The Satsuma Koshirae is a very high-end Iaito, fully order-made, crafted from scratch in Japan with a sand-casted bubble-free zinc/aluminum alloy blade. This model has a very special extra-long and heavy blade, for a concept loosely based on the Satsuma Han swords used during the Bakumatsu and Satsuma rebellion. It is said such swords were wielded by the very famous last samurai Saigo Takamori, although it hasn't been formally confirmed.

As this product is produced in extremely small quantities, pieces are not standardized the same way they are for regular Iaito. Saya, Habaki, Seppa, and Tsuka are custom made to specifically fit the blade, the exact same way Shinken (genuine swords) mounts are made. This is what explains the price of this model, as the Koshirae has roughly the same cost as a Shinken Koshirae. 

Blade: 
The blade features a double groove with a kakinagashi style hi dome (groove start), and a Notare Hamon.
The blade being made in very small quantities (a dozen pieces a year), with a specific mold, it cannot be customized, other than for the length.

Tsuka: 
Due to the structure of the blade, the Tsuka length is 1.1 shaku (33.3 cm) and cannot be modified. 
By default, the Satsuma Koshirae is Tsuka mounted with genuine black lacquered cow leather, wrapped with black cotton tsukaito in Hiramaki style, and does not feature any Menuki.
Menuki can be added as per your liking, which we would recommend if you select the Hinerimaki wrapping style.  

All other elements can be customized to your liking, but we recommend keeping the Hiramaki (Ikkan style variation, specific to the Satsuma model) tsukamaki and leather same, as it is characteristic of the Satsuma style as well as the Satsuma Tsuba (wrought iron) with rain pattern (ame no zu), that has been designed specifically to fit such a long and heavy blade and the Kurotataki Saya. 
The default Kurotataki Saya is quite similar to the Kuroishime Saya but has a slightly different finish on this model, as the Saya is a Shinken saya. We strongly recommend keeping this option as the finish is outstanding. 

Note that the standard mount designed by the workshop is the one on the product picture, with a Shonai brass Habaki, copper Seppa, Satsuma Tsuba, cotton black Tsukaito and Sageo, leather black same, Hiramaki wrapping,  2 mekugi, without menuki and kuroishime lacquer.

If you wish to add a customized Saya lacquer, please contact us for a quote, as the Saya used for this product is a Shinken one.

Within the Minosaka lineup, but also within any Japan-made Iaito lineup, this is the longest and heaviest sword manufactured today.