Koi Wakizashi – Hand Forged 1065 Carbon Steel Wakizashi Sword

Koi Wakizashi – Hand Forged 1065 Carbon Steel Wakizashi Sword

The Koi Wakizashi — 锦鲤胁差 — brings the Koi family’s iconic green Aohada bark wood saya and hand-forged 1065 high carbon steel character into the shorter, more intimate form of the traditional wakizashi, the companion blade historically worn alongside the katana as a samurai’s backup and close-quarters weapon. At just 80 cm total length and a remarkably light 500 g net weight, this is a sword that feels alive in the hand — quick, nimble, and purpose-built for the demands of a shorter blade format. Whether displayed alongside its Koi katana sibling or carried as a standalone piece, the Koi Wakizashi is a genuinely functional short sword with genuine Longquan soul.

Specifications

Craftsmanship & Materials

The wakizashi occupies a fascinating position in the world of Japanese swords — too often overshadowed by the katana, yet possessing qualities that are entirely its own. At 56 cm blade length, the Koi Wakizashi sits comfortably within the traditional wakizashi range of 30–60 cm, offering a blade geometry that rewards fast, precise movements rather than the sweeping power cuts of its longer sibling. The shinogi-zukuri ridgeline profile is retained from the katana design, maintaining the visual family resemblance while adapting the proportions for a shorter, faster fighting style. Longquan’s master smiths have forged this blade from 1065 high carbon steel — a choice that makes particular sense in a shorter blade format, where toughness and chip resistance matter even more than in full-length swords.

The Aohada green bark wood saya is scaled precisely to the shorter blade, maintaining the same organic, mottled surface quality as the Koi katana’s sheath. This botanical green tone has a certain quiet power — it evokes the river shallows where koi move through dappled light, suggesting both natural beauty and hidden strength. The cotton ito handle wrap is applied over the 24 cm tsuka, providing adequate two-handed purchase while remaining comfortable for single-handed technique practice. At 500 g net, this sword is fast enough to surprise practitioners accustomed to heavier blades.

Oil quenching followed by tempering gives the Koi Wakizashi a hardness profile optimised for real-world use — it will hold a sharp edge through tameshigiri practice and resist the micro-chipping that poorly heat-treated budget blades frequently develop. This is a $150 sword that performs like it costs more, which is precisely the Longquan tradition at work.

Perfect For

• Wakizashi practitioners studying nito-ryu (two-sword style) or specialised short-sword forms who need a genuine functional blade rather than a decorative prop
• Koi katana owners looking to complete a matched daisho pair with a companion blade that shares identical aesthetics and steel character
• Smaller-framed practitioners or younger students for whom a full-length katana feels unwieldy, but who want an authentic, hand-forged Japanese-style sword with real cutting capability

Care & Maintenance

Like all 1065 high carbon steel blades, the Koi Wakizashi should be wiped clean and lightly oiled after every use or handling session — the shorter blade makes this a particularly quick process that takes less than two minutes. Pay special attention to the tip area, where moisture tends to collect during saya storage, and inspect the inside of the Aohada sheath periodically for any signs of warping or fit changes caused by humidity fluctuations. A light application of camellia oil once a month is sufficient to keep this blade in functional, corrosion-free condition indefinitely.