Kuroshi Katana Sword (黒死) – Black Death

Kuroshi Katana Sword (黒死) specifications

• Hand-forged by our master swordsmiths.
• Damascus steel blade, sharpened or unsharpened at choice, full tang.
• Bo-Hi (棒樋): visible on the blade.
• Scabbard (Saya 鞘): made of purple and black lacquered wood with black ends (Kojiri and Koiguchi).
• Sageo (下げ緒): black.
• Handle (Tsuka 柄): made of faux white stingray leather and wood.
• Tsuka-ITO (柄糸): black braided above the handle in a diamond pattern.
• Menuki (目貫): black dragon.
• Guard (Tsuba 鍔): black alloy round in the shape of a skull.
• Fuchi (縁): smooth black alloy.
• Kashira (頭): smooth black alloy.
• Habaki (鎺): brushed golden brass.

Dimensions

• Blade length: 27.95in
• Overall length including handle: 40.55in
• Length with scabbard: 41.34in
• Handle length: 10.43in
• Blade thickness: 0.28in
• Blade width: 1.26in
• Weight: 2.76 lb
• Package weight: 3.42 lb

Accessories

• Scabbard: Included
• Katana stand: Not included

Kuroshi katana sword: design and finishes

The Kuroshi katana sword (黒死) evokes the “Black Death.” This name symbolizes the destructive power and inexorability of fate in the face of death. The kanji characters chosen reinforce this symbolism: 黒 (kuro) for black, the color of darkness and mystery, and 死 (shi) for death, a fundamental concept in samurai philosophy, where acceptance of mortality forges the warrior’s courage.

Its Damascus steel blade reveals undulating patterns reminiscent of smoke curling from a battlefield, while the bo-hi lightens the structure and produces a characteristic whistling sound when moved. The black alloy skull-shaped guard (tsuba) is the central element of this katana, a constant reminder of the fragility of existence. The handle (tsuka) combines white stingray skin with wood, creating a striking contrast with the black diamond-patterned braiding (tsuka-ito). The menuki depicting a black dragon symbolize the spiritual force that transcends death, while the smooth black alloy fuchi and kashira elements extend the dark aesthetic. The purple and black lacquered wooden scabbard (saya) evokes the colors of mourning and nobility, complemented by a black sageo and black ends that unify the whole.