This 12" long tanto was carved from a solid piece of East African padouk, the same piece from which I cut our matching bokken. After giving this a final sanding with 220 grit paper, it was coated several times with tung oil. This finish will lock in the color and provide a strong coating that resists wear, soiling or denting from light contact. Padouk has a Janka hardness rating of 1970 and is quite dense, so will withstand quite a bit of hard training if properly cared for.