TANTO<WAKIZASHI<UCHIGATANA<KATANA<TACHI

[roger dundas]

For all you learned collectors the following question might appear naive but I am just curious about exactly how and where a Uchigatana fits into the scheme of things as far as you experienced and knowledgeable Nihonto people are concerned. It can be somewhere between a katana and wakizashi in blade length but overlapping into both apparently but does it have as much kudos as a katana or is it not as appealing or not up there for status ?

I hope some amongst you find time to offer your thoughts and don't dismiss my question as not worthy of a response.

Thank you all anyway.

Roger j.

[ChrisW]

Its less about length (though that certainly is a deciding factor) and more about WHEN. It was a predecessor to the katana and many evolved into wakizashi later in their lives. Uchigatana were mounted a certain way,  largely made to be disposable, and were the companion sword to the longer tachi.

At least, that's what I've always heard.

[sabiji]

I don't think you should be too meticulous about many terms to pigeonhole them.
An Uchigatana stands for me historically seen for a companion sword/secondary sword, which is at least longer than a classical Tanto, in order to correspond to the Kanji "Uchi".
This would make our classic katana just as much an uchigatana as the wakizashi - completely independent of the quality of the blade or the rank of the wearer.

 

[Rivkin]

One can call by this name many things, but most usefully is to refer by this name "uchigatana" typically Bizen, less often Mino blades with a distinctive short nakago and nagasa very close to 2 shaku, either slightly above or below. A popular weapon in 1510-1560.

They are "long swords", but with a predominantly single handed use.

[sabiji]

This special version of the Uchigatana would be the Katate-Uchigatana.

[Jwrussell]

Markus Sesko has a great article on this topic, specific to the Wakizashi. I won't say it will be a crystal clear answer to the question, but it should make it clear that such an answer doesn't really exist.

 

https://markussesko.com/2015/08/11/the-wakizashi/

 

[roger dundas]

Thank you all for your responses. It helps me understand what is what . Was it made for use as a weapon, or was it more a decorative(?) civilian item ?

I have 3 or 4 'Uchigatana', around 22inch blades and wondered about the alternative name, Wakizashi.

Again, thank you all for your comments.

Roger j.

[Ken-Hawaii]

You likely have wakizashi, Roger. Uchigatana were definitely weapons, rather than decorations, but as Kirill stated, they were made for a relatively short time period, unlike wakizashi.

[Jacques]

Naki-kitsune made by Awataguchi Kuniyoshi (Juyo Bunkasai) is an uchigatana and it was made during the 13th century. 

 

 

Below a detail of the Ban Dainagon Ekotoba (Late Heian jidai)

[Jean]

Generally, companion sword for tachi were labelled kodachi (if not tanto) - length between 45 cm and 65cm. 

Kodachi can be considered as the wakizashi ancestor.

[roger dundas]

Thank you all again. So only one of my wakizashi swords might be(?)  called a 'Uchigatana', signed by a maker working 1542 to 1548, with 53.3cm (21 inch) blade length ?

The others with blades an inch or so longer would be termed wakizashi then, with similar shorter tangs etc, but 'mumei' and made whenever, another signed but made 1661-1675 is shorter at 52.1cm (20.5 inches).

Thank you again, I quite realize these things are somewhat elastic but thank you  all for your knowledge.

Roger j.

 

[AntiquarianCat]

I hope I’m not off but Usagiya and others refer to Uchigatana as swords in that edge up katana style mounting. So that would make katanas a type of uchigatana. Katate-uchi are definitely supposed to be those ~60cm one handed swords from the Sengoku but my understanding is that not all uchigatana are katate-uchi.

[roger dundas]

There may be no final definitive resolution to the question ? Interesting to read of the various and historic opinions. Personally, I'm happy with my wakizashi even if they aren't, in the end ushigatana. Again, thank you all.

Roger j.

[Jacques]

  On 3/4/2021 at 9:03 PM, Jean said:

Generally, companion sword for tachi were labelled kodachi (if not tanto) - length between 45 cm and 65cm. 

Kodachi can be considered as the wakizashi ancestor.

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Do you have a reliable source, or is it just "hearsay" ? I don't see how a warrior could wear both a tachi and a kodachi knowing that both were worn edge down.