A broad Hitachi katana Meiji era (1868-1912), dated 1869 Sugata (configuration): honzukuri, iorimune, with a broad mihaba, thick kasane, an extended kissaki and toriizori curvature Kitae (forging pattern): flowing itame hada with visible jinie Hamon (tempering pattern): suguha and ko-gunome midare with ko-choji, ashi and sunagashi throughout Boshi (tip): midare komi turning to ko-maru Horimono (carving): futasubi on both sides Nakago (tang): ubu with one mekugiana hole and kiri file marks, signed Hitachi no kuni Mito no ju Katsumura Tokukatsu tsukuru and dated Meiji ninen hachigatsu no hi (A day in the eighth month of 1869) Habaki (collar): one-piece, wood Nagasa (length from tip to beginning of tang): 28 1/4in (71.7cm) Motohaba (width at start of tempered edge): 1 3/8in (3.5cm) Sakihaba (width before tip): 1 1/8in (2.8cm) In shirasaya (wood storage scabbard)