Black Phoenix – Hand Forged 1065 Carbon Steel Katana Sword

Black Phoenix – Hand Forged 1065 Carbon Steel Katana Sword

The Black Phoenix is built around a 72 cm shinogi-zukuri blade – a geometry defined by its raised central ridge (shinogi) that runs the length of the cutting edge side, creating two distinct surface planes that shed resistance and keep geometry honest under load. This is a working katana forged from 1065 high carbon steel, heat-treated to a consistent hardness through controlled furnace tempering. It does not ask you to be careful with it.

Specifications

The Steel

1065 sits at a carbon content that gives you a blade capable of holding a real working edge without becoming brittle under lateral stress. The uniform furnace tempering process – running the blade through a controlled-temperature salt bath – eliminates the hot and cold zones that plague inconsistently treated steel. What you get is a blade that behaves predictably: it flexes rather than snaps, it sharpens back without structural loss, and it maintains edge geometry through repeated use.

The shinogi-zukuri forging style is not decorative. The ridgeline actively reinforces the spine-to-edge taper, distributing impact load across the geometry of the blade rather than concentrating stress at a single point. For a practitioner doing consistent cutting work, this is the profile that earns its keep over time.

In Your Hands

The 26 cm handle is wrapped in genuine rayskin (same) beneath a tight cotton ito weave in a black-over-black color scheme – the rayskin nodes grip through the wrap and anchor your hand without any slip, even in extended sessions. The high-gloss black lacquer saya draws cleanly, with a fit that seats securely and releases without resistance. Full-length at 102 cm, the Black Phoenix sits at the longer end of standard katana geometry, which rewards a committed, extended draw stroke.

Care

Wipe the blade down with a clean cloth after every use and apply a light coat of choji oil (clove oil, traditional blade oil) before storage. The lacquered saya should be kept dry – do not store the blade sheathed for extended periods without oiling first. Inspect the ito wrap and handle fit periodically; re-tighten the handle peg (mekugi) if any movement develops.