Another of our newly-released blades is a beautiful tachi. The tachi is a Japanese blade worn by the samurai class and came to prominence during the Koto Period (900-1596 AD). The tachi is a predecessor of the katana and differs from the katana in terms of blade geometry and mountings. The tachi has greater blade curvature and more tapered from the hilt (kasane) to the tip (sakikasane). It was worn horizontally through hangers called ashi and with the cutting edge down.
This tachi is made of differentially heat-treated folded 1095 high carbon steel with a beautiful notare or wave hamon. The saya is fully-wrapped in genuine,  polished rayskin and then laquered to give it a smooth, shiny finish. The tsuka is hardwood and fully-wrapped with genuine, white rayskin. The ito is black synthetic silk. The sageo or cord wrapping on the ashi is also black synthetic silk. The kabuto-gane, menuki, fuchi, koiguchi, ashi, semegane and sayajiri are all made of copper and depict various flowers and shishi or lion-dogs. Flowers have a deep importance in Japanese culture and signify treasured virtues essential in the life of a warrior. Shishi are common in many Asian cultures and are known as guardians or protectors of temples and hallowed grounds.
Other specifications are as follows: