A KATANA the blade honzukuri, iorimune strong torii-zori with chugissaki, itame hada with ji-nie wide gunome-midare hamon of nie, full length grooves on both sides, ubu-nakago with signature Ikkanshi Awataguchi Tadatsuna, 17th centuery, 63.3cm.; in a diagonally ribbed black lacquer saya decorated with stylised dragons in gold hiramakie, silver fittings comprising fuchi-kashira carved and inlaid with a dragon and tiger, the tsuka with a band chiselled with clouds containing a metal mekugi formed as a variant of the mitsudomoe mon, kurikata formed as a band and koiguchi carved and inlaid with cherry blossom, extended kojiri carved with bamboo, the fuchi and kojiri signed Narisuke, brass tsuba formed as a coiled snake, the eyes and teeth gilt with signature Takase Eiju and Kao