G41578(S1896)

Katana signed Hokuetsu Kamou-ju Susukita Tetu'suishi KUNIHIDEIn the 8 th month Tenpou 6

Shin-shin-to latter half of Edo period (Tenpou 6 / 1835) Echigo
Length of cutting edge 73.2cm Curvature 1.8cm Width of base 33.5mm Thickness of base 7.4mm

NBTHK(Hozon) certificate
NTHK(Shoshin) certificate

Blade construction: Long Katana of Hira-zukuri, Iori-mune. Kasane is thick and wide in Mihaba that tapers less toward the swelling Fukura Kissaki. There is a bit on deeper side curvature in Koshi-sori as well as center pointed curvature. Entire shape holds heroic style in latter half of Edo period. (click HERE for higher resolution image of the entire blade).
Forging(Hada): Bluish steel gives off conspicuous forging scene of Itame and Mokume or streaming Masame on both boundary line and back ridge of Mune against sparkling Ji-nie granule on surface.
Temper(Hamon): Undulating shallow Notare in Nie trends. Ko-gunome in ranges, irregular Ko-midare that varies in shape. The quenching activities of frequent Gunome Ashi or floating YOU appears in the interior of temper where boundary lines shows abundant activity that comes from Nie such as short lines of Sunagashi or thick lines of Kinsuji. The interior of temper is filled with Nioi mist-like crystallize area. The entire Hamon is vividly bright in full of quenching activities that comes from powerful Nie in Soushu tradition.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Temper of Boshi forms irregular Midarekomi flame-up with Hakikake activity then turns back deeply.
Tang(Nakago): Nakago is long with shallow Sori to perform Koshi-sori indication. The tang is original UBU with slightly slanting left (Katte-sagari) filemarks. Flat back ridge with Ō-sujikai filemark. Uneven U-shape Kurijiri heel in full. The inscription signature is inscribed along the Mune-side upper the Mekugi-ana, that starts with the work place Hokuetsu Kamou-ju 北越蒲生住, family name Susukita 薄田, an additional pseudonym Tetu'suishi 鉄水子 then smith name KUNIHIDE 国秀. The other side is chiselled with the date of year In the 8 th month, Tenpo 6 (1835) 天保六年八月日.

According to the reference Nihonto Meikan 日本刀銘鑑, smith KUNIHIDE 国秀, a legitimate son of NAGAHIDE 長秀 whose family name Susukita 薄田, was born in
Yorii town, Echigo domain (now Yorii-cho, Chuuou-ward, Niigata). After years of intensive practice under his master / father NAGAHIDE 長秀, he made independent to set his own studio in Kamou town (now Kamou town, Toukaichi city, Niigata pref.).
Hirazukuri construction without Shinogi-suji initially appeared in ancient times with straight shape was gradually replaced with Kiri-ha-tsukuri (Shinogi line appears closed to cutting edge) or Mine-moro-ha tsukuri (Shinogi-ridge appears in center) almost no curvature then had transformed to highly refined curve Tachi in middle of Heian period.
On after the medieval period of kamakura and Muromachi, Hirazukuri construction was defined mostly to Tanto or Sun-nobi style Wakizashi therefore it is quite unusual example of which hasn't been seen.
The subject unique Hirazukuri Katana dated Tenpo 6 (1835) was easily supposed to be made upon special request from powerful Samurai in militarism spirit to expect the most supreme sharp cutting performance than the Shinogi-zukuri construction in common. Both traditional Itame forging and Nie favored Soushu-trend quenching activity gives off rural beauty unlike the great majority of unfigured plain forging scene at the age. Powerful but upright chiselled inscription comes out full of self-confidence from faultless workmanship of this katana.
Single layer silver Habaki, Preserved in Shirasaya plain wood mounting
Good polish/Condition scale: mint - excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor)
reference data :
Hon'ma Kunzan/Ishii Masakuni Nihonto Meikan, Yuzankaku, 1975