Praying Mantis
Katana
Retail Price $1899.00
Sale Price: $1299.00
The Praying Mantis is a symbol of
cunning and power in Japanese culture and is consequently a
highly respected theme in Samurai swords. Built on our new L6/Bainite
blade (detailed below) in the Shobu Zukuri style with Bo-Hi, and
featuring superb koshirae, the Praying Mantis is a very
desirable and functional piece. The subdued green silk ito and
deep brown of the lacquered saya provide handsome contrast to
the dark copper and golden accents of the tsuba, fuchi and
kashira. The stalking mantis lies in wait for his next prey,
mirroring the power and grace in this exceptional katana.
Bainite is a structure of high-carbon steel that combines great
strength with excellent flexibility and shock absorption
characteristics. It has been known as an exemplary Katana blade
component for a number of years but its use has been restricted
to a few top-class master smiths, due to the difficulties
involved in performing the exacting heat treatment procedures
necessary for the production of a Bainite blade body in
combination with the very hard Martensite Yakiba (edge section)
required for Katana blades.
Hanwei has now mastered this difficult process, using billets of
L-6 tool steel (a very tough high-carbon low-alloy steel) as a
starting point. Blades are forged and shaped in the normal way,
then carefully heat treated to achieve the required Bainite and
Martensite structures before final polishing.
Blade length: 29”
Handle length: 11”
Overall length: 41”
Weight: 2lb 8oz
L6/Bainite Shobu Zukuri Blade
High Quality Koshirae
Traditional Construction
