KK0506

SALE:  $1,250

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An ubu, mumei, sue koto Mino katana. Shinogizukure, sakizori, iroi mune, chu-kissaki.  Hawatare:  2 shaku 2 sun 3 bu ,  (61.3cm or 24.13").  Motohaba:  2.86 cm.  Sakihaba:  1.834 cm.  Kasane:  7.05 mm.  The hamon gunome notare in nie deki.  some sunagashi in the front part of the blade.  Small tobiyaki.  The hada isn't clear, but it is an itame nagare and masame in the shinogi ji.  The brain trust who owned this sword, thought to sharpen it, but lacked the control to hold the grinder against the blade.  Thus we have the little divots along the edge, that a polish should correct.

The blade is mounted handachi style,  with textured red copper tosogu on a red and black 19th century saya. The unassuming tsuba, is excellent iron plate with good tekotsu in the surface and the rim, well worth cleaning up. Signed,  Nagachika or Eisui, 7.7 cm x 6.9 cm  x 3.72 mm. The choice of the second kanji is consistent with Nara Shozui branch of Nara.   The tsuka has a nice tight wrap in good contrition, the Mino menuki are shakudo with gold highlights,.  The fuchi-kashira are mismatched.  The fuchi having minimal design, and the kashira plain copper.  Like their treatment of the blade, so too did they find it necessary to carve the saya.   Even with the damage, this can be saved, as the structure is sound, and the saya is not split.   $1, 800.

Nagachika or Eisui,

Tekotsu

Mino Menuki