Recommended combination
Product description
The design of this exceptionally beautiful guard (tsuba) was presumably made by a great master from the 18th century. The tsuba and other decorations depict gold cherry blossoms (sakura), one of the main symbols of Japanese culture. They symbolize beauty, departure, and transience.
This katana measures 104 cm in length (without scabbard), with a grip (tsuka) of 30 cm and a blade of 73.5 cm. It weighs 1,050 g. The blade is made from Damascus steel — 1045 carbon steel folded 12 times, producing over 8,000 layers — and comes sharpened. The blade is forged in the Shinogi-Zukuri style with a fuller and a crafted blade pattern (hamon). The grip wrapping is made from brown cotton in the classic Hineri-Maki style over genuine shagreen.
A long tang (nakago) locks into the grip with two bamboo pins (mekugi). The katana also features a black high-polish lacquered scabbard (saya) in the Kuroro style, made from wood. It ships with a protective fabric cover and a striking collector's box.
John Lee's models draw inspiration from historical originals and are high-quality weapons. No plastics are used — only authentic materials like metal, brass, wood, and shagreen. Every John Lee weapon ships with a seal and a certificate of authenticity.
