Curious iron reinforcing strips under Ito

[PNSSHOGUN]

Not something you see everyday, has anyone encountered these iron strips before? The rest of the sword is unfortunately rather unimpressive and includes a florid story about it being traded for clothes by an Aizu Samurai during the Boshin war....  

[kissakai]

Didn't Ford Hallams video show something like this - but memory not so good

 

[Geraint]

Dear Grev.

 

Memory still OK, Ford does have a video about something similar but in that case the nunome zogan iron plates replaced the same beneath the ito. The example that John has seems to have distinct iron strips almost like elongated menuki.  It's a first for me but thanks for sharing it John.

Ford's video here, 

 

 

All the best.