Auspicious day In the 2nd month, Empo 4th Bishu-Osafune ju-nin
with) Gold pearl of inlay Autumn flower blooms High relief MAKIE lacquered scabbard Uchikatana Koshirae
(Tokubetsu Hozon)
Length of cutting edge70.5cm Curvature1.8cm Width of Base29.5mm Width of Yokote21.1mm Thickness of base7.4mm
Forging(Hada): Forging mark is fine and uniform Ko-Itame. The steel gives off minute sprinkled sand impression (Ko-Itame hada) covering with thick Nie sparkling hard metal granules "Ji-nie" on Hira-ji surface where darkish precise lines of Nie so called "CHIKEI" activity wells out from steel. The Shinogi-ji surface is conspicuous Masame-hada.
Temper(Hamon): Hamon is a bit on coarse side Nie hard metal granules base, Suguha straight temper line. Sparkling hard metal granules "Nie" accumulates on the hardening boundary line of Hamon where abundant short lines of Nie-ashi feet frequently appears. The interior of temper is filled with mist-like crystallize area where dense Nie randing dots of sparkling YOU appears. The quenching Nie boundary line gives off is the most brilliant flash.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Temper of boshi forms straight medium circle turns back.
Tang(Nakago): Nakago remains entirely UBU original. Double bevelled Kurijiri heel. One mekugi-ana hole. Slightly slanting left Katte-sagari filemarks. Back ridge of Nakago is flat with greatly slanting left filemark. The clear inscription of signature in front is located upper the Shinogi-ji ten character that starts from the family name Yokoyama 横山, an official district Ko-zuke-daijo 上野大掾 title, name of clan Fujiwara 藤原 and the smith name SUKEDASA 祐定. The other sides is chiselled with the date of year Auspicious day In the 2nd month, Empo 4th 延宝四年二月吉日 and the new line shows the origin of birth place Bishu-Osafune-ju-nin 備州長舩住人.
Here is a superior made Jo-saku Katana by Yokoyama Kozuke-daijo SUKESADA 横山上野大掾祐定.
In the 8th month of Tensho 19 (1591), a flood struck Fukuoka-sho, Osafune area as a result of localized downpour, most of sword workshops were carried away by the flood and SUKESADA aterier 祐定 was no exception.
One of the founder Yokoyama Souzaemon SUKESADA 横山宗左衛門祐定 reconstructed SUKESADA 祐定 atelier in Shinto period along with his brothers Shichibei-no-jo SUKESADA 七兵衛尉家 and Genzaemon-no-jo 源左衛門尉家. Those three SUKESADA families had been prospered during Edo period.
The subject swordsmith Yokoyama Kozuke-daijo SUKESADA 横山上野大掾祐定 is a legitimate child of Shichibei-no-jo SUKESADA 七兵衛尉祐定 (real name is Yokoyama Heibei 横山平兵衛) that is the 6th generation of founder Yoso-zaemon-no-jo SUKESADA 与三左衛門尉祐定 and distinguished as the doyen of Bizen sword smiths in Shinto period.
His extant works with the date of year ranged from Manji to Shotoku era (1660-1715) in the advanced early Edo period. He belonged to Bizen-den technique and served for the court noble Ichijo family and enjoyed Kozuke-daijo title 上野大掾 from the Imperial Court in Kanbun 4 (1664). Long life, passed away in the 29th day, 11th month, Kyoho 6 (1721), was 89 yhears old.
The subject Katana features well-harmonized curvature to Nagana in excellent proportion, further Hamon boundary gives off the most brilliant flash from base to the tip.
Graceful blossoming Autumn flowers High relief MAKIE lacquered Gold Pearl of Inlay scabbard Uchikatana Koshirae consists of : (click HERE in front /HERE for the reversed side and HERE for each fitting)
- Fuchi/Kashira : KIKU chrysanthemum flowers design Shakudo ground, Nanaki-ji surface, Gold Iroe, unsigned
- Menuki : Triple Leo design, Gold ground, Katabori carving
- Tsuba : KIKU chrysanthemum, Imperial coach Wheels design, Iron ground, Gold inlay, Gold Fukurin rim, unsigned Kyo Shoami
- Scabbard : Gold Pearl of Inlay Autumn flower blossoms High relief MAKIE lacquered
- Hilt : White rayskin Unohana-iro color Hoso-ito combined lozenge wrap
Excellent polish/Condition scale: mint - excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor)
reference data :
Kashima Susumu, Osafune-cho-shi/Token-hen zuroku, Otsuka Kougei-sha, 1998
Honma Kunzan/Ishii Masakuni, Nihonto Taikan, Yuzankaku, 1975
