Katana Sakura Veil Sanmai Blade Ōra Koshirae 花霞

Clay Tempered Full Tang Shinken (真剣) | Sakura Veil Katana: TangGu (湯谷) Sanmai Blade (三枚造) + TangGu (湯谷) Ōra Koshirae (桜螺拵)

This katana, named Sakura Veil, is mounted in Ōra Koshirae（桜螺拵）. The blade is forged in Sanmai（三枚構造）construction, with a hardened steel core between softer outer layers. It is clay tempered（覆土焼入れ / Fukutsuchi Yakiire）, producing a Notare-style hamon（のたれ刃文）along the edge. The surface shows masame-hada（柾目肌）with variations in grain. The saya（鞘）is finished in raden-style lacquer（螺鈿塗）with a black base and embedded shell fragments. The koiguchi（鞘口）, kurigata（栗形）, and kojiri（鞘尻）are reinforced with buffalo horn（牛角）. A navy blue sageo（緑色の下緒）is tied in a traditional style. The tsuka（柄）is wrapped in blue ito using hishigami（菱紙）over white samegawa（本鮫皮 / ray skin）with diamond patterns. Menuki（目貫）are placed under the wrap. The fuchi-kashira（縁頭）are white copper（白銅 / Hakudō）with blackened finish（煮黒仕上げ）and carved sakura motifs（桜）. The tsuba（鍔）is a maru-gata（丸形）guard of blackened white copper with pierced sakura design（桜透）.

TangGu (湯谷) Sanmai Blade

This blade is hand-forged (Tezukuri / 手作り) using our own refined steel in Sanmai-zukuri（三枚造）construction, with a hard edge forge-welded between two softer outer layers.

Blade Forging Details

• Blade Name: TangGu Traditionally Forged Sanmai Blade (三枚造)
• Forging Method: This blade is forged in the Sanmai-zukuri（三枚造）style, with a hard steel core forge-welded between two layers of softer outer steel. It is differentially hardened using clay tempering（覆土焼入れ）, producing a hardened edge and a softer spine. This process also creates a visible hamon（刃文）

• Materials: Steel refined in-house using traditional methods（伝統的手法による自家製鋼材）
• Purpose: Suitable for Kenjutsu and Tameshigiri (test cutting) practice, collection, and display. Unsharpened blades are available for Iaido upon request.

Blade Specifications

• Blade Length (Nagasa刃長): Approx 71 cm
• Tang Length (Nakago 茎長): Approx. 24 cm
• Width at Base (Motohaba 元幅): Approx. 32 mm
• Thickness at Base (Motokasane 元重): Approx. 6 mm
• Width at Tip (Sakihaba 先幅): Approx. 24 mm
• Thickness at Tip (Sakikasane先重): Approx. 4 mm
• Kissaki Length (Tip 切先長): Approx. 35 mm
• Mekugi-ana (Peg Hole 目釘穴): 1

Blade Characteristics

• Shape: Shinogi-zukuri (ridged blade 鎬造), Iori-mune (flat ridged spine 庵棟), Chū-kissaki (Medium-sized tip 中切先)

• Forging Pattern (Hada 鍛肌): The blade shows masame-hada（柾目肌）with long, straight grain lines. Variations in the grain include itame-hada（板目肌）and transitional textures, created through layered forging in the sanmai-zukuri（三枚構造）style.
• Temper Line (Hamon 刃文): A Notare-style hamon（のたれ刃文）runs along the cutting edge, formed through clay tempering（覆土焼入れ / Fukutsuchi Yakiire）.

Special Features and Workmanship

Hi (Groove) Engraving

• Type: Hi-Nashi (樋なし)
• Processing Range: None (No bohi) – Solid blade for added weight and strength

Polishing Work

• TangGu Polishing Levels:
  • Highest-grade shaping polish 最上・成形研磨 
  • Superior rough polish 最上・下研ぎ 
  • Detailed final polish 最上・仕上げ研ぎ 

Fittings and Mountings

Blade Fittings

• Tsuba (Handguard 鍔): Maru-gata（丸形）tsuba made of white copper（白銅 / Hakudō）with blackened finish（煮黒仕上げ / Nigurushi Shiage）. The surface is pierced（sukashi 透かし）with a sakura blossom motif（桜透）.
• Fuchi-Kashira (縁頭): White copper（白銅 / Hakudō）with blackened finish（煮黒仕上げ / Nigurushi Shiage）, engraved with sakura blossoms（桜）.
• Menuki (目貫): Flower motif（花卉図）menuki placed under the blue tsuka-ito（柄糸）.
• Habaki (鎺): Red copper（赤銅 / Akagane）habaki, polished.
• Samegawa (Ray Skin 柄鮫): Natural white samegawa（本鮫皮 / ray skin）under the tsuka-maki.
• Handle Wrapping (柄巻): Blue cotton (or rayon) tsuka-ito wrapped using hishigami（菱紙）to form diamond patterns.

Saya and Accessories

• Saya (Scabbard 鞘):Traditional-style saya (拵風鞘), reinforced with water buffalo horn at the koiguchi (mouth), kojiri (end), and kurigata (cord knob).
• Saya Lacquer (鞘塗): The saya is finished in raden-style lacquer（螺鈿塗）with a black base and embedded shell fragments.
• Sageo (Cord 下緒): Japanese-made Navy blue sageo tied in a traditional style.

Measurements

• Blade Weight: Approx. 0.65 kg
• Sword Weight (without Saya): Approx. 1.00 kg
• Total Weight: Approx. 1.25 kg
• Overall Length: Approx. 102 mm