Uchigatana – Sword – _Images

Katana tagging guide #4149148

The Uchigatana is a kind of Japanese sword worn by the samurai class in feudal Japan.

The uchigatana is said to have been from 60 cm to no more than 70 cm, with a stout sugata, a steep saki-zori, which could be used as a one handed sword due to its thin kasane (thickness) and short nakago (tang) making it relatively light. As a lighter and thinner sword than the tachi, the uchigatana became popular for battles on foot where speed was essential. Furthermore, because of its lightness and the way it was worn on the user's belt, the uchigatana could be unsheathed and strike in one fluid motion, unlike the tachi which required separate motions.

See also: Katana, Wakizashi, Oodachi, Tachi

Last entry on May 05, 2020