Hakurai Katana Sword (白雷) – White Thunder

Hakurai Katana Sword (白雷) specifications

• Hand-forged by our master swordsmiths.
• Blue manganese steel blade, sharpened or unsharpened at choice, full tang.
• Scabbard (Saya 鞘): Gray scabbard streaked with lightning bolts.
• Sageo (下げ緒): White and blue.
• Handle (Tsuka 柄): Solid wood handle with white imitation stingray skin.
• Tsuka-ITO (柄糸): White and blue braided above the handle.
• Menuki (目貫): Silver dragon.
• Guard (Tsuba 鍔): Silver alloy with small carved flowers.
• Fuchi (縁): silver alloy with engraved flowers.
• Kashira (頭): silver alloy with engraved flowers.
• Habaki (鎺): brass with engraved coat of arms depicting a chrysanthemum flower.

Dimensions

• Blade length: 72 cm
• Overall length including handle: 103 cm
• Length with scabbard: 105 cm
• Handle length: 26 cm
• Blade thickness: 0.7 cm
• Blade width: 3.2 cm
• Weight: 1.3 kg
• Package weight: 2 kg

Accessories

• Scabbard: Included
• Katana stand: Not included

Hakurai Katana Sword: Design and finishes

The name Hakurai (白雷) combines the kanji characters for white (白, haku) and thunder (雷, rai), creating a poetic metaphor that evokes the dazzling purity of lightning tearing through the night sky. This name captures the very essence of divine lightning, a symbol of instantaneous power and spiritual clarity in Japanese tradition, where white thunder represents the visible manifestation of heavenly will.

The manganese steel blade has a deep blue hue reminiscent of stormy skies, while its polished surface reflects light with the intensity of a morning bolt of lightning. The silver alloy guard (tsuba) features delicate carved flowers that contrast harmoniously with the overall simplicity of the sword, creating a refined effect of light and shadow. The handle (tsuka) combines solid wood covered with white imitation stingray skin with white and blue braiding (tsuka-ito) that winds elegantly around it, while the menuki representing a silver dragon evoke the mythical power of storms. The gray scabbard (saya) streaked with lightning bolts extends this celestial aesthetic, complemented by a white and blue sageo that recalls storm clouds.

This creation perfectly combines function and symbolism, offering remarkable balance thanks to its classic proportions and full tang construction. The brass habaki engraved with a floral crest evoking the chrysanthemum adds a touch of traditional authenticity, while the floral decorations on the fuchi and kashira unify the whole in subtle decorative harmony. This piece will appeal to collectors for its ability to embody the terrible and fascinating beauty of natural phenomena, transforming each contemplation into a meditation on the fleeting but unforgettable power of white thunder.