Kotegiri Masamune

Sword ID 0000-0475  
Mei
朝倉籠手切太刀なり天正三年
asakura kotegiri no tachi nari tensho 3 nen
右幕下御搨上大津伝十郎拝領
migi bakka osuriage otsu denjurō hairyō
Type Katana Tsukurikomi
Nagasa (cm) 68.48 Sori (cm)
Moto-haba (cm) Saki-haba (cm)
Moto-kasane (cm) Saki-kasane (cm)
Mekugi Nakago Ōsuriage

Attribution

Smith Masamune School
Period Kamakura (1184-1336) Year
References[?] NN-2-3-12
Links
Location
Certificate Type Certificate ID  

History

The Kotegiri (or Kote giri) is a kendo strike to the wrist, the reason for the choice of name comes from this tachi being used by Asakura Ujikage to cut the steel mail off an opposing samurai's arm in the battle of Toji in Kyōto. Oda Nobunaga gained possession of this sword and had it shortened to its present length. In 1615 it eventually passed down to the Maeda clan who in 1882 presented it as a gift to Emperor Meiji, a known sword collector.

(Source: Wikipedia)