The Habaki has two important functions. 1) It is the
anchor for the Tsuka (Hilt or Handle), seppa (washers) and Tsuba (guard). It
is mounted over the nakago (tang) and stops at the munemachi (back notch)
and the hamachi (cutting edge notch.) 2) It forms a tapered friction point
to hold the blade in the saya (scabbard).
As a loose rule on blades with
older habaki; gold habaki are usually found on koto (pre 1600) blades, and
silver habaki are found on later blades.
They are either one or