G67477(S2840)
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Katana signed Unshu-ju SADANAGA kore-wo tsukuru In the 5th month Heisei 5 with) Waist notches black stone surface lacquered scabbard Higo-style Koshirae

Contemporary sword (Heisei /1993) Shimane
Length of cutting edge 74.0cm curvature 1.8cm Width of base 33.5mm Width of Yokote 24.4mm Thickness of base 6.2mm

a holder of important intangible cultural asset of Shimane pref.

with) Waist notches black stone surface lacquered scabbard Higo-style Koshirae

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Blade construction : Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune. Long blade, wide in Mihaba, a bit on thinner side in Kasane and shallow curvature. There is less degree of tapering toward the point leading to a medium point of Chu-Kissaki. There is a pair of Bo-hi grooves on both sides. (click HERE for higher resolution of entire blade)
Forging (Hada) : Forging forms fine Ko-itame hada and covered by precise sparkling glitter so called Ji-Nie crystallized mist.
Temper line (Hamon) : Hamon is rather on tight side crystalline structure of the martensite. It makes up large cloves of Choji-midare. The interior is filled with dense Nioi-mist and angled clove-feet emit toward the cutting edge. Long lines of darkish Nie line runs across the feet and groups of "Sunagashi" short lines of Nie frequently appears.
Temper of tip (Boshi) : Temper line of tip is regular "Suguha" with medium circle turns back.
Tang (Nakago) : Nakago is UBU. Greatly slanting left Ō-sujikai file marks. Double bevelled kurijiri heel. One mekugiana peg hole. The signature in front starts from the place of work Unshu-ju 雲州住 then smith name SADANAGA kore-wo tsukuru 貞永作之 and the other side is chiselled with the date of year In the the 5 th month, Heisei 5 (1993) 平成五年五月日.

Smith SADANAGA 貞永, real name Rikio Kobayashi 小林力夫 was born in 1948 (Showa 23), Yokota town Nita-gun, Shimane pref. as a third son of Kobayashi Daishiro 小林大四郎 (smith name SADAYOSHI 貞善).
In 1967 (Showa 42), he followed his eldest brother SADATERU 貞照 and second brother SADANORI 貞法 to join at Kobayashi Nihonto Smith's Shop 小林日本刀鍛錬場 to became a pupil of his father Kobayashi Daishiro 小林大四郎.
After 6 year's apprenticeship, he became an official licensee of Japanese swordsmith by the Agency of Cultural Affairs in 1972 (Showa 47).
He continuously won numerous prizes starting from 1973 in the contemporary Japanese Sword Fine arts Contests held by the Japanese Swords Preservation Society (NBTHK) such as "Doryoku Award" 2 times, "Nyusen Award" 13 times and got an honor of Kanzan award, finally awarded with an important intangible cultural asset of Shimane prefecture April 9, 1999 along with his brother SADANORI 貞法.
Brother KOBAYASHI live in Oku-Izumo town where the only tatara (traditional Japanese furnace used for smelting iron and steel) is in operation in Japan. He is very good at figure out good quality steel from Tamahagane 玉鋼 made from iron sand and excellent at dealing to increase or decrease in carbon state by iron while melting process. Also he is skilled in structure of Makuri-kitae まくり鍛え - core made of soft steel for durable and covered by fine steel for top level cutting performance.
The subject katana was made when he was matured 45 years old in 1993 (heisei 5). Hamon is large clove of Choji from Bizen-den technique and Bo-hi grooves on both sides to reduce weight where he would bear the work of heroic katanas from Nanbokucho period in his mind.
The mounted katana with hilt and Tsuba (without scabbard) is well balanced and weights light in 955 grams. The blade and Koshirae fitting has no mark of usage to keep the original mint condition.
The waist notches black stone surface lacquered scabbard Higo-style Koshirae consists of : (click HERE for the entire koshirae / HERE for detained images)
White rayskin, black cord "Morotsumami-maki" style lozenge wrap. Fuchi/Kashira, Tsuba and Kojiri end of scabbard of Sakura flower/Kiri arabesque design is made of iron,gold inlay. Menuki of Kiku flower design.
Silver ground Habaki collar, Shira-saya plain wood mounting is also included.
An original good polish/Condition scale: mint (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor)