"鋸刃" (Nokogiriba)

What is Nokogiriba in Japanese Katana terminology?

Nokogiriba refers to a type of blade pattern (Hamon) in Japanese swords. It is a variation of "互の目乱" (Gunome Midare), a blade pattern (Hamon) where the peaks and valleys of the temper line form a consistent pattern. In Nokogiriba, the peaks of the pattern become flat partway, and each individual Gunome is shaped like a trapezoid. The slight slant of the valleys towards the tip of the blade resembles the teeth of a saw, which is why it is called "Nokogiriba" (saw blade). This blade pattern (Hamon) is characteristic of the Bizen Kagekuni school.