Classic Tiger Katana

For collectors who remember the golden age of Hanwei's early Japanese swords, the Hanwei Tiger Katana is a welcome return of a true classic. Originally introduced in the early 2000s, this celebrated design has been brought back with careful attention to the specifications and distinctive details that made the original so desirable. Combining a beautifully patterned folded steel blade with elegant tiger and bamboo motifs, the Classic Tiger Katana offers both seasoned collectors and Japanese sword enthusiasts an opportunity to own a piece of Hanwei's swordmaking legacy.

The katana has long held an important place in Japanese history, evolving over centuries into one of the most recognizable swords of the samurai. Traditional Japanese swordsmiths developed sophisticated forging and differential hardening techniques to create blades with distinctive grain patterns and visible temper lines. The Tiger Katana draws inspiration from these traditions while celebrating Hanwei's own history of producing Japanese sword reproductions. This reissue faithfully revisits the appearance and specifications of the original Tiger Katana, preserving the character of a design that helped establish Hanwei's reputation among modern sword collectors.

At the heart of the Classic Tiger Katana is a 29 3/4 inch forged and folded ASSAB K120C powder steel blade. Its layered construction produces a visible grain pattern known as hada, while differential hardening using a traditional clay application method creates a prominent hamon along the sharpened edge. A bo-hi, or groove, runs along both sides of the blade, completing its traditional appearance.

The sword's fittings are equally impressive. A blackened iron tsuba features a stalking tiger highlighted with brass inlay, creating a striking focal point for the hilt. The 13 3/4 inch tsuka is covered with genuine rayskin (same) and wrapped in Japanese cotton, providing a traditional finish. Completing the presentation is a deeply lacquered black saya decorated with delicate brass bamboo leaf inlays. With its long, gracefully curved blade, carefully reproduced fittings and unmistakable tiger motif, the Hanwei Classic Tiger Katana is a fitting tribute to one of the company's most memorable Japanese sword designs.