The Tachi

With a few exceptions katana and tachi can be distinguished from each other if signed, by the location of the signature (mei) on the tang(nakago). In general the mei should carved into the side of the nakago that would face outward when the sword was worn. Since a tachi was worn cutting edge down, and the katana was worn cutting edge up the mei would be in opposite locations on the nakago of both types of swords.^[1]