‡A JAPANESE SWORD (EFU-NO-TACHI) in a gold lacquered saya (some damage) which has gilded fitting and mythological creatures in groups of three. All mounts, including the shitogi-tsuba are in brass. The tsuka was covered in black samé, now somewhat faded and there is some damage. The slender shinogi-zukuri blade has a deep tori-zori and ko-kissaki. The indistinct hamon appears to be a wide suguha but no details are discernible. The jihada may be predominantly masame but is also indistinct. The nakago has yoko-yasuri with kuri-jiri and two mekugi-ana, mumei. 57.5 cm; 22 5/8 in blade