H4842(S2002)
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katana signed MASAZANE (Sengo)

Koto end of Muromachi perios (daiei era/circa 1521-) Ise
Length of cutting edge 70.0cmcm Curvature 2.5cm Width of base 29.2mm Width of Yokote 18.3mm Thickness of base 5.4mm

NBTHK(Tokubetsu Hozon) certificate


Blade construction: Shinogi-zukuri construction with an Iori-mune. The Shinogi-suji ridge line is a bit on higer side and the blade is forged in a way that reduces mass toward the back ridge of Mune. The base is moderate in width with a pronounced Koshi-zori (curvature near the base) and the difference in width between the base and tip is evident ending in a Chu-kissaki (medium point).The entire construction is created in an archaic style of Tachi.
(Photo of blade enlargement) (detailed sketch of the blade)
Forging Pattern (Jigane): The surface pattern displays a Itame (wood grain) mixed with Mokume (burl wood grain), resulting in a textured appearance. Ji-nie (fine Nie crystals) are densely distributed and Chikei (dark lines in the steel) are perceived. The Shinogi-ji area shows a Masame (straight grain) pattern.
Hamon (Temper Line): The Hamon is identified in Ko-nie-deki (fine Nie style), starting short near the base with a series of three Hako (box-shaped) Koshiba (lower blade temperings) forming a wide Suguha boundary line. There are frayed portions along the edge and the area around the upper Monouchi (striking point) shows a dense presence of Nie.
Bōshi (Tip Temper Line): Formed in a Chu-maru medium circle style with prominent sweeping motion so called Hakikake.
Nakago (Tang): Ubu (unaltered), with a slightly Machi-okuri shortened. prominent Kuri-jiri (rounded) heel. The tang is also curved and shaped like a ship bottom (Funasoko-style). There is one Mekugi-ana (peg hole). File marks (Yasurime) is slanted downward-left (Katte-sagari). On the back ridge is contoured in full with an indication of Katte-sagari Yasurime also. Near the back side of Mune, straddling the Mekugi-ana, the typical two character signature "MASAZANE" (正真) is chiselled in large chisel strokes.

This work, titled above, is an elegant and archaic example by MASAZANE 正真, counted among the “Three Famous Smiths of the Sengo School” alongside MURASMASA 村正 and MASASHIGE 正重 of Ise Kuwana. Ranks as "Josaku" Superior-made.
MASAZANE 正真 of the Sengo school was active around the Bunki and Daiei eras (1501–1528) and is said either a son or a disciple of the first-generation MURAMASA 村正. MASAZANE 正真 belonged to either the Tegai school of Yamato smiths or to the Kanabo group. It is believed that he was invited by a local warlord in the Ise region, left his hometown, passed through Ujii 雲林院 (modern-day Geinō-chō in Anō District) and went to Kuwana, where he studied under MURAMASA 村正.

There exists an Oshigata of a joint work between MASAZANE 正真 and Heianjō NAGAYOSHI 平安城長吉 who is said as a MURAMASA’s teacher, recorded in the Nihontōkō-jiten (Japanese Swordsmith Encyclopedia). MASAZANE 正真 is also famous as the maker of one of the "Three Great Spears of Japan," the Ōmi yari (large spear) owned by Tokugawa Ieyasu's loyal retainer, Honda Heihachirō 本田平八郎. This spear bears the signature "Fujiwara Masazane saku" 藤原正真作 and is known as "Tonbogiri" 蜻蛉切(Dragonfly Cutter), currently entrusted to the Sano Art Museum.
The famed sword "Inoshish-giri" 猪切 (Boar Cutter), signed "MASAZANE"正真, once beloved by Sakai Tadatsugu 酒井忠次, is currently housed in the Mikawa Bushi no Yakata Ieyasu-kan Museum. It was passed down through the family of his seventh son, Matsudaira Jinzaburo 松平甚三郎 (chief retainer of the Shōnai domain).
According to legend, during a hunting trip in his youth of Tokugawa Ieyasu accompanied by Sakai Tadatsugu 酒井忠次, guarding Tadatsugu 忠次 slay a wild boar with this MASAZANE 正真 katana. Following the event, gold inlay of the pseudonym“Inoshishi-giri”猪切 was added to the tang.
Additionally, a sword signed “MASAZANE”正真 (blade length 74.2 cm, curvature 2.1 cm) is designated a Tangible Cultural Property by Mie Prefecture.

This particular MASAZANE 正真 sword has a high Koshi-zori curvature in its Nakago, created in the elegant style of an ancient Tachi. The Jihada (surface grain) is a mix of Itame and Mokume with Masame grain appearing along the edge and Shinogi-ji. The Hamon is in Nie-deki, with features such as Hataraki (activity) like Hoture (fraying) and Sunagashi (streaks of Nie) and a prominent Shinogi-suji indicating the influence of Yamato tradition. The consistent Hako-koshiba (box-shaped tempering near the base) on both sides and the thick Nie at the striking point of Monouchi area show clear traits of the Sengo school, especially that of MURAMASA 村正.
The bold and well-carved two-character signature "正真" (MASAZANE) closely follows the chiseling style of his master MURAMASA 村正, resembling that seen on the sword inscribed "Fujiwara MASASHIGE-saku – in the 12th day, the 8th month of Daiei 6th (1526)" 藤原正重作　大永六年八月十二日 suggesting a creation date around the Daiei period (1521–1528).

Good old polish/Condition scale: exellent-very good (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).
Silver-foiled single layer Habaki collar, preserved in a plain wood mounting of Shirasaya.

References:
Masakuni Ishii & Kunzan Honma, Nihontō Meikan, Yūzankaku, 1975
Yoshio Fujishiro, Nihon tōkōjiten, Fujishiro Shoten, 1975
Nihontō Taikan – Kotō Volume III, Ōtsuka Kōgeisha, 1969
Ise no Tōkō, Ōtsuka Kōgeisha, 1963