G62433(S3272)
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katana signed Noshu-ju KANEHIDE-saku In the 6th month, the 61th year of Showa with) Black lacquered scabbard Uchikatana Koshirae

Contemporary sword (Showa 61/1986) Gifu
Length of cutting edge 70.6cm Curvature 1.7cm Width of base 32.4mm Width of Yokote 24.0mm Thickness of base 7.9mm

An important intangible cultural asset of Seki and Gifu pref.
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Blade construction : Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune. Wide in Mihaba, thick in Kasane and shallow curvature. There is less degree of tapering toward the point leading to a large Kissaki. (click HERE for higher resolution of entire blade)
Forging (Hada) : Forging forms Itame-hada which is mixing with Mokume-hada ware and covered by thick sparkling glitter so called Ji-Nie crystallized mist and "Chikei" of thick swirl of forging mark is clearly perceived.
Temper line (Hamon) : Hamon of rather strong side crystalline structure of the martensite makes up shallow wave of "Notare" mixing with "Gunome" or Clove boundary line which is powerfully hardened Nie-based and some splashes onto Hiraji surface to form "Yubashiri" activity. The interior is filled with dense Nioi-mist and Gunome-feet emit toward the cutting edge. Long lines of darkish Nie line runs across the feet and groups of "Sunagashi" short lines of Nie frequently appears.
Temper of tip (Boshi) : Temper line of tip is irregular "Midarekomi" with medium circle turns back.
Tang (Nakago) : Nakago is UBU. Greatly slanting left (O-sujikai) file marks. The Ha-agari kurijiri (single-bevelled) heel. One peg hole. The signature in front is Noshu-ju KANEHIDE-saku 濃州住兼秀作 and the date of year In the 6th month, Showa 61 (1986) 昭和六十一年六月日 is chiseled on the other side.

Smith KANEHIDE 兼秀, real name is Isamu NAKATA 中田　勇 was born in 24th August 1913 (Taisho 2) in Ōkuwa town Kiso-gun, Nagano pref.
After 8 year's apprenticeship at the 12 th generation Kawashima Masahide Smith's Shop 十二代川島正秀鍛錬所, he accepted to become a pupil of the smith Watanabe KANENAGA 渡辺兼永 in Seki-city, Gifu pref. in 1937 (Showa 12). He presentred the swords both to the Prime Minister Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler in 1938 also offered Hideki Tojo 東條英機, a general of the Imperial Japanese Army in 1943.
After the World War II reconstruction of Japan, he continuously had won numerous prizes starting from 1955 in the contemporary Japanese Sword Fine arts Contests held by the Japanese Swords Preservation Society (NBTHK) such as "Doryoku Award" 3 times, "Nyusen Award" 8 times and got an honor of making swords for the Emperor and Empress Showa in 1957, finally awarded with an important intangible cultural asset of Seki city in 1976 and next year further awarded with one of Gifu prefecture in 1977.
The subject katana was made when he was late in life aged 72. He would bear the work of heroic katanas from Nanbokucho period in his mind emphasized Itame forging ware and abundant Nie activity from Shoshu technique that reminds us the famed work of Hasebe 長谷部.
The mounted katana with hilt and Tsuba (without scabbard) is well balanced and weights 1200 grams. The blade and Koshirae fitting has no mark of usage to keep the original mint condition.
The black lacquered scabbard Tesho-style Koshirae consists of : (click HERE for the entire koshirae / HERE for detained images)
White rayskin, black cord "Morotsumami-maki" style lozenge wrap. Head of "Kashira" made of horn, Fuchi of stone surface finish design is made of copper. Menuki of Peony flower design and Tsuba of Shiguretei 時雨亭 design at Kodai-ji Zen Temple.
Copper ground gold foiled Habaki collar, No Shira-saya plain wood mounting is included.
An original good polish/Condition scale: mint (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).