Katana unsigned Shitahara YASUSHIGE

H6248(S5014) Katana unsigned Shitahara YASUSHIGE with) Black Roito lacquered scabbard high seas design Uchikatana Koshirae		NBTHK(Hozon) Tokubetsu Bunka Shiryo Tosogu
Koto End Muromachi period (Tensho era circa 1573-) Bushu Length of cutting edge75.5cm Curvature2.2cm　Width of base30.4mm Width of Yokote22.2mm Thickness of base8.3mm
Sugata(configuration) : Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune, Nagasa is as long as 75.5cm and kasane is thick in 8.3mm holding massive volume in Hiraniku. There is well-proportion Sori curvature leading to an elongeted large tip. Bo-hi groove on both sides that is chiselled half way onto Nakago. (click HERE for super sized image) Kitae(forging pattern) : Kitae-hada is conspicuous Itame wooden grain marks mixing in swirling large mokume burl so called AYASUGI-style hada-ware, along cutting edge some indication of Masame straight grain marks is perceived. Conspicuous forging marks Chikei generates from an abyss of steel agaist sparkling Ji-nie hard metal granules. Hamon(tempering pattern) : Hamon is Nie based Gunome-zigzag, where temper quenching line is covered with thick sparkling Nie granules and works with rich activities of Nie such as thick lines blushing lines so called Kinsen or Short thinner lines of Sunagashi. Boshi (tip): The temper of the tip undulating Notare to form medium circle turns back. Nakago(tang) : Unsigned Suriage partially shortened, Horizontal (Kiri) filemarks and bottom is Horizontal Kiri heel. Two mekugi-ana peg holes. SHITAHARA 下原 lineage school, a founder Yamamoto Tajima CHIKASHIGE 山本但馬周重 who is a pupil of TSUNAHIRO 綱廣 in Odawara, was invited by a feudal loard Oishi 大石氏 to come to Shimo-ondaka, Bushu province (now in Hachiouji- city), during Eisho or Kyoroku (very early 16th century) period. YASUSHIGE 康重 reportedly was born in Eiroku 6th (1563) said a younger brother of Tajima CHIKASHIGE 山本但馬周重 was grated a name of YASU 康 from the loard of Odawara castle Houjo Ujiyasu 北条氏康 to name himself YASUSHIGE 康重. After Houjo had gone to ruin Tensho 18th (1590), He had served for Tokugawa Shogun to flourish until end of Edo period. The subject katana holds major current of Momoyama period battle age to prove typical forging character of Shitahara school. conspicuous Itame, Mokume and some indication of Ayasugi forging scene plus hard Nie temper indication such as Kinsen or Sunagashi activity that had been transmitted from Odawara Soushu school. Impressively healthy blade heavy on hands to show peculiarity of YASUSHIGE 康重 who closely worked for warlords in the Warning States period. with) Black Roiro style lacquered scabbard high seas design Uchikatana Koshirae (clikc HERE for entire Koshirae and HERE for each fitting) Fuchi/kashira : High seas design, Shakudo ground, Sukisage carving, signed TAKASE Eizui (seal) 高瀬栄随(花押) Menuki : Seaweed shell design, Shakudo katabori carving, Gold Iroe Tsuba : High seas design. Iron ground. Gold Nunome-style inlay, unsigned Tsuka : White rayskin, purple silk cord lozenge warp Gold foiled double layer Habaki collar. The entire blade is preserved in a shira-saya plain wood mounting. reference : HONMA Kunzan, ISHII Masakuni, Nihonto Meikan, Yuzankaku 1975 GOTO Yasutaka, Bushu Shitahara To Zufu