EXCEPTIONAL SWORDS'
Horikawa Masahiro 正弘 Jojo Saku - Not Hizen
Horikawa Masahiro 正弘 Jojo Saku - Not Hizen
A machi okure katana, signed yonjimei Fujiwara Masahiro. Hawatare: 2 Shuku 2 sun 0 bu (66.66 cm. / 26,244"). Motohaba: 3 cm. Sakihaba: 2 cm. Kasane: 6 mm. Shinogizukure, iroi mune, koshisori, chu kisaki. Chu suguba in nie deki. bright habuchi, ha-nie, kinsuji. Hadatatsu itame ko-mokume jigane packed with jinie and chikei. The nie becomes stronger near the hamon.
Examples of Masahiro's work are very rare. He was the nephew of Horikawa Kunihiro, the founder of the Horikawa school. Both smiths were active around Keicho jiddai (1596 - 1515) in Hyuga, before moving to Horikawa in Yamashiro province. Masahiro works most closely resemble those of Kunihiro. Toko Taikan value: 15,000,000 yen. Fujishiro, Nihon Toko Jiten - Shinto Hen, jojo saku. Shinto Taikan shows two example, pages 700 and 701. The blade pictured on page 700 is rated Juyo Bunkasai. Were this not machi okure, this would be a solid juyo candidate. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon kanteisho.
The tsuka is black ito over high quality same, with gold and shakudo menuki. Muromachi or Momoyama ko-kinko fuchi-kashira The Higo s tsuba sukashi pines, Goto kogai shakudo branch and leaves and gold plum on a very fine nanako ground. A very fine black lacquer ribbed saya free from dents, shakudo kojiri.
I am not a fan of shinto swords, this is the exception. Were it not machi okure, it would easily become juyo token. Wonderful is an over used word, which is why I seldom use it, but this one is absolutely wonderful. To my eye, this is the best shinto sword that I can remember seeing. This is the sort of sword that needs to be treasured as the rare and remarkable work that it is. $18,500
Higo Tsuba
Goto Kogai
Ko Kinko Fuchi-Kashira
Gold and Shakudo Menuki
Toko Taikan
Shinto Taikan (Juyo Bunkasai)
Nihon Toko Jiten - Shinto Hen
Tokubetsu Hozon Kanteisho
Hozon Kanteisho