Honoo no Ryū Tanto (炎の龍) – Flame Dragon

Honoo no Ryū (炎の龍): the flame dragon

In Japanese art, the dragon is most often depicted surrounded by flames, a mark of its supernatural power and boundless energy. The honoo no ryū, the flame dragon, evokes an ardent, untameable force.

This tanto brings both elements together: flames carved in relief across the saya, and a golden dragon coursing across the tsuba. Tones of gold, orange and silver lend the whole piece a sense of warmth and movement.

A T10 steel blade with a genuine midare hamon

The blade is crafted from T10 steel, a high-carbon steel prized for its hardness. It has been clay-tempered, giving rise to a genuine midare hamon, an irregular, living line, like the edge of a flame.

The contrast is pronounced between the satin-grey body of the blade and the lighter cutting edge. The geometry follows a shinogi-zukuri profile with a compact ko-kissaki tip and no bo-hi. The blade is hand-sharpened, a level of artisanal finishing that makes all the difference.

A silver and gold dragon-motif mounting

The round (maru-gata) tsuba is cast in two-tone silver and gold alloy, openwork (sukashi), with a silver nanako-textured ground. A raised gold dragon in takabori relief moves across its surface, framed by a gold fukurin border. Two fluted gilt brass seppa complete the ensemble on either side.

The fuchi and kashira in chiselled gold and silver alloy echo the guard. The handle combines a wooden core with a faux white ray skin, bound in black tsuka-ito in hineri-maki weave, and fitted with gilded menuki. The ichimai habaki is crafted in gilt brass and engraved with decorative motifs.

A black saya with sculpted flames

The saya is fashioned from hardwood, coated in high-gloss black lacquer and carved with a raised flame motif highlighted in gold and orange. The rounded (maru) koiguchi and kojiri are lacquered in the same high-gloss black, seamlessly continuing the line of the saya. The black lacquered kurikata with gilt shitodome holds a black and gold cotton sageo.

Dimensions and handling of the tanto

With a blade of 33 cm and an overall length of 55 cm, the Honoo no Ryū is a tanto of fine proportions. Its 17 cm handle sits firmly in one hand, and at just 0.7 kg it remains pleasingly light. At 57 cm in its saya, it is an ideal format to display to full effect, the sculpted flames drawing the eye across every surface.