Tang of the blade of a sword

This sword blade is a katana, long sword, worn as a pair with a short sword thrust through the samurai's belt. The tang enters the hilt of the sword and becomes the handle. It is inscribed on both sides, with a test on one side and the maker on the other.

The tang of the blade is signed Mutsu no Daijo Sansen Nagamichi, who worked in Kyoto in the latter half of the 17th century. The blade is made from layers of tempered steel, welded and folded back upon themselves. The repeated process produces thousands of layers of steel.

This was one of the blades sent as presents to Queen Victoria by the last Shogun, Iyemachi, ( the others are at the V&A).

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