This uchigatana-style mounting was made for a katana sword created by Go Yoshihiro. The black lacquered scabbard shows a ribbed pattern called ‘fuemaki’. The sword guard was made by Sonobe Hidetada who was a sword-guard craftsman active in the 19th century. The other outer metal fittings were made by Kobayashi Shizunaga.
In the Edo period (1600-1868), samurai commonly wore swords in uchigatana style by thrusting them through their belt with the cutting-edge up.