Raptor Shobu Zukuri Katana

The Raptor Sword Line is a new lower cost line offered by CAS Iberia based on input and discussions with Bugei Trading Company. James Williams worked closely with CAS Iberia and the smiths and designers at Hanwei forge to develop a high quality cutting sword priced for the new student of the Japanese sword. The goal was not to make a "cheap" sword. The goal was to make a performance sword with a smaller price tag. To that end we sacrificed the traditional folding and specialized heat treatment that produces the distinctive hamon of Japanese swords. So they will not look like they have traditional Japanese steel. But they will perform.

The Raptor Series is the result of this cooperative effort.

The fittings are simple and based on the raptors, birds of prey. A gaudy, flashy mount for this sword would be out of place as these swords are meant for serious use. The sword is made of high performance unfolded 5160 steel, a high carbon steel renouned for its strength and durability. The blade has been heat treated in a non-traditional fashion to create a strong, durable modern blade. As a result the Raptors do not have a hamon. This sword is non-traditional metallurgically but is made to be a modern, robust, strong, durable blade ideal for those new to Japanese Sword Arts. The blade's geometry was also designed to be fully traditional in cross section but still robust to allow for higher performance under harder usage.

Raptor Shobu Zukuri Katana

This particular sword is based on a graceful shobu zukuri style. Shobu means "iris leaf" and this blade shows a very traditional lighter, more elegant style of shobu than our more robust Shobu Katana. The tsuka is wrapped with a black suede ito in katatemaki style (the so-called "battle wrap" or "one arm" style). The black saya has a simple stone texture. The habaki displays an elegant rain pattern to add extra interest to the mounts.

Key Features:
- A Tough 5160 Through Hardened Shobu Zukuri sugata
- Traditional Construction
- Simple, elegant koshirae