I'm a little confused...

[Birdman]

Can anybody please tell me what, exactly, is the definition of "uchigatana"? Is it a matter of age, blade length, koshirae, or something else? One source I have read says that the uchigatana was the predecessor of the katana. I have seen long wakizashi for sale being described as uchigatana. So what exactly is it?

[Jean]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uchigatana

[Birdman]

So it's more a matter of how it's worn, then?

[drbvac]

And the way the signature is - it is the father/older brother of the katana and the curvature etc being a change from the tachi as well as the way it is worn led to the katana. The Japanese as has been noted have many names for the same things.

[Birdman]

So, would a blade from the mid-1500's, worn edge-up, with a one-handed grip, but rather long for a wakizashi/too short for a katana (21-23 inch nagasa), and made that size rather than being suriage, likely be a wakizashi or an uchigatana?

[cabowen]

Many period uchigatana are 26-27inches long with a disproportionately short nakago. They were made to be used with one hand, more or less......

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

One of the oldest uchigatana still extant (Awataguchi ha mid 13th). Nagasa 54cm.

 

 

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[john weeks]

Longtime "listener", first time on MB. Noticed the content and thought I'd comment: recently purchased my first signed nihonto and I believe it may fit here. Has a short nakago for one hand use, 23 3/4 in. nagasa. Signed Unshu Kiyanori, Izumo province, 1530. Any thoughts/comments?

[John A Stuart]

Well, the contemporary definition of wakizashi is under 2 shaku in the shakkanho, which is under 23.9" I personally believe if ubu the lengths that are close here are swords made for slighter bushi and would be still uchigatana or katana, but, by our modern definition wakizashi. Pics would be nice. John

[estcrh]

  john weeks said:

Longtime "listener", first time on MB. Noticed the content and thought I'd comment: recently purchased my first signed nihonto and I believe it may fit here. Has a short nakago for one hand use, 23 3/4 in. nagasa. Signed Unshu Kiyanori, Izumo province, 1530. Any thoughts/comments?

Does your sword have a tachi mei?

[Birdman]

So could the wakizashi I got from Mark Green, which is ubu mumei but has a 21-3/8" nagasa simply be an uchigatana made for a smaller bushi? Or is it just a rather long wakizashi?

[John A Stuart]

Getting a little short now. John

[MikeS]

G'day.

There is a Juyo Bunkazai Shizu Kaneuji that is signed katana mei and is a little over 2 shaku (62.4 cm). It is also Kiriha. See Nihon To Koza V.3, page F18-19. As translated by H. Watson, the authors mention that they are unsure if it is "an unusual example of a tachi by Kaneuji or to view it as a relic of the beginning of the uchigatana period..." If we knew what the original koshirae looked like we maybe able to decide. Either way, it is a very interesting sword and I would love to see it one day.

Cheers.

Mike Smith

Sydney, Australia.

[john weeks]

Sorry it took so long...my sword is katana mei. Will TRY to send photos if I can figure out how or get help from someone more computer savvy than me...(which wouldn't take to much!)