Loaned swords?

[Hazzard]

In multiplayer as well as certain mods an additional ashigaeu unit called the loan sword unit is available.

Does anyone know how it gets its name? My only idea is that they borrowed money to get a katana to bborrowed the katana itself from the clan to arm themselves and I can't find any mention of them online.

[Cruzz]

They didn't take out loans to pay for the swords, they were given swords by someone (the local daimyo, most likely).

お貸し刀(literally loaned sword, or loansword) is often used to refer more generally to the mass-produced swords (数打物) that were produced to meet the sudden surge in demand from the lower classes when the Onin Rebellion broke out after a long time of peace.

[pbrgdmkj]

they were given swords by someon

[Hazzard]

A a loan or on an indefinite basis?

[Kraut]

A a loan or on an indefinite basis?

As long as they stay in service for the person they got their swords from, I would presume.