Japanese kwaiken style tanto. This nicely balanced knife has a damascus steel blade with mahogany scales, ipe blade guard and brass trim. Alabama damascus blank made with 4 layers 5160, 3 layers 203e, 3 layers 52100, 3 layers 15n20 folded 5 times for 416 layers. Blade has been precision ground, laser cut, hollow ground and heat-treated to 58-60 rc. Mahogany is a richly colored material that is among the more valuable wood species in the world. It is known for its unique pink coloring, which develops into a deep reddish-brown as the wood ages. It is incredibly strong and durable, allowing craftsmen to create long-lasting products. Wooden boat producers also rely on mahogany due to its strength and resistance to rot. Ipe (pronounced ee-pay) is a large tropical hardwood tree that grows abundantly throughout central and south america. Ipe wood is prized for its durability, strength, and its natural resistance to decay, wet conditions, and insect infestation. The physical hardness of ipe is remarkable. The sheath is molded from vegetable tanned leather and is solid enough for the knife to be used like a yawara.