Shinku Raijin Katana - の太刀

Hand-forged Shinku Raijin Katana in T8 steel with authentic gunome hamon — clay-tempered zigzag temper line. Chu-kissaki. Full tang, sharpened. Dual-tone copper tsuba with sakura and seigaiha relief and brass rim, brass habaki with seigaiha wave-scale engraving, black cotton ito over red genuine rayskin, glossy black lacquered saya with genuine horn koiguchi, thick black sageo with brown accents. Includes ornate display stand.

Shinku Raijin Katana Specifications

T8 Blade — Authentic Gunome Hamon

T8 tool steel is a tungsten-content carbon steel in the same family as T10 but with different carbon ratios, reaching comparable hardness at 58–62 HRC. The authentic gunome hamon is the blade's signature: a clay-tempered zigzag temper line where the peaks form repeating rounded hills rather than the irregular waves found on standard midare hamon. Gunome is one of the most recognizable classical hamon patterns — its regularity signals deliberate control of the clay application during quenching. The Shinku Raijin Katana is the only T8 blade and the only gunome hamon in our catalog.

Sakura-Seigaiha Tsuba — Dual Motif

The tsuba is dual-tone copper: a polished brass outer rim framing an antiqued bronze disc carved with two distinct Japanese motifs. Cherry blossoms (sakura) occupy one half — individual petals rendered in high relief. Seigaiha wave scales (青海波) cover the other — the repeating concentric-arc pattern representing infinite ocean. The Shinku Raijin Katana is the only blade in our catalog where the tsuba combines two separate traditional patterns on a single guard. The habaki beneath continues the seigaiha motif in engraved brass, extending the wave pattern from guard into blade collar.

Red Rayskin — Crimson Thunder

Red genuine rayskin sits beneath the black cotton ito — the crimson diamonds visible at each window. 深紅 (shinku) means "deep crimson," and the red same is the physical embodiment of the name. In traditional depictions, Raijin the thunder god is painted with red skin — the color of divine fury, storm energy, electrical charge. The red rayskin diamonds are fragments of that mythology placed directly in the wielder's grip. Genuine same — not synthetic — confirmed by the nodular texture visible at each diamond window.

Black Saya — Horn Koiguchi

Glossy black lacquer — undecorated, reflective, zero pattern. A genuine horn koiguchi provides the transition point between wood and blade: polished natural horn, harder than wood, moisture-resistant, traditionally reserved for premium koshirae. The Shinku Raijin Katana shares the horn koiguchi with the Shizukesa — two high-end blades using this traditional component while the rest of the catalog uses lacquered wood.

Raijin — Thunder God

雷神 (Raijin) is the Japanese god of thunder and lightning — depicted with red skin, surrounded by taiko drums that generate thunder when struck. The Shinku Raijin Katana channels the deity through restraint: all-black exterior hiding crimson rayskin and golden fittings, divine power concealed until the blade is drawn. The gunome hamon's zigzag peaks echo the jagged path of lightning through clouds.

Display

Ships with an ornate dragon-peony stand in black-gold. The glossy saya reflects the stand's metalwork. Position lighting to illuminate the tsuba's sakura-seigaiha carving and catch the red rayskin diamonds through the ito wrapping. Pair with the Akanokiba (Damascus, red rayskin, predator theme) for a red-same duo, or beside the Shizukesa (cream saya, horn koiguchi, T10) for a premium-materials comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is gunome hamon?

A specific clay-tempered hamon pattern where the temper line forms repeating rounded zigzag peaks — more regular than standard midare (irregular wave). Gunome signals precise control of the clay application during the quenching process.

What is T8 steel?

A tungsten-content tool steel in the same family as T10. T8 has slightly different carbon ratios but reaches comparable hardness at 58–62 HRC. This is the only T8 blade in our catalog.

Is the rayskin genuine?

Yes. Red genuine rayskin with visible nodular texture at each diamond window. Dyed crimson — one of two red-rayskin blades in our catalog alongside the Akanokiba.

What is the horn koiguchi?

The scabbard mouth is genuine animal horn — polished, shaped, naturally moisture-resistant. A traditional high-end component found on premium Japanese swords.

Why is the saya completely black?

The undecorated black saya keeps the visual focus on the tsuba, hamon, and red rayskin. The restraint reinforces the Raijin concept: power hidden in darkness, revealed only when the blade is drawn.