The Kagizume Longsword

This bespoke East-meets-West longsword is very much a statement piece. Its long blade flows cleanly out of a fullered ricasso and through forward-swept, rounded parrying lugs.

With a Gothic fantasy aesthetic, the crossguard features sharply downturned, claw-like quillons paired with side-rings on both sides, giving the sword a striking silhouette and additional hand protection. The handle introduces a Japanese-inspired element, with a full-length wrap in black faux-samegawa and a cotton ito.

Our client's concept sketch

In the hand, the sword feels poised and alert with strong point control, making thrusts and sudden directional changes feel natural and fluid. The ergonomic pommel and full-length wrap provide a secure, comfortable anchor that encourages fine adjustments.

The sword is named for the Japanese word for "talons", nodding both to the distinctive quillon terminals and the katana-style handle.

Please see our pricing structure for an idea of what a similar sword would cost.

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∴ Specs ∴

• Total length: 138cm

• Blade length: 99cm from cross

• Blade width at cross: 2.5cm

• Grip length: 28cm

• Grip and pommel: 37cm

• Grip to guard: 4.5cm

• Quillon span: 25cm

• Weight: 1775g

• Point of Balance: 9.5cm from cross

• Ambidextrous

• Blunt edges & rounded tip

• Fencing safe flex

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∴ Notes ∴

The hand-forged and heat-treated guard and pommel are blackened to a matte finish.

The guard consists of sharply downturned quillons with claw-like carvings to the terminals, and a ring on each side with points to the centre of each. The pommel is an elongated scent-stopper, seamlessly flowing into an oak grip is covered with a black faux samegawa and cotton ito.

The blade features a broad central fuller to the long ricasso, ending at the rounded parrying lugs. The phrase "Look ye also while life lasts" is engraved into the fuller, split over the two sides.

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∴ Gallery ∴

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∴ A Clawing Feeling ∴

The train shudders as it claws its way across the ragged frontier, lantern swaying in the steam-choked air. Outside the lights of factory towns glitter the night, until even they are gone, and the desolate steppe is wrapped in complete darkness.

You notice your new companion only when the lantern gutters, and you glance up from your paper to find him suddenly there, as if poured from shadow itself.

“Good evening,” he says with a sharp nod.

He unbuckles a sword from his hip, pulling it free of the folds of his long dark coat and leaning it against the table as if it were no stranger than a walking stick. Your eyes widen as you take in the weapon: its quillons curved like hooked claws, and an elegant ito knotted over its two-handed grip.

The stranger says nothing, simply stares out of the empty window into the featureless dark. With a gulp you revert to your diplomatic training, hoping that small talk will smooth the strangeness of the encounter.

“What brings you to these parts, then?”

“Something old,” your companion replies after a long pause, “Driven here by something new.”

“Sounds like you’re off to slay a monster,” you laugh, gesturing at the sword.

“Of a sort,” comes the reply, before folding back into silence

You wait for an explanation to unfold, but none does. Instead, you perch uncomfortably on the conversational precipice, eyeing the sword warily and waiting for the welcome glow of the next platform.

Yet when the train does stop, it is with a judder and a deep metallic groan that ripples through the carriage. The wheels give a curdling screech - or at least, you think it's the wheels. You reach for a match to relight the lantern, and realise your hands are shaking.

The match flares and lights, illuminating the calm features of the stranger. He is already on his feet, hands wrapped around the hilt of the longsword.

"I hope you can fight," is all he says, before turning to face the door.