The earth trembles and the air thunders as thousands of hoofs strike the ground over the horizon. The tranquility of the emerald sea nor of the clear blue sky shield you from the destruction galloping toward you as battle nears. Much like the War Horse Katana, the beautiful colors of the emerald tsuka over white same (ray skin) belie the deadly sharp steel blade nestled in the deep blue saya. The forged 1566 steel blade features true clay-tempering that produces a distinctive hamon (temper line). The traditional polish brings out the real hamon and a mirror shinogi-ji (flat section). The HRC 60 edge and HRC 40 back are ideal for cutting if you wish to try this pony in the field. The blackened tsuba features two rider-less horses chasing each other in the endless human condition of warfare. The silver menuki represent the Tokugawa and Oda clans whereas the fuchi and kashira feature the Takeda and Mori clan symbols. Truly a tragically beautiful katana built for war.
Some artists make statements in paint, in words, songs and others in sculpture. Frenchie Jin makes his statements in steel. The War Horse Katana by Dragon King represents Frenchie's superior abilities in making statements via sword art. The front of the tsuba depicts two riderless horses circling, chasing each other in the endless cycle of human conflict and the back shows a fallen warrior. To the average sword collector or observer, it looks like finely embosses figures in steel. It is easy to overlook a deeper meaning of a piece when in awe of fine craftsmanship. But a sword like the War Horse Katana needs to be studied and examined deeper in the broader scope of the story that the furniture of the sword is tellling. In every violent conflict there is loss on both sides. A human being must pay the price of war with their death. The cold underlying tragedy of the loss of life can be forgotten in pride derived from the honorable victory over ones adversary. When those opponents are someone's son, a brother or father, the Some build monuments to honor the fallen, and others make swords as a warning to the consequences of war.
- Pat the Sword Guy