Orochi (大蛇) is the great serpent — Yamata no Orochi, the eight-headed dragon-snake of Japanese myth, slain to yield a legendary blade. This katana borrows that fire literally: a flaming hamon writhes along the edge like the serpent’s own coils, set over a mirror-bright blade and crafted in respect of the old master swordsmiths.
Specifications
| Blade steel | T10 steel, clay-tempered with flaming hamon, mirror-polished, flame-shaped tang |
|---|---|
| Tsuba | Pure copper with sculpted gold |
| Saya | Ebony wood with bull-horn kurigata |
| Tsuka | Genuine shagreen leather |
| Menuki | Gold-plated copper menuki set |
| Mekugi | 2 bamboo |
Dimensions
| Total length | 103 cm |
|---|---|
| Blade length | 72 cm |
| Blade width | 3.2 cm |
| Blade thickness | 0.7 cm |
| Handle length | 25 cm |
| Weight | 1.4 kg |
Forging & Steel
The blade is high-carbon T10 tool steel, clay-tempered so the selective hardening produces a dramatic flaming hamon, then taken to a mirror polish. T10 is hard and tungsten-bearing, prized for edge retention; the flame-shaped temper line is the visible mark of differential hardening and cutting precision, the harder edge set against a more forgiving spine. The tang is cut in a flame-shaped form true to the theme, and the polish lifts the whole effect into clear relief. This is a sword forged in the spirit of the masters who came before.
Fittings
A carved pure-copper tsuba sculpted with gold guards the hand, matched by gold-plated copper menuki. The saya is ebony with a bull-horn kurigata, and the tsuka is bound over genuine shagreen leather. Two bamboo mekugi allow traditional disassembly and maintenance.
Is it battle-ready?
Yes. The clay-tempered T10 blade is sharpened and fully functional, built for the serious collector or practitioner who wants a master cutter as well as a showpiece. At 1.4 kg it has the heft to drive through a target while the mirror finish rewards careful, regular maintenance. Browse the full katana collection, or compare with the master-grade Katana Shujin and Katana Ryujin.
