Imperial Tanto (#0056)

Product Description for Imperial Tanto (#0056)

Maker: Cold Steel (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 89071
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 5.85 in.
Total length: 11.12 in.
Blade height (at heel): 1.12 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.17 in.
Item weight: 8.10 oz.
Shipment weight: 20.95 oz.
Blade: San Mai blade featuring walls of pool and eye stainless damascus surrounding a stainless steel core
Bolster: Stainless steel guard
Handle: White ray skin with traditional Japanese cord wrap
Sheath: Black leather sheath, cloth case, lacquered wood display stand and original storage tube
Description: This rare and highly collectable Cold Steel Imperial Tanto has been in a single private collection and is in mint condition. It has never been carried, sharpened or used. Included is everything shown in the above pictures, as well as the (not shown) cloth case, Signed Certificate of Authenticity and original cardboard storage tube.
Cold Steel respectfully continues the samurai tradition with their Imperial Series weapons, unsurpassed in toughness and beauty. The blades of this series are razor sharp san mai stainless damascus steel, which are heat treated to ensure magnificent edge holding. These blades are carefully and expertly hand polished.
Further enhancing the traditional aesthetic is the stunning white rayskin used under the perfectly twisted and knotted traditional Japanese cord wrap. The fittings used in the Imperial series are polished stainless steel. The guard and pommel are perfectly formed, the pommel incorporating both the cord wrap and a lanyard hole.
This piece is both extremely rare and highly sought after. Initially intended to be a production run of two thousand in the late 80s through to the early 90s, manufacturing sadly stopped short of the intended target (due, in part, to the production cost of each knife exceeding the sale cost.) Only one thousand of this real beauty were made. This piece is numbered #0056, and such low numbers are particularly prized.
This is surely among the most beautiful factory knives you'll ever lay eyes on. The production values are simply superlative. Top quality from the design to the execution - and a fit and finish that is truly excellent.
The text on the Certificate of Authenticity is as follows:
Cold Steel. Inc. hereby warrants that the unique pattern forged blade bearing the serial number #0056 is a genuine and authentic Imperial Tanto. The blade has been constructed in true San Mai fashion, with a hard stainless steel core supported by two multi layered sheets of Damascus steel. These three pieces have been expertly hammer forged into one inseparable unit comprised of over 160 layers of steel. The resulting blade has earned the name "Imperial Tanto" and is the only stainless steel Damascus blade ever to pass the grueling American Bladesmith test.


Availability: Not currently available