A tachi mounted in an Efu no tachi koshirae [sword mount] | Edo period, 19th century

A tachi mounted in an Efu no tachi koshirae [sword mount]

Edo period, 19^th century

Sugata [configuration]: slender shinogi-zukuri, iori-mune, koshi-zori, chu-kissaki

Kitae [forging pattern]: itame-hada with ji-nie

Hamon [tempering pattern]: choji-midare, narrow nioiguchi, yo, faint utsuri

Boshi [tip]: midare-komi with steep turnback

Habaki [collar]: copper-gilt, single clad

Nakago [tang]: suriage, ha-agari kurijiri, no file markings, three mekugi-ana, unsigned

In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard]

Koshirae [mount]: the Efu no tachi koshirae decorated in gold, red and black hiramaki-e and takamaki-e with ho-o birds in flight, silver mounts with a nanako geound, the mekugi in the form of stylised chrysanthemum flowerheads,

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 59.1 cm., 23¼ in.

Saki-haba [width at the yokote]: 2 cm., ¾ in.

Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 2.7 cm., 1 in.