with)Black stone surface lacquered scabbard Uchikatana Koshirae
Length of cutting edge 70.1cm Curvature 1.4cm Width of base 30.2mm Thickness of base 7.6mm Width of Yokote 21.6cm
Kitae(forging pattern) : Steel has likely bluish impression and forging shows fine Itame-hada (wooden burl) in Hiraji and Shinogi-ji shows conspicuous Masame (straight grain) indication. Hiraji surface is covered in sparkling ji-nie glitter that generates darkish small Nie lines along wooden grain so called CHIKEI activity.
Hamon(tempering pattern) : Hamon is tight-nie (delicate sparkling granules) base and interior is filled in moistly whitish Nioi-mist - flamboyant hamon - Gunome, slanting pattern, Clove outline and Box-like shape, wide temper outline that varies in shape and angle. The interior of temper is active with YOU-floating quenched dots and Sunagashi - thick lines of Nie hard metal granules.
Boshi (tip): The temper of tip becomes straight with medium circle turns back.
Nakago(tang) : Original UBU with one mekugi-ana retaining hole. Osujikai (greatly slanting left) file marks. Kurijiri (U-shaped) heel. The signature in front starts from the place of work Echizen-ju 越前住 and smith name TAKAHISA-saku 高久作.
According to the reference directory Nihonto Meikan, the first generation Echizen-ju TAKAHISA-saku 越前住高久作 was active during Genna (1615-1623) era and the posthumous works on about Genroku (1688-1703) were recognized as the works of the 2nd generation TAKAHISA. This powerful katana is the work of 1st generation to show the heroical shape to meet with requirements from warlike Samurai who were keenly aware of real fighting during Momoyama period.
Black stone surface lacquered scabbard Uchikatana Koshriae comprising : (click HERE for higher resolution images of the entire koshirae fitting)
Black lacquered lay-skin dark blue cord lozenge wrapped Hilt.
Fuchi/Kashira, Koikuchi, Kurikata and Kojiri :Iron ground polish surface, Gold rim, Three Stars - Japanese crest Watanabe Hoshi 渡辺星 gold Nunome style inlay.
Menuki : Triple cranes design, Silver Yobori carving.
Tsuba : Dragon in clouds, Iron ground, Sukidashi carving, Gold Nunome-style inlay, Both Hitsu-ana, silver waves design rim filled with Shakudo.
(Three stars - Orion's Belt is an Japanese crest Watanabe Hoshi 渡辺星 has been believed as triple gods of win)
Old polish/Condition scale: excellent - very good (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor) condition.
Double layer silver foiled Habaki collar, preserved in a plain wood shirasaya mounting.
reference data:
Honma Kunzan/Ishii Masakuni Nihonto Meikan Yuzankaku 1975
