Ryujin T10 Katana - Akashiro Unokubi Zukuri Katana
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This limited release product features a differentially hardened T10 tool steel Unokubi-Zukuri (Cormorants neck) profile similar to the Japanese Naginata (polearm). Limited edition special pricing, less than two dozen swords available.
SOLD OUT
The blade is made by the same process and the same people as the classic Ryujin T10 Tool Steel blades made famous by the Ryujin Custom Katana, but instead of the standard Shinogi Zukuri style blade, this one uses a classic Cormorants' neck Unokubi Zukuiri style blade and only comes with the default iron tsuba and fittings, white rayon wrapped ito over real rayskin and a red lacquered saya with black sageo.
The main advantage to this style of blade is speed and controllability - even though the blade is longer than the standard T10 tool steel blades in the Ryujin line up, it is much lighter - weighing only 2.4lbs with a point of balance a mere 4 1/8" from the tsuba it's fast in the hand yet cuts with the best of breed. The main difference between this style of sword and your standard Shinogi Zukuri blade is the half bo-hi and reinforced kissaki tip.
Historically, Unokubi Zukuri blades were first developed for the Naginata - the long handled polearm - and soon after began to make it's first appearance as a Katana during the Kamakura period (1185–1333) under the first Shogun. While this style of blade was indeed more commonly found on Naginata and later Tanto, some Koryu (schools) specialized in its use as a Katana and many were actually cut down Naginata blades repurposed as a sword (called Naginata Naoshi or Nagamaki Naoshi).
