cutting edge length () of 70–80 cm (– in), and compared to a katana, was generally lighter in proportion to its length, had a greater taper from hilt to point, was more curved and had a smaller point area for penetrating heavy clothing. Unlike the traditional manner of wearing the katana, the tachi was worn hung from the belt with the cutting-edge down, and was most effective used by cavalry. Deviations from the average length of tachi have the prefixes ko- for "short" and ō- for "great, large" attached. For instance, tachi shōtō and closer in size to a wakizashi were called kodachi. The longest 'tachi (considered a 15th-century ōdachi) in existence is in total length with a blade, but is believed to be ceremonial. In the late 1500s and early 1600s, many tachi blades were modified into katana; their cut tangs (o-suriage), removing the smith signatures from the swords. For a sword to be worn in tachi style, it needed to be mounted in a tachi koshirae. The tachi koshirae has two hangers (ashi) so the sword can be worn in a horizontal position with the cutting edge down. A sword not mounted in a tachi koshirae could be worn tachi style by use of a koshiate, a leather device allowing any sword to be worn in the tachi style. Gallery Generally, the blade and the sword mounting of Japanese swords are displayed separately in museums, and this tendency is remarkable in Japan. For example, the Nagoya Japanese Sword Museum "Nagoya Touken World", one of Japan's largest sword museums, posts separate videos of the blade and the sword mounting on its official website and YouTube. See also Japanese sword Katana Kodachi Ōdachi Tenka-Goken – five best swords in Japan. All of the five are classified as tachi. References External links Richard Stein's Japanese sword guide Japanese sword types Samurai swords Samurai weapons and equipment Japanese swords