T173.  Shingen mukade tsuba.  Iron with soft metal wire ornamentation.  There is a brass or bronze applied fukurin and the kotsuka hitsu-ana is plugged with shakudo.  7.3 x 7.5 cm, measured across the flats and 4 mm is the plate thickness.  Mukade is Japanese for centipede, the design created by the alternating brass and shakudo wires that pass through the heavy, dense plate.  The applied fukurin, which at first I thought was part of the plate and didn’t recognize until I looked with magnification, is a very nice touch.  The plate shows great, subtle hammer work and condition is excellent; none of the wire is missing.  I think this one is special.  $400.