O105929(W2894)
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Sasuga signed Tajima-no-kami Hōjō-ji Tachibana SADAKUNI

Shinto early Edo period (Manji era / ca 1658-) Bushu
Length of cutting edge 34.9cm Curvature 0.2cm Width of base 29.8mm Thickness of base 6.7mm

NBTHK(Hozon) certificate

Blade construction: Sasuga-zukuri of stabbing-blade construction with Iori-mune. The Fukura is restrained and the Mune side is beveled. A distinctive form clearly conceived with thrusting in mind. (Enlarged blade photo)
Forging (Hada): Fine Ko-itame tightly forged and flowing Masame ware appears along boundary area. Dense Ji-nie blankets the surface, with bright, delicate Chikei appearing throughout. The steel color is crisp and vivid.
Temper line (Hamon): A continuous pattern of small Gunome, with abundant Ashi and traces of Sunagashi. The Nioi-guchi is thickly encrusted with Nie, emitting a bright flash of light. The interior of the Hamon is filled with Nie and Nioi, and bold Nie-ashi radiate toward the edge, producing a remarkably brilliant effect.
Temper of tip (Bōshi): Straight and finished in Yaki-zume.
Tang (Nakago): Ubu. One Mekugi-ana. Slanted Katte-sagari file marks; the Mune side is flat and also bears Katte-sagari Yasurime. On the omote, near the Mune, appears a long signature: “Tajima-no-kami Hōjōji Tachibana SADAKUNI” 『但馬守法城寺橘貞国』.

Hōjō-ji SADAKUNI 法城寺貞国 originally from Tajima Province and was a descendant of Hōjō-ji KUNIMITSU 法城寺国光, one of the so-called “three great disciples of Sadamune.” He was the younger brother of MASAHIRO 正弘 and together with his colleague MASATERU 正照 or others, they moved to capital Bushu Edo, establishing what became known as the "Edo Hōjōji school". All members of the lineage adopted the surname “Tachibana” 橘.
Their characteristic style—linked Gunome, active Ashi, slightly loosened Nio-iguchi, plentiful Nie, and accompanying Sunagashi—approaches that of the Nagasone group. SADAKUNI 貞国 was a capable smith of the Manji–Kanbun era, and the Edo Hōjōji family enjoyed considerable prestige, having been granted official forging duties by the shogunate.
This wakizashi was originally a Shinogi-zukuri sword later refashioned in the "Satsuma-age" style. Following damage to the blade, the material was shaved away from the Mune side and the Kissaki was extremely attenuated and sharpened for thrusting. As a result, the overall form was transformed into Shōbu-zukuri, while the Boshi’s tempering transitions into a Yaki-zume finish.

The Hamon features strongly developed Nie forming small gunome linked like a string of prayer beads, with vigorous Nie-ashi running continuously. Along the boundary Ha-buchi, there appears thick line of Nie and frequent Sunagashi streams are perceived and some fraying appears in places, emitting remarkably bright flashes of light—an impressive and highly evocative example of a Sasuga stabbing blade.
Silver Habaki collar, preserved in a Shirasaya

Among "Sasuga-blades", there exists a blade form called “Satsuma-age” referring to swords reworked from damaged Katana or Tachi, two representative explanations are referring :
1.日本刀大百科事典 by Fukunaga Suiken defines “Satsuma-age” as a method of shortening a sword by cutting from the kissaki end—likening Japan to a sword, with Satsuma (present-day Kagoshima) corresponding to the tip.
2.Another theory traces the term to Ryukyuan cuisine: a local fried fish paste called "chikyāgi" was transmitted to Satsuma as "tsukeage" and later to the mainland as "satsuma-age". Since tachiuo (cutlassfish) was sometimes used as an ingredient, a play on words is proposed — surimi (minced fish) → surimi (cut blade-tip), and agemono (fried food) → agemono (altered)—suggesting a form of craftsmen’s slang.

references:
若原利彦 Toshihiko Wakahara, A Tentative Study on “Satsuma-age”, Tojken-bijutsu volime 743, December 2018 (Heisei 30).
福永酔拳 Suiken Fukunaga, 日本刀大百科事典 (Great Encyclopedia of the Japanese Sword), Yuzankaku, November 1993 (Heisei 5).