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Katana signed Setsu'shu-ju Fujiwara SUKEHIRO Echizen-no-kami

Shinto Early Edo period (Shou'ou - Meireki era/circa 1652-57) Settsu
Length of cutting edge 76.4cm Curvature 0.9cm Width of base 31.5mm Width of Yokote 20.0mm Thickness of base 7.3mm

NBTHK(Hozon) certificate
Fujishiro Yoshio letter of certificate

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Blade construction: Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune. Kasane thickness is rather on thick side, a bit on shallow curve and massively heavy on hands. Length of cutting edge is long, width of mihaba is a bit on wide side standing firmly on base, holding suitable degree of tapering to the middle Kissaki. The entire shape bears the typical of a heroic sword in the stage of translation from early Edo to the middle of Edo period. (click HERE for higher resolution image of the entire blade) / (HERE for OSHIGATA sketch)
Forging(Hada): Forging is minutely forged Ko-Mokume hada, some conspicuous forging mark appears on base area. The hiraji surface is covered with "Ji-nie" of sparkling hard metal granules where diffused reflection with a mottled effect "Midare-Utsuri" is perceived.
Temper(Hamon): Hamon is Ko-nie hard metal granules base, small Gunome and Togari-ha (round and sharp head) outline which varies in height and shape. Upper the blade below Kissaki, the temper becomes wider, more flamboyant and splashing where generates "Tobiyaki" and "Muneyaki". The interior is filled with deep "Noi" mist-like crystalline area where gunome feet radiates into the cutting edge frequently. The entire quench scene is vividly bright.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Boshi forms "Gunome" on the Yokote-ridge and forms "Suguha" straight with "Hakikake" small lines of Nie then medium circle turns back connecting to "Muneyaki" of splashed quench marks on the back ridge.
Tang(Nakago): Nakago is in UBU original, one peg hole. "O-Sujikai" (great slanting left) filemarks. Back ridge of Nakago is round in full with "O-Sujikai" filemark. Bottom shape of heel is V-shape (Kengyo). The signature in Hakiomote, only the initial character of "Setsu" 摂 in cursive style, is chiselled with the inscription of "Setsu'shu-ju Fujiwara SUKEHIRO 摂州住藤原助廣", the other side is chiselled with large character, an official district title "Echizen-no-kami" 越前守.

The famed smith founder "SUKEHIRO" 助廣, real name is Tsuda Yabei 津田弥兵衛, sources in Tsuda town of Harima domain (now the suburbs of Himeji-city, Hyogo pref.). He moved to Osaka on about Kanei era (1624-) to take lesson from Kawachi-no-kami KUNISUKE 河内守国助 and devoted himself to become independent on about Shouho 4 (1647) to set up own forging studio at 1-chome, Tokiwa-cho, Osaka under his own smith name of "SUKEHIRO" 助廣. He mostly performed "Bizen-den" technique that was handed down from his master and also it's well known as an expert at making swords of "Owaza-mono" of above supreme sharp cutting performance. He has been well-known alias "Soboro SUKEHIRO" because he chiselled a phase of "SOBORO" そぼろ in his posthumous works dated Keian 1 (1648) or Meireki 3 (1657) in order to distinguish from the 2nd generation SUKEHIRO. Died 16th day, in the 11th month of kanbun 3 (1663), aged unknown.
He enjoyed an official district tile of "Echizen-no-kami" 越前守 from the Imperial Court on after the 8th month of Meireki 1 (1655), before the 8th month of Meireki 2 (1656). After he enjoyed "Echizen-no-kami" 越前守 title, he became in poor health, so that it's quite rare to have the title of "Echizen-no-kami" chiselled on the swords in his posthumous works. It is said that most of the swords in his later years would be ghost-made by the 2nd generation "SUKEHIRO". He went into retirement on after Mani era (1658-) and "Echizen-no-kami" title was succeeded to the 2nd generation "SUHEHIRO".
The subject exceptionally long sword is judged made in a few years before his retirement in Meireki 3 (1657) and would be ghost-made by 2nd gen. SUKEHIRO because the engraving style of cursive writing of the initial character of "Setsu" 摂 is identified not belonging to his own also the title of "Echizen-no-kami" is inscribed on the other side that makes a difference from his own style.
Hamon of magnificent view bears the ancient work of KATSUMITSU from Bizen Osafune school and splendid fine steel so called "Osaka-shinto steel" gives off diffused reflection of "Midare-utsuri" that closely resembles Ichimonji works.
This is one of the most representative swords of the posthumous works by 1st gen. SUHKEHIRO with "Echizen-no-kami" title in his later years.
Gold plated double layer copper Habaki collar, preserved in a Shira-saya plain wood mounting.
Superb recent polish/Condition scale: mint-excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).
reference data : Kazuta Seiji/Moriguchi Takatsugu, Sukehiro Taikan, Komura Suiko shoin, 1980