Scribe and Sword
China Daily Asia | Updated: 2019-05-21 10:45
They say the pen's mightier than the sword, but a new Graf von Faber-Castell writing implement combines the best of both worlds. The Samurai Pen of the Year features captivating elements reminiscent of the appearance of the famed Japanese warriors. The barrel of the pen is made of dark-stained magnolia wood that imitates the samurai's longsword, embellished with an engraving in 24K gold varnish inscribed with Japanese characters that read: "Today I win against myself of yesterday" – a quotation attributed to the great samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi.
The end cap is engraved with the tsuba (hand guard) created by Musashi, which represents loyal soldiers who offer protection. Both the cap and the hand-forged grip are coated with ruthenium and delicately decorated with artistic inlays inspired by Japanese sword sheaths.