Warabite sword (蕨手刀)
Warabite sword is one of the Japanese iron swords.
Summary
It was made in the late Kofun period (tumulus period), from the sixth century to the eighth century, primarily in Tohoku Region. It is the major burial goods for tumulus in northern Tohoku Region in the late seventh century. An accouterment of sword, tsuka-gashira (pommel) which decorates the hilt of the sword is characteristic for its circinate design like crosier of bracken. And the hilt is not made of wood, but tomoganetsuka (combined iron blade and haft) which has iron nakago (end of the blade) winded with cords or strings as a grip.
More than 200 of them were found throughout Japan. Most were found in tumulus or remains. Many of them were found in Hokkaido and Tohoku Region, and especially in Iwate Prefecture, more than 70 were found. They were also found in Koshinetsu Region, and a certain number of them in Shikoku and Kyushu Region. Warabite sword is also preserved in Shoso-in Temple.
Most of its earlier form has straightened hilt and sword body (straight sword). In Tohoku Region, hilt is curved as the blade faces upward.
And some of latter form has hilt of tweezers-shaped lacework.