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katanas with clay-tempered blades - ironpoet

Clay Tempered Katana

Heritage. Skill. Beauty.

Clay-tempered katanas are forged using a traditional Japanese heat treatment technique that sets them apart from modern blades.

Unlike standard quenching, this method involves applying a special clay mixture to the blade before it is hardened. The result is a single blade with two different hardness zones — a razor-sharp edge for cutting, and a softer spine for flexibility and shock absorption.

During this process, a natural hamon (temper line) appears along the blade — a soul of Japanese sword craftsmanship, and a symbol of both function and beauty.

Each sword in this collection is not only a tool but also a living reflection of history, discipline, and artistry.

52 products

Celestial Japanese Samurai katana sword featuring a fairy goddess design on the scabbard.Close up of the Celestial samurai sword blade and guard featuring intricate gold accents
Sale price$549.00
Panoramic view of the Ssangyong katana, crafted from Damascus steel.Close-up view of the Ssangyong katana's tsuba, intricately engraved with twin loongs.
Sale priceFrom $609.00
Moonlit Sakura samurai sword full koshirae on display, showcasing the intricately designed saya with sakura under moonlight.Moonlit Sakura samurai sword tsuba with sakural design and gold and silver embellishments.
Sale price$649.00
Panoramic view of the Loong Clow katana, showcasing the entire sword with its detailed blade, handle, and scabbard.Close-up view of the Loong Clow katana's tsuba featuring a detailed loong head design.
Sale price$649.00
Orochi katana full view, showcasing detailed craftsmanship and elegant design.Close-up of Orochi katana's handle showing the orochi-etched tsuba and intricate grip details.
Sale priceFrom $649.00
Full display of the Lotus katana featuring a Damascus steel blade and k
oshirae.Close-up of the Lotus katana's tsuba designed as a lotus leaf with a toad.
Sale price$699.00
Full display of the Dragon Warrior Katana's Damascus steel blade and koshirae.Intricately carved circular tsuba on the Loong War katana depicting an ancient mythological battle with a loong.
Sale price$749.00
Meditation katana displayed with a full blade detailed tsuba and visible tsuka.Close-up of a round tsuba on a Meditation katana featuring gold details and intricate design.
Sale price$799.00
Save $300.00Prajna notare (湾れ) nashiji-hada (梨子地肌) katana bladeNakago of the Prajna katana
Sale price$899.00 Regular price$1,199.00
Sold outKashin katana displayed with traditional steel blade and koshirae.A Kashin katana's kobuse forged blade with a polished hamon.
Sale price$899.00
Full display of Kuro ShiShi katana featuring a clay-tempered blade and black koshirae.Close-up view of the habaki on a Kuro ShiShi katana which secures the blade firmly into the saya.
Sale price$899.00
Sakura Ryu damascus steel katana featuring a striking red scabbard (saya) and full koshirae.Close-up of sakura ryu katana tsuba featuring intricate sakura and ryu carvings in a circular design.
Sale price$999.00
Samurai sword featuring a curved blade and detailed koshirae with bamboo and serpent motifs.Close-up of a samurai sword guard (tsuba) featuring a serpent design, emphasizing the intricate craftsmanship.
Sale price$999.00
Phoenix samurai sword displaying a clay-tempered smooth blade and a beautifully decorated sword mountings.Close-up view of the fuchi and habaki on a Phoenix samurai sword.
Sale price$999.00
Full display of the Mountain Lord katana featuring a Damascus steel blade and tiger fittings.Close-up of the Mountain Lord katana's tsuba featuring an intricate tiger carving, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship.
Sale price$1,088.00
Traditional Daisy carbon steel katana for martial arts and display.kōbuse-gitae carbon steel blade daisy katana with hamon pattern.
Sale price$1,199.00
Fire Kirin katana with a red handle and black sheath.Decorative metal tsuba with a Fire Kirin motif.
Sale price$1,199.00
Full view of a Wild Horse katana and sword mountings.Close-up of a Wild Horse katana tsuba, showcasing detailed carvings and a unique design.
Sale price$1,199.00
Save $200.00Guardian katana with refined steel and clay tempered blade.Gunome hamon blade of the Guardian katana.
Sale price$1,299.00 Regular price$1,499.00
Immortal Crane katana forged from damascus steel with a kobuse construction.Close-up detail of the Damascus blade on the Immortal Crane katana, featuring exquisite patterns.
Sale price$1,399.00
Exorcism triple-layered T10 steel katana with ray skin sayaClose-up side view of the intricately designed tsuba on an Exorcism katana.
Sale price$1,399.00

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Having a real katana is something truly exhilarating

The katana is the most iconic, influential, and popular type of Japanese sword (nihoton) in modern times, among all traditional Japanese blades.

Historically, the katana could only be worn by samurai and feudal lords. Beyond its role as a weapon, a masterfully crafted katana served as a symbol of its bearer’s identity, honor, and status.

Explore our samurai sword series and add a genuine handcrafted katana to your collection. From traditional styles that honor centuries of craftsmanship to modern designs infused with innovation, our swords are built for both function and beauty. Make your choice, express your unique spirit and get ready to train like a rōnin.

Components of a Katana

Our katana swords consist of two main parts: the blade (katana-to) and the mountings (koshirae).

Katana blade. All of our katanas are full-tang. The blade of a katana refers strictly to the sharpened edge and the tang (nakago) hidden within the handle, excluding all other fittings.

Koshirae. The koshirae is the complete set of fittings for a Japanese sword, including the saya (scabbard), tsuba (guard), tsuka (handle), sageo (cord), fuchi (collar), kashira (pommel), and more. A single blade can be paired with different koshirae, or even customized. We offer hundreds of swords already matched with koshirae, available in a wide variety of styles — from simple and refined, to ornate, traditional, or modern designs.

Katana mountings (koshirae)

This is an introduction to the main parts of the katana, click to learn more about the detailed introduction of guide to katana terms and meanings.

Tsuka

The handle of the katana, where the sword is gripped.

Tsuka-maki

The decorative cord wrapping on the handle, providing grip and style.

Tsuba

The guard between the blade and handle, protecting the hand.

Blade

The blade part of the katana is partially deeply embedded in the handle.

Hamon

The pattern on the blade, created during the tempering process.

Kissaki

The tip of the blade, designed for precision thrusting and cutting.

Saya

The wooden scabbard that houses the blade when not in use.

Sageo

The cord used to tie the saya to the belt or obi.

Katana collections of tradition and mastery

Katana buying guide

Whether for practice, collection, or display, find the katana that resonates with your spirit.

What Is a Katana?

The katana originated in ancient Japan.

What we commonly refer to as "katana" today is actually a specific type of Japanese sword — professionally known as the uchigatana.

The uchigatana is the most iconic style, featured in countless movies, anime, and historical depictions.

However, Japan’s sword-making tradition includes many types of blades, such as the tachi, wakizashi, and tanto.

Katanas are characterized by their natural curvature, which is not manually shaped, but instead formed naturally during clay tempering — a traditional Japanese heat-treatment method.

During quenching, the edge and spine cool at different rates, causing the blade to curve and producing a beautiful hamon (temper line).

The hamon is an essential element when appreciating the beauty of a traditional katana.

Anatomy of a Katana

A complete katana consists of the blade (nagasa) and the fittings (koshirae).

The fittings include components such as the handle (tsuka), scabbard (saya), and guard (tsuba).

One unique feature of the katana is that the blade and the fittings can be separated and customized.

You can match a blade with different fittings according to your aesthetic preferences, creating a katana that is uniquely yours.

How to Choose the Right Katana

To help you find your ideal sword, we've categorized our collection by steel type, each offering distinct characteristics:

  • T10 Steel Katana: Known for its high performance and hardness, utilizing modern steel technology to achieve superior performance.
  • Manganese Steel Katana: Offers a well-balanced profile, combining respectable hardness with excellent toughness — crucial for preventing breakage.
  • Carbon Steel Katana: Closest to the materials used in ancient Japan, delivering high hardness and sharpness, perfect for those seeking a traditional feel.
  • Damascus Steel Katana: Made with steel originating from the Middle East, featuring unique flowing patterns that add an artistic aesthetic to the blade.
  • Clay-Tempered Katana: Not defined by a specific steel type, but by a traditional Japanese forging technique that enhances performance and produces a distinctive hamon. Different tempering styles create different hamon patterns, each with its own character and beauty.

Each katana in our collection is crafted with respect for tradition, functionality, and art — whether you seek a piece for practice, collection, or display, you'll find a blade that resonates with your spirit.

Katana steel comparison

How to choose the steel for a katana?

Feeling unsure about which katana is right for you?
Compare the differences between various steel types for katana, and choose the one that suits you best.

Carbon steel katana

High hardness, commonly used for making traditional samurai swords, with excellent sharpness and edge retention ability.

Damascus steel katana

The blade surface has a unique wavy or patterned design, which is very suitable for collection.

T10 steel katana

Further improved hardness and wear resistance. The blade edge is extremely sharp and can maintain its sharpness for a long time.

Manganese steel katana

High cost-performance, strong toughness, good shock resistance, less likely to break or crack.