A16244(S2075)
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Katana signed Unshu-han Fujiwara NAGANOBU-zou Auspicious day in the 8th month, the 3rd year of Ansei with) Transparent coral dark red lacquered scabbard Kobusho style Uchikatana koshirae

Shin-shinto End of Edo period (Ansei 3/1856) Bushu
Length of cutting edge 76.1cm Curvature 1.8cm Width of Base 32.4mm Width of Yokote 23.3mm Thickness of base 8.0mm Length of Nakago 25.9cm

NBTHK(Tokubetsu Hozon) certificate
(Hozon Tousougu) certificate for Tsuba

with) Transparent coral dark red lacquered scabbard Kobusho style Uchikatana koshirae

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Blade construction: Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune. Length of cutting edge is extra long, Nakago length is long as well. Mihaba is wide and Shinogi-ji is a bit on wide side leading to an extended medium tip "Kissaki". The entire blade is full of heroic impression and solidly heavy on hands.(click HERE for higher resolution image of the entire blade)
Forging(Hada): Forging is minute Ko-Itame hada in general mixing with entwined ware that appears along quench side. The hiraji surface is covered with "Ji-nie" of sparkling hard metal granules where fine Nie dots of Chikei activity glitters on the steel.
Temper(Hamon): Hamon is rather on strong side Nie hard metal granules base, wavy of "Notare" mixing with small Gunome, Choji or Togari-ha. The interior is filled with extreme deep "Noi" mist-like crystalline area where thick Nie feet splashes into the cutting edge frequently. Those activities of quench state are extremely vivid and bright standing out strikingly.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Boshi forms "MIDAREKOMI" irregular quench state with small circle turns back indication.
Tang(Nakago): Nakago is in UBU original, one peg hole. "Gyaku-sujikai" (greatly slanting right) filemarks with complex filemark in upper Suridashi area so called "Ko'tsutsumi". Back ridge of Nakago is a bit well-rounded contour with "Gyaku-sujikai" filemark. Bottom shape is single bevelled (Ha-agari-Kurijiri) in full. The signature in Hakiomite side is engraved on Shinogi-suji ridge, large chiselled inscription of Unshu-han Fujiwara NAGANOBU-zou 雲州藩藤原長信造 and the other side chiselled in cursive style with the date of year, Auspicious day in the 8th month, the 3rd year of Ansei (1856) 安政三年八月吉日.

Izumo province now Shimane pref. brought Amano-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi 天叢雲剣 "Sword of the Gathering Clouds of Heaven" in the mythological age producing the top quality of fine steel from time immemorial.
NAGANOBU 長信 was born on the 18th day, 9th year of Bunka 14 (1817), in Sanbuichi town Izumo domain (now Hikawa-cho Sanbuichi, Izumo, Shimane-pref.) as the second son of farmer Sezaki Heisuke 瀬崎平助. His childhood name was Zunzo 善造, later named himself as Sezaki Rigei 瀬崎理兵衛.
On Bunsei 12 (1829) when he was 13 years old, he became a pupil of smith Konosuke FUYUHIRO 幸之助冬廣 of the 15th generation. Making swords turned into nature to him being adopted into FUYUHIRO 冬廣 family and worked his way up to the official sword maker of feudal lord Matsudaira Sadayasu 松平定安 of Matsue-han succeeding FUYUHIRO 冬廣 of the 17th generation.
On Tenpo 9 (1838), on the order of feudal lord, he moved up to Bushu Edo, now Tokyo to study under Cho-unsai TSUNATOSHI 長運齋綱俊 in two years and half, then became independent to establish his studio on about Tenpo 12 (1841) to change his smith name as Takahashi NAGANOBU 高橋長信. It is said that he has poor hearing in his later age so some of his later works inscribes as "deaf NAGANOBU" or "Takahashi Hearing impaied-smith"
He was also one of the most distinguished makers who ranks an extraordinarily skillful maker with top ranking of the most supreme sharp cutting performance among all "Saijo O-waza-mono". He only chisels his own inscription on the sword with his own cutting performance test into the iron plate three times. The rumor went spread that famed smith KIYOMARO 清麿呂 took the sword from him before quenching then tempered it chiseled with own inscription in order to meet with continuous orders with the top cutting performance quality standard.
He was very religious person to offer the extra large sized framed (300cm wide), double edged sword of Ken as long as 150cm on Ansei 3 (1856) which has been still hung in front of Komyoji hall in Naritasan Shorinji temple.
He was in the depth of despair and gave up sword making with an opportunity of the Sword Abolishment Edict in Meiji 9 (1876). Passed away on May 20, Meiji 12 (1879), was 63 years old.
The subject sword with great majesty was made on 1856 when he was great skilled in 40 years old. It is extra long sized to meet with Fuden-ryu 不伝流 school in Matsue-han, making a thrust with a sword. Elaborate complex performed filemark of "Ko'tsutsumi" style and also cursive style date of year, both styles have close resemblances to the ones of Tsuda Echizen-no-kami SUKEHIRO津田越前守助広. Also "Gyaku-sujikai" (greatly slanting right) filemarks shows that he was supposed left-handed.
Josaku　(Superior made) masterpiece/Ōwazamono　（Above supreme sharp) cutting performance

Transparent coral dark red lacquered scabbard Kobusho style Uchikatana koshirae
(click HERE for entire Koshirae and HERE for enlarged images of each fitting)
  • Tsuba : Sasa bamboo leaves design, unsigned attributed to Shoami, Gold/silver Nunome style inlay, Shakudo rope pattern Fukurin rim, Both Hitsuana punches filled by Shakudo. (Hozon certificate)
  • Fuchi/Kashira : Big wave and birds design, Shakudo polish surface, Takabori carving, Gold/silver iroe, unsigned.
  • Tsuka : White layskin, Unohana color small lozenge wrap
  • Sageo : Pure Silk DRAGON design REVERSE-WHITE in Blue
This noticeable fitting is called Kobusho-koshirae 講武所拵 which was fashion of the time end Edo period among skilful young Samurais of "Hatamoto" or "Gokenin" class. Tokugawa Shogunate set up an official dojo school of Kobusho 講武所 in Ansei 3 (1856) to get ready for social movement of Sonnō-Jōi (尊皇攘夷 Revere the emperor, expel the barbarians).
Young Samurai prefers an extra long sword set in a showy scabbard with long hilt of Unohana undyed silk cord small lozenge wrapped. They fit the Koshirae fitting in a level at the waist for a winner in dojo match was awarded with the Sageo strap of blue-reversed-white color.

Silver foiled Habaki collar, Preserved in Shira-saya plain wood mouonting
Recent polish/Condition scale: mint - excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).
reference data :
Yasuhiro ABE, Researches of deaf sword smith Takahashi NAGANOBU in Unshu-domain, Kuroshio-sha, 1988