T35978(S837)
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Katana signed Tango-no-kami Fujiwara TOSHINAGA with) Rapeseed-surface Burgundy lacquered surface Uchikatana Koshirae

Shinto Early Edo period (Kan'ei era/ca 1625-) Owari
Length of cutting edge 76.2cm Curvature 1.2cm Width of base 31.9mm Width of Yokote 23.2mm Thickness of base 7.6mm

NBTHK(Tokubetsu Hozon) certificate

with) Rapeseed-surface Burgundy lacquered surface Uchikatana Koshirae

Sword construction: Shinogi-zukuri, Iorimune. A prpnounced extra-long Katana with a blade length of 2 shaku 5 sun 1 bu (approx. 79.2 cm). It has a moderate curvature, a wide width at the base, and less degree of tapering toward the tip, ending with an extended Chu-kissaki. It feels heavy in hand (802 grams excluding Habaki) and shows the characteristically massive construction typical of the Kan’ei era. (Enlarged photo of blade)
Horimono (Carvings): On both sides, there is a Bo-hi (groove) carved in kata-chiri style (one side beveled) starting just above the Habaki with a round end.
Hada (Forging): Itame-hada and flowing ware of Masame appears along boundary area, Sparkling granules of Ji-nie attaches thickly on Hiraji where thick lines of Chikei appears.
Hamon: Gunome and Togari-ha and transitions into large clustered Gunome in high where some of Yakiba splash onto Hira-ji to form Tobiyaki. The boundary edge has condensed Nie in deep, with thick Ashi radiating long into the cutting edge. The blade interior is lively with frequent Sunagashi, giving a bright and clear appearance enriched by active Nie.
Boshi: The Yakiba is high, sweeps internsively (Hakikake).
Nakago: Ubu in original. One Mekugi-ana. The Nakago tip is shaped in an Iriyama-gata V-shape. File marks are Ō-sujikai (greatly slanting left marks), and the Mune side is well-contoured and shows Ō-sujikai also. On the Shinogi-ji just below the Mekugi-ana, there is a long signature engraved “Tango-no-kami Fujiwara TOSHINAGA” 丹後守藤原寿命.

About TOSHINAGA 寿命:
It reads “Toshinaga” or “Jumyō.” His real name was "Kondō Sukesaemon" 近藤助左衛門. Born in Tenshō 8 (1580) in Seki, Mino Province. During the Keichō era (1596-14), he moved to Kiyosu Kaji-machi in Owari and became known as “Ganmaku Toshinaga” 岩捲寿命.
In Kan’ei 2 (1625), he was granted the title “Tango-no-Kami” 丹後守 and received a rice stipend from the Owari Tokugawa family. In Kan’ei 5 (1628), he established his forge studio in Todamachi, Nagoya Castle town.
In Keian 4 (1651), by order of Tokugawa Yoshinao 徳川義直, he forged swords using imported Nanban tetsu (foreign steel) stored in Nagoya Castle, and for this service, he was granted a ten-person stipend. There is an extant work inscribed “Tango-no-Kami Fujiwara TOSHINAGA, made with Nanban tetsu” 丹後守藤原寿命 以南蛮鉄作之 .
He passed away in Kanbun 3 (1663) at the venerable age of 84.

The second-generation “TOSHINAGA” 寿命 was his third son. He also received the title Tango-no-Kami 丹後守 and on June 12 of Kanbun 2 (1662), received a ten-person stipend from the Owari Tokugawa family. In Tenna 3 (1683), he was granted the monk title “Hōkyō” 法橋 and became known as “Hōkyō Kōan-sai TOSHINAGA” 法橋弘安斉寿命.
He served as a designated swordsmith for the second Owari lord, Tokugawa Mitsutomo 徳川光友.
Thereafter, the TOSHINAGA family continued to serve the Owari Tokugawa clan throughout the Edo period as a distinguished lineage of swordsmiths. Originally, the name “TOSHINAGA” was treasured as an auspicious and fortunate smith name.

This Katana is impressively massive and heavy in hands that maintains almost origional shape and the Nakago keeps great taste of patina after the passage of 400 years.
Old polish/Condition scale: mint - exellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).

with) Rapeseed-surface Burgundy lacquered surface Uchikatana Koshirae
(clikc HERE for entire Koshirae/HERE for each fitting
  • Fuchi/kashira : Cherry blossoms design, Oborogin silver ground, Stone surface, Takabori carving, unsigned
  • Menuki : Cherry blossoms on unfold fan design, Shakudo ground, Katabori carving, Ioe
  • Tsuba : Cherry blossoms design, Iron ground, Mokko-shape, gold/silver inlay, unsigned
  • Tsuka : White layskin, gray indigo-blue silk cord Moro-tsumami-maki wrap
Shakudo foiled Copper Habaki, preserved in Shirasaya (plain wood mounting) with Sayagaki.

Reference: Masakuni Ishii & Kunzan Honma, Nihontō Meikan, Yuzankaku, 1975 (Showa 50)