User blog comment:Lemursrule/BLEACH 366 Review: Goodbye for Now/@comment-3353654-20120327165942/@comment-1351982-20120327171650

No it was still his, Zanpakuto are not like normal swords, they can't be passed down. The Zanpakuto is a madifestation of the soul, if the soul does not exist, the blade does not exist. It had the same guard and hilt as Suzumushi

http://bleach.wikia.com/wiki/File:9ctousenshikaibc8.gif