Shinwa Makaku Katana/Samurai Sword - Hand Forged Damascus Steel - Custom Cast Macaque Monkey Tree Tsuba - Genuine Ray Skin; Hand Lacquered Saya - Fully Functional, Battle Ready, Full Tang Genuine masterpiece of traditional Japanese swordcraft, handmade by seasoned artisans with meticulous attention to detail Hand-forged full tang 28 1/2" Damascus steel blade boasts both beauty and brawn; impossibly sharp edge, tough spine; display-worthy allure, yet powerful enough for any real-world cutting task Master swordsmiths painstakingly and repeatedly fire, fold, hammer-weld two high carbon steel varieties to yield Damascus steel's breathtaking layering; acid etching highlights vivid contrasts Handcrafted tsuka cloaked in delicately textured genuine ray skin same and soft tan ito; traditional wooden mekugi provide stability, classic touch Flawlessly cast tsuba, kashira, menuki - tsuba features ornate three dimension macaque-in-tree; menuki a scaly dragon motif; all three bathed in a rich dark glazed patina