Project X Next Generation Elite Soshu Kitae Laminated Custom Wakizashi/Ko Katana (MkIV)

 Select Your Custom Design from the images above

^{(CLICK ON the THUMBNAILS FOR LARGER IMAGES)}

Whether it is to create a truly stunning matching Daisho Set or as a standalone sword - Project X is not complete without the companion sword to the Katana, the Wakizashi (or the longer handled version called a 'Ko-Katana' or 'O-Wakizashi).

CREATING DAISHO SETS

The Daisho was the Samurai's distinctive pairing of Katana and Wakizashi worn at their side and was the exclusive privilege of the warrior classes (however Wakizashi or Ko Katana by themselves could be owned by anyone). The most traditional pairing, which became law in the early Edo period, was black saya with black ito wrap and white rayskin, however by the end of the Edo period the rules had been relaxed somewhat and while the Katana usually used this color combination, the Wakizashi was often different to contrast it, though may have had the same fittings and followed a subtle personalized theme.

CLICK HERE FOR THE MATCHING PROJECT X KATANA

ABOUT PROJECT X JAPANESE

An SBG exclusive, the Project X series Custom Katana line are the pinnacle of the various custom katana projects we have been involved with since 2008. Project X blades are hands down the best quality Katana blades currently being produced in Longquan and are forged and polished by only the most senior Master level swordsmiths and swordpolishers.

ELITE CUSTOM SOSHU KITAE WAKIZASHI/KO KATANA

The blades are hand forged by Certified Master Smiths in the Soshu Kitae tradition (seven panel steel). This school was developed by the legendary and all time greatest Japanese smith Masamune, and combines panels of hard, medium, and soft steels.

TYPES OF KATANA LAMINATION

Soshu Kitae Lamination - far right. It is by far the most complex and desirable lamination technique.

The core of the blade is formed from softer, more malleable steel (1045 carbon steel) giving it the ability to withstand shocks and resist shattering. A layer of slightly harder steel (1060 carbon steel) is bonded to each side of the core to add support. The last layers are a very hard steel (1095 carbon steel) bonded to the top, bottom, and both sides of the core forming the ha (cutting edge) mune (back edge) and shinogi-ji (blade flats). This form of laminar construction provided for a sword that could be sharpened to a razor edge due to the hardened steed used for the ha, but was extremely resilient to battle damage due to its softer more flexible core.

As a by product of the process, the blade features not only a hamon, but also attractive lamination lines, resulting in a very active and attractive blade with interplay between the lamination lines and hamon. Like a fingerprint, each blade is unique and has its own distinctive patterning.

While the blades all have a standard length of 21" measured from the munemachi (the back notch of the habaki/blade collar) and can be selected either with a traditionally hand shaped bo-hi or left as a solid bodied blade depending on your individual preference. From here you can design your custom sword from the ground up using our hand picked selection of only the best, top quality, highly durable fittings to make it your own unique, personalized design.

4-6 weeks later, it all comes together and we send you the tracking info as soon as it leaves the forge via email.

MAKE IT YOUR OWN IN EIGHT EASY STEPS

To truly make this sword your own, simply select one of the selections for each custom option in the dropdown menu as follows:

STEP ONE: SELECT WAKIZASHI OR KO KATANA CONFIGURATION

Select if you would prefer the Wakizashi handle (6") for one handed use or a Ko Katana handle (11", same as a full length Katana).

STEP TWO: SELECT THE FULLER

For the strongest blade possible (power cutter) select the solid bodied blade option. For the fastest, lightest blade possible select full bo-hi. For a mix between the two, select partial bo-hi.

STEP THREE: SELECT THE HABAKI

Choose from 6 different styles of brass Habaki blade collars to begin creating your own unique style.

STEP FOUR: SELECT THE FITTING SETS

Select the Koshirae (furniture) theme that best suits your style. In the dropdown menu you need to choose if you want a to go 'freeform' (which means you don't want the pre-made themed copper fitting sets, but want to mix and match from the widest selection possible) or a set of matching 'copper set' option.

As you can see from the example below, if you want to use individual parts and build it from the ground up, select Freeform (no set) option at marked option point 1 or leave everything to the default copper set and at option point 1 enter the set you would like to use.

COPPER SET OPTIONS

Select the 'default set' option for any of the three 'freeform' options (see example above) and pick out a fully themed work hardened copper elite fittings set, complete with matching tsuba, fuchigashira and menuki all in one.

FREE FORM (MAKE YOUR OWN SET)

The first 'freeform' tsuba selections are made from solid iron. Leave field 4 without a copper set selection and pick from the components below.

There is a selection of 'Sukashi' (stencil/cut-out configuration) made from blackened, antiqued brass.

And then there are a bunch of bright brass tsuba in many different unique styles and configurations.

Then to compliment these fittings, select the Fuchigashira set - either iron or bright brass, and then pick out which menuki you wish to add to the handle (handle ornament).

STEP FIVE: SELECT ITO WRAP COLOR

Select the color of the silk ito maki wrap (now made with hishigami and FULL RAYSKIN wrap on EVERY sword).

Alternatively, you can opt for 'bad boy' black leather ito.

STEP SIX: SELECT RAYSKIN COLOR

Select the color of the rayskin under the ito maki wrap. 100% real FULL wrap rayskin is used in all cases, and can be left white or colored black or red. It is up to you.

STEP SEVEN: SELECT SAGEO COLOR

Now select your choice of hard wearing, thick sageo to go on the saya. When in doubt, go with a simple color that closely compliments the ito maki wrap you have selected.

STEP EIGHT: SELECT THE SAYA

Finally, select the saya to give it that last personal touch. From simple monocolored lacquer to highly detailed mother of pearl and rayskin wrapped - all the options are free. All saya come with a genuine buffalo horn kurikata, koiguchi and kojiri.

Then sit back and leave the rest to us!

Do not be fooled by cheap imitations, from the quality of the stunning blade to the amazing selection of fittings, this is as close as you are ever likely to get to owning your own heirloom quality personalized Wakizashi, Ko Katana or complete Daisho set.

If you have any questions or if anything is unclear, feel free to contact us and we are only to happy to help.

Functionality and Intended Use