Four Winds Katana — 1045 Carbon Steel, Open-Work Tsuba, Hand Forged, Full Tang, Battle Ready

The open-work tsuba detail creates a more open visual cue, while the full Katana format stays familiar.

This page still uses a black saya, but the Four Winds fitting detail gives the comparison a lighter theme.

Compare Four Winds fittings, 1045 carbon steel, black saya, and full Katana profile.

Wipe dry after handling or use. Apply a light coat of choji or mineral oil along the full blade length before storing. Carbon steel will develop surface rust if left wet or unprotected — a minute of care after each session keeps the blade in condition indefinitely.

The saya on this katana is painted with the family crest (kamon — 家紋) of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, rendered in fine gold detail on black lacquered wood. Hideyoshi's mon was the sennarihyōtan (千成瓢箪) — the "thousand gourds" emblem, a design that originated when he reportedly attached a single gourd to his war standard before his first battle, adding one with each victory until there were thousands. The gourd (hyōtan — 瓢箪) became his defining symbol, painted on banners, lacquerware, and armor throughout his unification campaigns. Having it on a sword's saya connects the blade directly to one of the most dramatic military careers in Japanese history.

Every sword is individually inspected and adjusted before leaving our California warehouse. We check edge geometry, fitment of all components, and the security of the mekugi pegs before packing. If anything is not right, it does not ship.