Ketsueki means blood — and this katana wears the name without apology. The red-lacquered saya runs deep and arterial, the kind of crimson that pulls a room toward it, while the blade beneath stays cool, grey and exact. It is a study in contrast: heat on the outside, discipline in the steel.
Forging & Steel
The blade is forged from refined T10 high-carbon tool steel, then differentially hardened so the edge takes a hard, keen bevel while the spine keeps its spring. That selective quench is what raises the visible hamon — the misty temper line that wanders along the blade like a tideline frozen into the metal. After hardening, the surface is taken to a hand mirror-polish, which is what gives the hamon its depth and the steel its quiet shine. T10 is prized for exactly this: exceptional sharpness, real wear resistance, and an edge that holds through repeated cutting.
The mounts answer the blade. A finely sculpted copper tsuba carries gilded silver engraving, the white genuine shagreen tsuka is dressed with flower-shaped menuki that echo the guard, and the saya is finished in that signature red lacquer with a cotton sageo.
Specifications
| Blade steel | Refined T10 steel with hamon, hand mirror-polished |
|---|---|
| Tsuba | Finely sculpted copper with gilded silver engraving |
| Saya | Red-lacquered wood with cotton sageo |
| Tsuka | Genuine white shagreen, flower-shaped menuki in tsuba style |
Dimensions
| Total length | 103 cm |
|---|---|
| Blade length | 71 cm |
| Blade width | 3.2 cm |
| Blade thickness | 0.75 cm |
| Handle length | 26 cm |
Is it battle-ready?
Yes. The Ketsueki is a functional, full-tang, differentially hardened katana with a genuine sharpened edge — built for controlled tatami cutting as much as for the display stand. As with any cutting katana, it is sold for trained use and responsible handling.
If you are weighing T10 against folded steel, compare it with the Katana Akaryu and the deep-sea Katana Umi, or browse the full katana collection.
