Heiwa means peace — and there is a deliberate stillness to this katana, the kind of calm that only a well-balanced blade carries when it sits in the hand. We built it for the practitioner crossing from wall-hanger to working sword, where the violet sheen along the edge isn’t decoration alone but a marker of where the temper line runs.
Specifications
| Blade steel | Refined T10 carbon steel, clay-tempered |
|---|---|
| Hamon | Visible, born in the quench |
| Bo-hi | Yes (fuller groove) |
| Blade color | Violet accents |
| Tsuba | Finely carved iron |
| Saya | Lacquered solid wood, floral clan motifs |
| Tsuka | Shagreen leather |
| Tang | Full tang |
Dimensions
| Total length | 103 cm |
|---|---|
| Blade length | 71 cm |
| Blade width | 3.2 cm |
| Blade thickness | 0.75 cm |
| Handle length | 26 cm |
Forging & Steel
The blade is forged from refined T10 carbon steel, a high-carbon tool steel prized for its edge retention and resilience. It is clay-tempered so a true hamon emerges from the quench, the soft spine and hard edge separated by that wandering misty line. A bo-hi groove runs the length of the blade, shaving weight and giving the sword that low singing draw, while violet accents lift the steel out of the ordinary. The full-tang construction means the blade runs unbroken through the handle — a genuine cutting tool, not a display imitation.
At 103 cm overall with a 71 cm blade, the Heiwa keeps the balanced reach of a classic uchigatana while the bo-hi pulls the point of balance back toward the hand. That makes it tractable for someone still learning to read a cut: forgiving on draw and return, yet decisive through a target. We sharpen and mount it as a true working sword, so the step from owning a wall-hanger to handling live steel is a real one — the violet temper line is there to be earned, not merely admired.
Fittings
A finely carved iron tsuba anchors the mounting. The lacquered solid-wood saya wears a white finish dressed in floral motifs drawn from Japanese clan heraldry, and the tsuka is wrapped in genuine shagreen leather for a sure, textured grip.
Is it battle-ready?
Yes. Sharpened, full-tang and clay-tempered, the Heiwa is built for first steps into tatami cutting and disciplined practice. If you are weighing other mid-tier options, the Katana Watatsumi and the Katana Owari sit in the same class.
