Honshu Evenfall Handmade Wakizashi Samurai Sword

Like chocolate, coffee or fine ebony, Honshu swords seem at their richest, boldest and most intense when they’re also at their darkest. Case in point: Honshu’s brooding “Evenfall" Wakizashi. This black beauty is an onyx jewel in Honshu’s cutlery crown. And like all Honshu swords, it flawlessly balances ancient and modern, traditional and innovative, beautiful and functional. There’s no question - a Honshu is no ordinary sword. But, likewise, the Evenfall isn’t just any Honshu. This capable, eye-catching wakizashi is in a class all its own, boasting unparalleled style and feel, as well as rare appointments and exclusive materials - not least of which is the blade’s breathtaking black Damascus steel.

Undeniably modern style, age-old hand craftsmanship
Like the Evenfall itself, black Damascus stands apart and stands tall, casting a bewitching black shadow over ordinary steels that leaves them comparatively dim and underwhelming. Like its “original" Damascus counterpart, black Damascus steel is a raging sea of contrasting lines that form ripples, waves, ellipses and other spellbinding patterns. To achieve this remarkable figuring, Honshu's master swordsmiths painstakingly and repeatedly fire, fold and hammer weld two different high carbon steel varieties, yielding thousands of distinct layers. Once the metals are inseparably fused, an acid etching highlights the bold contrasts in the resulting layers. It's a slow, laborious process that can take hours, days, even weeks. The technique has changed little since Damascus steel's development in the Middle Ages - no automation, every step diligently performed by hand. 

Damascus steel...after dark
But Honshu’s seasoned smiths add an innovative modern twist - an exclusive, closely guarded secret process that imparts that distinctive shadowy veil, putting the “black" in black Damascus.The Evenfall blade evokes fine ebony, as rich amber lines swirl over a deep sable void like drops of blood flowing down a blackwater river. It's Damascus steel...after dark. And of all the world’s swords, Honshu’s Evenfall is one of a relative few to feature it. Furthermore, like a steel snowflake or fingerprint, the patterning on no two Evenfall blades is exactly alike.

A silky smooth touch, a bitterly savage bite
Incredible strength and resilience, awe-inspiring capability and savage ferocity are qualities that all Evenfall blades share in common, however. In traditional Japanese tameshigiri tests, the Evenfall slashes cleanly through rolled bamboo mats and other challenging materials like a hot knife through butter, all the while retaining its impossibly sharp edge. Such potency demands exceptional control and intuitive feel; thankfully, the Evenfall has it in spades. And through any test or trial, the Evenfall is always a pleasure to wield. The tsuka trades delicate, traditional trappings like ray skin and cord for tough, ultramodern ABS; it also includes a versatile paracord lanyard. And just as the Evenfall impeccably balances traditional Japanese and contemporary tactical styles, as well as ancient wisdom and modern innovation, the Evenfall’s weight is superbly balanced, as well, for more power from every swing. Shorter and more streamlined than its big brother, the katana, the Evenfall's wakizashi profile makes it quicker, more responsive and more agile in combat. 

Combat victory or gazers' awe - the Evenfall captures them both
Indeed, the Evenfall is built to withstand the rigors of serious, real-world use. But its enrapturing black Damascus steel blade makes it equally well suited to display - on a stand or wall mount, alone or alongside other swords in a fine cutlery collection. Honshu's Evenfall Wakizashi may be shadowy and brooding, but it should never be relegated the dark - stashed away in a closet, under a bed or some other unlit corner. Nay, the Evenfall deserves a place in the spotlight, brilliantly illuminated for friends to admire and foes to fear.

• Behold the beast of the night, the beauty of the shadows, the onyx of Honshu's crown, the sword of "evenfall"
• 19 3/4" black Damascus steel blade retains the mesmerizing contrasting layers of original Damascus, but adds a shadowy, hauntingly dark veil - results in amber lines on onyx black backdrop
• Hand forged by Honshu's master smiths, combining ancient Damascus technique with exclusive new process that puts "black" in black Damascus
• No mere display piece - blade carefully honed to razor sharp; excellent edge retention; impeccable weight distribution, overall field afford precise control
• Rugged ABS handle features distinctly modern, tactical look and feel; extended for extra control; textured for no slip grip; finished with convenient paracord lanyard
• Saya furthers tactical look and feel, trading traditional braided sageo for chic black paracord
• Overall length: 31 1/2" - wakizashi profile smaller than big brother - the legendary "katana" - but just as potent and better suited for swift, agile combat