G22853(S2001)
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Katana signed Houshu Takada-ju Fujiwara SANEYUKI with) Black lacquered Bamboo sheath Uchikatana Koshirae

Shinto Early Edo period (Meireki era/circa 1655-) Bungo
Length of cutting edge 71.0cm Curvature 2.0cm Width of base 30.7mm Width of Yokote 19.6mm Thickness of base 7.6mm

NBTHK(Tokubetsu Hozon)
NBTHK(Tokubetsu Kicho)

with) Black lacquered Bamboo sheath Uchikatana Koshirae



Blade construction : Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune. Wide in Minaha, thick in Kasane, holding well-harmonized a bit on deeper side curvature in Sori with an appropriate degree of tapering from base to tip that ends in a medium Chu-kissaki. Entire blade is at the Jo-sun interpretations in a highly harmonious manner. (click HERE for higher resolution image)
Forging(Hada) : Jigane steel is finely-kneaded Ko-Itame that appears on Hiraji side and Straight Masame indication appears on Shinogi-ji surface. Sparkling martensite crystals Ji-nie appears against fine Ko-Itame to generate precise gleaming lines of Chikei over the Hiraji surface.
Temper(Hamon) : Hamon is a bit on stronger side martensite crystals Nie-based, wide Suguha with an indication of undulating Notare with irregular activities of Ashi. Boundary line glows with martensite crystals of sparkling Nie and deep in the Nioi mist-like crystalline area. Upper the blade about Monouchi area, stronger, brighter the Nie.
Tang(Nakago) : UBU in original. Yasurime is slanting left Katte-sagari. Back ridge of Nakago is flat with Ō-sujikai filemark. The heel shape is Uneven U-shape of Iriyama-gata. One peg hole of mekugi-ana. The signature inscription in front is located a bit upper along Shinogi-ji area, starts with the place of work Bunshu Takada-ju 豊州高田住, a name of clan Fujiwara 藤原 and the name of smith SANEYUKI 実行.

The founder of Takada lineage in Kenmu (1330's) in Bungo domain was TOMOYUKI 友行 who was a disciple of SAMONJI 左文字 in Chikuzen domain. During the Sengoku Warning States period, The sword makers of Takada 高田 school had worked for a feudal lord Ōtomo Sourin 大友宗隣 exclusively. It's workmanship covers wide range such as Soushu, Bizen, Mino or Yamashiro schools.
The 1st gen. SANEYUKI 実行, reportedly a son of TOMOYUKI 友行, appeared in Ouan era (1368-), the Nanbokucho period then had traced his descent in 6 generation in Muromachi period during Koto period until 1600s. Even reached to Shinto age in Edo period, the lineage of SANEYUKI 実行 had prospered until end of Edo until Kansei era (-1800) in generations under the patronage of Hosokawa 細川 clan.
The subject blade is distinguished as a work of the SANEYUKI 実行 during Meireki era (1655) in Shinto period. It is understood that technical exchanges between Tadayoshi school in great vogue became very active during 17 th C. and this Katana shows close resembles to the work of Hizen school in Yamashiro tradition.

The entire blade is massively heavy on both hands holding brave shape for a Samurai of warlike spirit. Using fine steel with an elaborate forging process generates fine skin of Ko-Itame hada and temper line shows delicate boundary activities and uniform whitish Nioi in the interior. Careful work of Nakago tang and it's filemarks and typical example of inscription that preserves an excellent taste of patina in 370 years.
This katana shows his superior ability to prove a representative work of Takada school in Shinto period.

with) Black lacquered Bamboo sheath Uchikatana Koshirae (clikc HERE for entire Koshirae / HERE for each fitting)
  • Fuchi/Kashira : the Wise persons design, Shakudo ground, Nanako-ji surface, Takabori carving, Iroe, signed Kan'ei-shi Nomura KANENORI 干英子 野村包教
  • Menuki : Kabuto-helmet-Dragon design, Shakudo ground, Katabori carving, Gold Iroe
  • Tsuba : the Wise persons design, Iron ground, Round shape, Nikubori carving, Openwork, Gold inlay, Gold Fukurin rim, unsigned
  • Tsuka : White layskin, Kinari-naturally colored silk cord Moro-tsumami style lozenge wrap
Copper ground, silver plated Habaki collar, preserved in a plain wood mounting Shira-saya.
reference data :
Honma Kunzan/Ishii Masakuni, Nihonto Meikan, Yuzankaku, 1975