A30445(S1516)
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Katana signed Yokoyama Kaga-no-suke Fujiwara SUKENAGA Chrysanthemum Crest-Ichimonji sign / Bizen Osafune-ju with)Seaweed-patterned Vermillion lacquered scabbard Uchikatabna Koshirae

Shin-shin-to end of Edo period (Tenpo 4th - Kaei 4th/1833-51) Bizen
Length of cutting edge69.6cm Curvature2.6cm Width of base29.8mm Thickness of base7.0mm Width of Yokote20.8mm

NBTHK(Tokubetsu Hozon)

with)Seaweed-patterned Vermillion lacquered scabbard Uchikatana Koshirae


Sugata(configuration) : Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune. Mihaba is in average and there is a rather on deeper side waist curve (koshizori) and the rest is nearly straight leading to a middle tip. (click HERE for higher resolution)
Kitae(forging pattern) : Kitae-hada is fine and precisely kneaded Ko-mokume and the swelling Masame hada pattern is perceived along shinogi-ji surface.
Hamon(tempering pattern) : Hamon starts with straight long Yakidashi then small Gunome and decorated tassels Ju-ka Choji-midare clove outline.
Boshi (tip): The temper of the tip is medium circle turn back deeply.
Nakago(tang) : Unaltered in UBU. One original peg retaining hole. Filemark is shallow slanting left (Katte-sagari). The signature in front is nine long, thick chiselled character that reads Yokoyama Kaga-no-suke Fujiwara SUKENAGA 横山加賀介藤原祐永 and the other side starts with Chrysanthemum crest plus Ichimonji-sign 菊紋一, the place of work Bizen Osafune-ju 備前長船住. From the specimen of inscription, signature was performed by his colleague SUKENARI 祐成 in the Kozuke-daijo SUKESADA school 上野大掾祐定.

Here is a typical Bizen-tradition Katana by an accomplished sword artisan Yokoyama Kakunosuke SUKENAGA 横山覚之助祐永.
During the later period of Edo (Shin-shin to age), the legitimate sword smith in Ichimonji school SUKENAGA 祐永 was active as one of the most skilled pure Bizen school makers and named himself as the 56th generation descendant of Tomonari 友成五十六代孫.
His real name is Yokoyama Kakunosuke 横山覚之助, a second son of Yokoyama Sukehira 横山祐平, exclusively worked for Bizen clan to be granted with the Kaga-no-suke title 加賀介 in the 4 th year of Tenpo (1833) further was honored with Chrysanthemum crest 菊紋 from imperial family.

The subject sword was created in an archaic Tachi-style when he was matured age, which has a highly dignified curve near the base to show close resembles to a work of Bizen-den to prove that he himself was strongly influenced to a ancient work of Fukuoka Ichimonji School from 13th century.

The highlight of this katana is an exceptional collaboration work - SUKENAGA 祐永 works of Katana and SUKENARI 祐成 performes signature in Nakago.

He belonged to pure Bizen-den technique and devotes himself to restore the ancient Ichimonji works from Kamakura period. He is very good at the hamon of "Choji midare" which looks like the row on row of clove flower buds like this example and successfully revived the traditional Fukuoka Iachimonji in Shin-shin-to period.
His extant works with the date of year ranged from Tenmei 6 to Kaei 3 (1786-1850), passed in the 2nd day, 6th month, 4th year of Kaei (1851), was 57 years old.

This original Koshirae mount preserves excellent condition for it's age.
with) Seaweed-patterned Vermillion lacquered scabbard Uchikatana Koshirae (click HERE for front / HERE for the other side of Koshirae and HERE for each fitting)
  • Fuchi/kashira and Kojiri : Rough seas design, Iron ground, Sukibori carving, unsigned.
  • Menuki : Rohdea "Omoto" design, Shakudo ground, Katabori carving, Gold Iroe
  • Tsuba : The "Tai Kung Wang" motif, Iron ground, Mokko cross rectangular shape, Tuchime-ji hammered surface, Uchikaeshi Mimi-edge, copper inlay, unsigned
  • Tuka : White rayskin, black silikcord lozenge wrap
Gold plated single layer Habaki collar preserved in Shira-Saya plain wood mounting
Recent good polish/Condition scale: mint - excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor)