M11254(S8879)
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Katana signed Hizen-koku Kawachi-daijo Fujiwara MASAHIRO (1st gen.) with)Black Ro-iro lacquered Japanese bush clover and Dragonfly high relief Taka-Makiescabbard Uchikatana Koshirae

Shinto early Edo period (Manj era / circa1658-) Hizen
Length of cutting edge 70.6cm Curvature 1.6cm Width of base 30.5mm Width of Yokote 21.5mm Thickness of base 6.6mm

NBTHK(Tokubetsu Hozon) certificate

with)Black Ro-iro lacquered Japanese bush clover and Dragonfly high relief Taka-Makie scabbard Uchikatana Koshirae


Blade construction: Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune. Mihaba on base is a bit on wider side holding ample thickness in Kasane. There is less degree of taperign from base to the tip of Yokote with an enlogated medium Kissaki. Deep in center pointed curvature to create a gracefull impression with majestic manner.(click HERE for higher resolution image of the entire blade)
Forging(Hada): Forging mark from the base toward the tip is supreme fine and uniform Ko-Itame. The most superior made steel gives off minute sprinkled sand impression to cover with thick Nie sparkling hard metal granules "Ji-nie" on Hira-ji surface and darkish precise lines of Nie so called "CHIKEI" activity that wells out from steel. The surface creates an atmosphere of lively sparkling impression so called Kunuka-hada 小糠肌.
Temper(Hamon): Hamon is super fine Nie hard metal granules base, starting with shallow wave clove outline of Choji, undulating Notare and small Gunome temper line where deep sparkling hard metal granules "Nie" accumulates on the temper that grows like deep snowfall. The interior of temper is filled with mist-like crystallize area deeply with thick and long ASHI, thick lines of KINSEN or short lines of Sunagashi also floating YOU grows like the eyes of horsefly ABUNOME and some isolated splash TOBIYAKI appears on upper Monouchi area. The entire temper gives off the most brilliant flash among similar other works.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Temper of boshi forms Gunome on Yokote and then straight with a "Hakikake" short line of Nie brush up indication and medium circle turns back deeply.
Tang(Nakago): A bit curved Nakago is in UBU original. One Mekugi-ana peg hole in a keyhole shape with gold inlay.?sujikai greatly slanting left filemarks. Back ridge of Nakago is a bit rounded contours and Single bevelled (Kengyo) heel shape. The signature in the Hakiura side is eleven character that starts from the place of work Hizen-koku 肥前國 and an official district Kawachi-daijo 河内大掾 title, thenname of clan Fujiwara 藤原 then the smith name MASAHIRO 正廣.

The subject katana is a superb work of the first generation Masahiro 正廣 born in the 12th year of Keicho (1607), a son of Yoshinobu 吉信 who was a-son-in-law of the 1st gen. Hizen TADAYOSHI 忠吉.
In the 9th year of Gen-na (1623) when he was 19 years old, he made a sword and demonstrated his prominent skill in front of the feudal lord Nabeshima Katsushige 鍋島勝茂 in Hizen domain and was granted a smith name MASAHIRO 正廣 in the 11th month, the 2nd year of Kanei (1625) with a stipend of 20 koku of rice. Further in the 18th year of Kanei (1641), he enjoyed an imperial grant title KAWACHI DAIJO 河内大掾. Passed away in 5th day, in the 2nd month, Kanbun 5, was 59 years old.

The subject excellent work of katana, because of it's inscription signature, was made in his prime later years. Wide in Mihaba, ample thickness in kasane holding rather on deeper side curvature leading to an elongated medium Kissaki that reminds us one of the sofisticated Tachi of dignity that gives off an impression of majesty and shows notable feature of the graceful Hizen sword. Steel forging mark shows precisely fine Ko-Itame with most supreme sparkling Ji-nie glitter that generates superior Chikei darkish Nie lines activity.

The subject MASAHIRO 正廣 reportedly has the most wonderful ability among the affiliated lineage smiths of Hizen Tadayoshi and helped the head family to play the actual maker of 2nd generation TADAHIRO 近江大掾藤原忠廣.

with) Black Ro-iro lacquered Japanese bush clover and Dragonfly high relief Taka-Makie scabbard Uchikatana Koshirae
(clikc HERE for entire Koshirae in front, HERE for the other side / HERE for each fitting)
  • Fuchi/Kashira : TEN'NYO heavenly maiden design Iron ground Sukisage-style carving, Gold inlay, Gold inlyed inscription KAO by Tetsugendo 鉄元堂
  • Menuki : Leo design, solid Gold ground,Katabori carving
  • Tsuba : Yin and Yang triangle design, Ko-sukashi openwork, Iron ground polish surface, Uchikaeshi Mimi edge, Gold inlay, Shakudo Uchi-fukurin, unsigned
  • Tsuka hilt : White rayskin Nando-iro indigo blue silk cord logenze wrap
  • Saya scabbard : Pure Ro-iro black lacquered high-relief dark Taka-makie work "bush clover and dragon fly"
Gold foiled double layers Habaki collar, Preserved in a Shira-Saya plain wood mounting
Recent polish/Condition scale: mint - excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).
reference data:
Honma Junji/Satou Kanichi, NIHONTO TAIKAN SHINTO-HEN 2 Otsuka Kogei sha April 15, 1969
Kataoka Ginsaku, HIZENTO-SHIKO, 1974
Yokoyama Manabu, HIZENTO-BIBO-ROKU, 2006