T200559(S835)
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Katana signed Musashi-no-kami Fujiwara TOMOTSUNE

Shinto Early Edo period (Kanbun era/ca1661-) Owari/Bushu
Length of cutting edge62.6cm Curvature1.8cm Width of base30.4mm Width of Yokote19.8mm Thickness of base6.0mm


NBTHK(Hozon) certificate

Blade construction: Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune, wide in Mihaba on base holding a bit on deeper side curve and harmonized degree of tapering from base to the middle point of Chu-Kissaki. (click HERE for higher resolution image of the entire blade).
Forging(Hada): Forging is Itame-hada with outstandking Masame-hada on Shinogi-ji. Crystallized granule of Ji-nie appears on surface on Hiraji where darkish thick lines of Nie so called "CHIKEI" activity appears from steel.
Temper(Hamon): Hamon is based on "Nie" hard steel crystallized, Notare undulating wave mixed with combined Gunome,a large Gunome,Choji and Hako-ba boundary patterns. The quenching hamon reaches up to Shinogi-suji. In the interior there appears "Sunagashi" long lines of Nie, "Kinsuji" thick curved lines that apear on valley of quenching boundary area.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Temper of boshi becomes calm below Yokote to form wide straight line along Boshi, large circle turns back.
Tang(Nakago): The tang is an UBU original. Greatly slanting left (O-sujikai) with decorative Kesho filemarks. Uneven U-shape "Ha-agari Kurijiri" heel shape. One Mekugi-ana punch. The inscriptiopn signature stars with an official district title Musashi-no-kami 武蔵守, name of clan Fujiwara 藤原 and smith name TOMOTSUNE 友常.

TOMOTSUNE 友常 was a disciple of the third-generation Masatsune 三代政常. When Tokugawa Yoshinao 徳川義直, the ninth son of Tokugawa Ieyasu 徳川家康, was transferred from Kōfu to Kiyosu in Owari in the 12th year of Keichō (1607), Childhood Tomotsune moved from Mino-Seki to the castle town of Kiyosu. In the 15th year of Keichō (1610), following the opening of Nagoya Castle, Master Masatsune 政常 accompanied an apprentice TOMOTSUNE 友常 to Nagoya, where he thrived as an Owari nominated smith. Later, he also worked in Edo.
Like his master Masatsune 政常, he most frequently favored a Suguha workmanship whereas there are also works with large Midareba (irregular temper patterns) and deep Nioi-based flamboyant Midare, influenced by Mino Kanesada 兼定, with Sunagashi applied, as seen in this Katana.
There are swords bearing the additional inscription "Forged using steel imported by Holland" (以阿蘭陀鍛之) or other example is dated back to Kanbun 9 (1669).

Silver single-layer Habaki, preserved in a Shirasaya (plain wooden mounting).
In original unaltered condition, with an aged polish, showing minor sctatching marks, whitish stains, and slight rust in places but it is sufficient for appreciation.
Old polish/Condition scale: very good - good (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).
reference :
Honma Kunzan/Ishii Masakuni, Nihonto meikan, Yuzankaku, 1975
Iwata Atou, Owari Touko-fu, Nagoya Board of Education, 1984