Kusa means grass — the quiet, living green of nature — and this katana sets that gentleness against a warrior’s steel. The result is a master-grade sword that reads as a work of art on the stand and cuts as a functional blade in the hand: Damascus folded for grain, floral fittings worked in gilt and silver, a green-lacquered scabbard like a stem in spring.
Forging & Steel
The blade is forged from folded Damascus steel, the layers drawn out until the surface shows a corrugated, wave-like figure. A corrugated hamon runs the edge — the temper line raised by differential hardening — and the whole blade is brought to a master mirror polish for clean, precise cuts and a surface that catches every change of light. It is a blade made to be looked at as closely as it is swung.
Mounting & Fittings
The tsuba is finely carved copper, gilded and silver-plated with floral motifs, set against a green-lacquered saya with black sageo. The tsuka is wrapped in genuine white shagreen with a copper menuki kit and two bamboo mekugi over a true full-tang blade, giving a firm, luxurious grip.
Specifications
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Blade steel | Damascus steel, corrugated hamon, master mirror polish |
| Tsuba | Carved, gilded and silver-plated copper with floral motifs |
| Saya | Green-lacquered wood with black sageo |
| Tsuka | Genuine white shagreen |
| Menuki | Copper menuki kit |
| Mekugi | 2 bamboo mekugi |
Dimensions
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Total length | 103 cm |
| Blade length | 72 cm |
| Handle length | 27 cm |
| Blade width | 3.2 cm |
| Blade thickness | 0.7 cm |
| Weight | 1.2 kg |
Is it battle-ready?
Yes. Kusa is a full-tang, hand-forged Damascus blade with a real differential temper — a functional piece for practice and demonstration that is also a work of art. At 1.2 kg it is light and quick, while the floral fittings make it a standout on a stand. Collectors comparing Damascus options should also look at the tachi-mounted Katana Saku and the resurrection-themed Katana Fukkatsu across our katana range.
