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 reverse of the tang is inscribed with the record of a test (tameshigiri) carried out on the 4th day of the 12th month of the 2nd year of the period Bunkyu (1862) at Demma-Cho, Edo, when it cut through a body in the second position (chest) and the block. 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).

Record details

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