A Japanese presentation sword (tachi)

A Japanese presentation sword (tachi), blade 31.5 in., shinogi-zukuri, horimo of a cherry branch to one side and bamboo to the other, highly polished but with hamon visible along much of the length, nakago signed Sa Yukihide saku kore and date Kaei 6th year (corresponding to 1853), tsuka and saya clad in samegawa and with full length copper fukurin embellished with repousse scale decoration, silvered fittings cast in heavy relief with cherry blossom and other botanical themes, comprising: sarute, kabutogane, fuchi, tsuba, koiguchi, ashi kanamono, semegane and sayajiri; leather obitori with nanatsu-gane, menuki and other discrete ornaments ensuite and accompanied by others depicting crouching warriors, mid 19th Century, probably attributable to Yukihide of Chikuzen and Tosa, Hawley reference YUK 33

Reference: Willis Meeker Hawley, 'Hawley's Japanese Swordsmiths'.