Shadow Moon Katana - 影月刀

Hand-forged Shadow Moon Katana in Damascus steel with a hammered spine finish and hand-polished blade face. Full tang, sharpened. Copper tsuba with openwork floral-dragon relief, copper habaki with crackle pattern, black-and-white cotton ito over genuine rayskin, black lacquered saya with full-length dragon engraving in relief, black-gold sageo, bronze koiguchi and kojiri. Includes red lacquered display stand. White Damascus blade, hammered spine, dragon saya — moonlight and shadow on one sword.

Shadow Moon Katana Specifications

White Damascus with Hammered Spine

The blade face is hand-polished Damascus steel — silver-white with the flowing wave grain visible across the surface. The spine is different: it carries a tsuchime (槌目 — "hammer eye") hammered finish, leaving the forging marks intentionally visible as a textured ridge along the blade's back. Polished face, raw spine — two finishes on one blade. The polished side shows the Damascus grain at its most refined; the hammered side shows the steel as the forge left it. The Shadow Moon katana is the only blade in our catalog with a tsuchime hammered spine finish.

Dragon-Engraved Saya

The saya is black lacquered solid wood with a full-length dragon carved in relief — scales, claws, whiskers, and clouds wrapping around the entire scabbard from koiguchi to kojiri. The dragon is dimensional: you can feel the scales under your fingers. Cloud motifs fill the negative space around the creature, completing the mythological scene. When sheathed, the Shadow Moon katana presents its dragon saya; when drawn, it reveals the white Damascus blade — darkness holding moonlight inside it.

Copper Tsuba & Fittings

The copper tsuba features openwork with floral and dragon relief — organic flowing cutouts creating visual depth while reducing guard weight. The warm bronze tone of the copper bridges the white blade and black saya, providing the transitional metal accent. The copper habaki carries the openwork crackle pattern found across our Damascus premium lineup. Bronze koiguchi and kojiri on the saya maintain the warm-metal register from guard through forged scabbard tip.

Black-White Handle — Genuine Rayskin

Black-and-white cotton ito wraps over genuine white rayskin (samegawa) — the monochrome wrapping matching the blade's light-dark duality. The white cord sections echo the Damascus blade's silver tone; the black sections echo the dragon saya's darkness. The blade commits to its celestial theme at every component: moonlight (white Damascus), shadow (black dragon saya), the threshold between them (bronze fittings).

Shadow Moon — Celestial Duality

The name captures the blade's concept: the moon visible only because shadow defines its edges, light meaningful only against darkness. Draw the Shadow Moon katana and white Damascus emerges from black dragon saya — moonrise from the night sky. Sheathe it and the moonlight disappears back into shadow. The red lacquered stand adds the third element: the warm earth beneath the celestial display.

Display

Ships with a red lacquered display stand with engraved motifs — the only red stand in our catalog, providing visual warmth beneath the silver-black sword. The Shadow Moon pairs with the Shirokuro Katana (monochrome duality — different approach) or the Ginkai (dragon engraving on blade instead of saya — different dragon technique). The dragon saya ensures this blade commands attention even when sheathed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hammered spine?

The blade spine carries a tsuchime (槌目) hammered finish — intentional forging marks left visible as textured surface. The blade face is polished smooth; the spine is raw. This dual-finish technique is unique to the Shadow Moon in our catalog.

Is the dragon on the saya engraved or painted?

Carved in relief — the dragon is dimensional, with scales, claws, and cloud motifs projecting from the lacquer surface. It wraps the full length of the scabbard.

Is this Shadow Moon katana sharp?

Yes. The Damascus steel blade is hand-sharpened and functional. Handle with care, store in the saya, and check local regulations before ordering.

Is the rayskin genuine?

Yes. Genuine white rayskin (samegawa) beneath the black-and-white cotton ito. The nodular texture is natural, not synthetic.

Why is the stand red?

The red lacquered stand is unique to the Shadow Moon in our catalog. Red represents the earth element beneath the celestial silver-and-black sword, and provides warm visual contrast against the monochrome blade.