A12174(S3051)
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Katana signed Hitachi-no-kuni Kasama-junin Minamoto MASATSUGU kore-wo tsukuru with) Red Ishime-ji stone surface lacquered scabbard uchikatana Koshirae

Shin-shin-to End of Edo period (Genji ERA/CIRCA1864) Hitachi
Length of cutting edge 75.3cm Curvature 1.5cm Width of base 33.8mm Width of Yokote 26.6mm Thickness of base 8.4mm

NBTHK(HOZON) certificate

with) Red Ishime-ji stone surface lacquered scabbard uchikatana Koshirae

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Sugata(configuration) : Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune. Long kanata, heavy on hands. Kasane is rather on thick side and wide in Mihaba standing firmly on base, a bit on less side on curvature and less degree of tapering to upper point leading to an extended large Kissaki. (click HERE for high resolution image of the entire blade)
Kitae(forging pattern) : Kitae is Itame(wooden grain). Jigane is covered in sparkling ji-nie hard metal granules that works where Chikei wells out from fine steel. Shinogi-ji surface shows straight grain mark "Masame-hada".
Hamon(tempering pattern) : Hamon is combination of Nie-based large and small gunome, deep nioi-kuchi incorporating frequent nie-ashi(lines projecting into the hardened edge) and long lines of Nie "SUNAGASHI" and bright thread-like KINSEN activity. The entire tempering is vividly bright.
Boshi (tip): Wavy Gunome midare and small circle turn-back. Hakikake Nie lines works toward the point.
Nakago(tang) : UBU unaltered. Ōsujikai greatly slanting left file mark and horizontal Kesho filemark. Round heel (Kurijiri). One Mekugi-ana (retaining hole). The signature in front is chiselled in small character that reads Hitachi-no-kuni Kasama-junin Minamoto MASATSUGU kore-wo tsukuru 常陸国笠間住人藤原正次作之.

Sword maker MASATSUGU 正次 who lived in Kasama 笠間 castle town, Hitachi 常陸 (now Ibaraki pref.) was active during end of Edo period and his posthumous works with the date of years ranges from Ansei era till 2nd year of Meiji (1854 - 1869), real name Hosaka Takehachiro 保坂武八郎.
The katana by MASATSUGU signed "Joushu Kasama-ju MASATSUGU 常州笠間住正次" is designated as an important cultural asset of Shirosato town.
This katana is brave and massive in thickness leading to a broad tip which is a typical character during end of Edo period. The tempering pattern varies with rich Nie activity such as Sunagashi and Kinsen Nie lines that generates forging lines like river stream.
This magnificent katana shows the fashion of the time which was flourished among last Samurais end of Edo period.

Red Ishime-ji stone surface lacquered scabbard uchikatana Koshirae :
  • Tsuba : Kiku chrysanthemum flower leaves design, Shakudo copper alloy, Nanako-ji surface, Mokkou shape, Inome openwork Suemon gold inlay, unsigned
  • Fuchi/Kashira : Hanabishi/Manji crest design, Shakudo ground, Nanako-ji surface, Takabori carving Gold iroe, signed Yoshioka Inaba-no-suke 吉岡因幡介
  • Menuki : Hanabishi/Manji crest triple design, gold Iroe
  • Tsuka : White layskin, Unohana undyed color lozenge wrap

Original copper ground silver foiled Habaki collar.
Shira-saya plain wood mounting and wooden replica katana Tsunagi are not attached but can make them upon request.
Recent polish/Condition scale: mint - excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).
reference data : Honma Kunzan/Ishii Masakuni, Nihonto Meikan, Yuzankaku, 1975