Uchigatana An is a type of Japanese sword worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan . The " uchigatana " was the descendant of the tachi . History . From the Heian to the Muromachi Period , the primary battlefield sword was the tachi . Its long blade and sharp edge made it ideal for use on horseback . During the fifteenth century , the " uchigatana " came into use , and during the Muromachi Period ( 1336 to 1573 ) use of the " uchigatana " became widespread . The word " uchigatana " can be found in literary works as early as the Kamakura Period , with " uchi " meaning " to strike " and gatana ( katana ) meaning " sword " , so that uchigatana means " sword to strike with " . The " uchigatana " was originally used only by individuals of low status or rank , such as the " ashigaru " . Most " uchigatana " made during the early Kamakura Period were not of the highest standard , and because they were considered disposable , virtually no examples from these early times exist today . It was not until the Muromachi Period , when samurai began to use " uchigatana " to supplement the longer " tachi " , that " uchigatana " of higher quality were made . During the Momoyama period , the " tachi " was almost totally abandoned and the custom of wearing a pair of long and short " uchigatana " together ( called the " daisho " ) became the dominant symbol of the samurai class . Description . The length of the " uchigatana " during the 1500s is said to be from 60 cm to no more than 70 cm , with a stout " sugata " , a steep " saki - zori " , and it could be used as a one handed sword due to its thin " kasane " ( thickness ) and short " nakago " ( tang ) making it relatively light . As opposed to the " tachi " , the " uchigatana " was worn edge - up in the belt , this and usually being slightly smaller than the " tachi " was the main difference between the " tachi " and the " uchigatana " . Since the " uchigatana " is worn differently than the " tachi " , the signature carved into the tang of the " uchigatana " is also opposite to the " tachi " " mei " , making the words still upright instead of upside down as when one wears the " tachi " in the manner of the " uchigatana " . " Uchigatana " became popular for several reasons , the " uchigatana " was more convenient to wear and did not get in the way of using a polearm as much as a " tachi " , also the frequency of battles fought on foot and the need for speed on the battlefield , were major reasons for the " uchigatana " being rapidly accepted and indicated that battlefield combat had grown in intensity . Since the " uchigatana " was shorter than the " tachi " , it could be used in more confined quarters , such as inside a building . Use . Unlike the " tachi " , with which the acts of drawing and striking with the sword were two separate actions , unsheathing the " uchigatana " and cutting the enemy down with it became one smooth , lightning - fast action . This technique was developed in the arts of battojutsu , iaijutsu , and iaido . The curvature of the " uchigatana " blade differs from the " tachi " in that the blade has curvature near the sword ’ s point ( " sakizori " ) , as opposed to curvature near the sword ’ s hilt ( " koshizori " ) like the " tachi " . Because the sword is being drawn from below , the act of unsheathing became the act of striking . For a soldier on horseback , the " sakizori " curve of the " uchigatana " was essential in such a blade , since it allows the sword to come out of its sheath at the most convenient angle for executing an immediate cut .