T198837(S5087) Katana signed Masamune Niju-dai Mago So-shu-ju TSUNAHIRO Nomuro Sadaumemon Hanmei no motome ni ouji kore wo tsukuru	NBTHK(Tokubetsu Hozon)	JPYen1,800,000
Shin-shinto End of Edo period (Keio era/circa A.D.1865) Sagami Length of cutting edge75.4cm Curvature1.6cm Width of base31.8mm Thickness of base7.4mm Width of Yokote23.1mm
Sugata(configuration) : Long Katana. Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune. Ample thickness and wide in mihaba, less in hiraniku. There is less difference in width between base and tip leading to a large tip. (click HERE for higher resolution) Kitae(forging pattern) : Kitae is fine ko-itame (tight wooden grain) and is covered in ji-nie that generates small and darkish-blue nie acitivty in hiraji so called CHIKEI. The entire steel is strongly clear. Hamon(tempering pattern) : Hamon is Nie based, starting with long yakidashi (lower temper out line) and then a combination of gunome(zig-zag) and togari-ha (sharp outline). Nie-ashi feet works toward the cutting edge. Kinsen, Sunagashi activity YOU dots work in the interior of temper. There are some Muneyaki (temper spots along back ridge). Boshi (tip): Boshi is shallow wavy small circle irregularly and deeply turn back . Nakago(tang) : One Mekugi-ana (retaining hole). Osujikai and Kesho file marks. Kengyo heel shape. The line of temper-side is in full so called Tanago-hara. There is ample volume in the back ridge. The signature is generally thin chiselled, small character, located a upper, shinogi-ji, [Masamune Niju-dai Mago] and on a new/lower line in Hiraji [So-shu-ju TSUNAHIRO]. and URA side is chiselled the orderer [Nomuro Sadauemon Hanmei no motome ni ouji kore wotsukuru]. The first generation Tsunahiro, initial smith name was Hiromasa, had been granted Kanji character [TSUNA} with the Hojo Ujitsuna, the lord of the castle Odawara and had moved from kamakura to a place of Odawara, one of the most famed smiths as a frontier of Odawara-Soshu school. His lineage had been prospered until Meiji period until 15th generation. This long katana which was made to the order of Nomuro Sadauemon hanmei, was made by the 14th generation of Sohu TSUHAHIRO, his real name is Yamamura Shigenojou who is generally known as [the 20th generation descendant of Masamune]. His works are seldom seen and quite rare but some of his katanas which were chiselled the date of year the first year of Genji or the first year of Keio had been introduced in the sword smith directory. This magnificently shaped katana with the name of orderer is also increases an historical value and a famed work with a healthy ji-ha. Surely this is one of his best works Passed away 15th day, the 12th month, the 1st year of Taisho (A.D. 1912). Gold foiled habaki collar, Shira-Saya plain wood mounting.