Katana; japanese sword and saya (scabbard); blade is long and curved with a single cutting edge; unsigned blade; bronze coloured habaki (metal encircling blade); tsuba is ornate lattice work; fuchi (collar above tsuba) has raised relief of flowers and vines; samegawa (handle wrap) is rayskin; tsuka-ito is a black coloured silk cord wrap on handle; under the tsuka-ito is a menuki charm on each side 3 ivy-style leaves; kojiri (end cap) is raised relief design of flowers on vines; saya (scabbard) is decorated with tiny cross sections of [wood or shell] that have been coated in a lacquer; kurigata (knob on scabbard for a attachment) is of a phoenix; saya has no pocket for kogatana; maker: Kane Sada [?], circa 1500s;

Part of the History collection. 

Credit Line: Collection of Auckland Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Gift of Mr Harry S Dadley, W1858 

For more details visit <a href="http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/collections-research/collections/record/am_humanhistory-object-697111" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.aucklandmuseum.com/collections</a>