294 Paul Chen's Paper Crane Daisho (SH2294-Katana / SH2328-Wakizashi) is without doubt the greatest achievement in sword making artistry yet available from Hanwei. The blade is crafted from Hanweis own Tamahagane steel (see below) while the fittings reflect the atmosphere of the Japanese theater. The Daishos name stems from the origami (the art of paper folding) cranes that decorate the striking Tsuba and Fuchi/Kashira, all of which feature highly-prized Nanako or stippled backgrounds. The Menuki feature thespian masks, a symbol shared by the Japanese theater and its western counterpart. The Saya of the katana houses a Kozuka (small knife) while that of the Wakizashi carries a Kogai (hair pick) The Kozuka and Kogai are decorated with musical instruments of the theater. The Paper Crane theme is carried to the outstanding hand woven silk Sageo, the result of many hours of skilled work on a hand loom. Tamahagane steel is made by building and firing a Tatara, the traditional Japanese sword-steel smelter. This charcoal- fired furnace produces a very pure steel from iron sand, and this steel Kera or bloom can be broken and separated into high- and low-carbon pieces, which respectively form the skin steel and core steel of the blade. The skin steel is forged and folded repeatedly, to remove slag inclusions and voids and is then wrapped around the core steel before the resulting billet is forged into a blade. Careful heat treating, shaping and polishing reveals the tight Hada or layer pattern of the blade and the white particles of the Hamon or temper line. While this process results in the aesthetic qualities much admired by collectors it also produces a very functional blade, as the high carbon content of the skin steel makes a very hard edge possible while the softer core steel gives the blade its resilience and ability to absorb shock. Key Features: Tamahagane Steel Blade Superior Hamon and Polish Heirloom Quality Specifications: Blade Length: 28" Handle Length: 10 1/4" Overall Length: 39 1/4" Weight: 2 lb 5 oz Specs will vary slightly from piece to piece. This sword comes with a cotton storage bag and a Paul Chen Hanwei Traditional Sword Mainenance Kit.
