Uzumaki Ryū Tanto (渦巻龍) – Swirling Dragon

Uzumaki Ryū (渦巻龍): the coiled dragon

Uzumaki speaks of spirals and swirling currents. A dragon coiled upon itself is an image of contained power (force held in reserve, ready to unfurl) and equally of the eternal cycle, without beginning or end.

This tanto makes that image its guard: a sculptured dragon wraps around itself to form the tsuba, its irregular outline tracing the creature’s body. The blue of the saya and the waves engraved on the habaki echo water : the dragon’s own domain.

A T10 steel blade with a true gunome hamon

The blade is forged from T10 steel, a high-carbon tool steel prized for its hardness and edge retention. Clay tempering draws out a true gunome hamon, milky, well-defined and richly contrasted against the mirror-polished steel.

The geometry follows a shinogi-zukuri profile with a compact ko-kissaki point and no hi groove.

A hamidashi mounting with a coiled dragon guard

This tanto is fitted in hamidashi style, with a reduced guard. The kawari-gata tsuba in blackened alloy is shaped by a coiled dragon sculpted in raised relief (takabori), its polished surface and irregular edge faithfully following the dragon’s form. A gilt brass seppa accompanies it.

The fuchi and kashira in plain blackened alloy are smooth and unadorned. The handle pairs hardwood with a white faux ray skin, bound with blue tsuka-ito in hineri-maki and fitted with black menuki. The ichimai habaki in silver-toned alloy is engraved with raised wave motifs, with a fine gilt border on the guard side.

A glossy metallic-blue lacquered saya

The saya is crafted from solid wood and finished with a glossy kawari-nuri metallic-blue lacquer. The koiguchi is lacquered black, while the kojiri echoes the scabbard’s colour throughout. The blue-lacquered kurikata with a gilt shitodome accommodates a sageo in indigo blue and white cotton.

Dimensions and handling of the tanto

With a blade of 33 cm and an overall length of 55 cm, the Uzumaki Ryū is a tanto of generous proportions. The 17 cm handle sits firmly in one hand, and the reduced guard lends the piece a compact, unified silhouette. At 0.7 kg, it remains notably light. Sheathed, it measures 57 cm, a format that showcases the dragon guard to full effect on any display stand.