This is a very interesting katana from the Shinto period which reminds one of the Mino or Bizen tradition of the late koto era. It is in a very nice polish. The overall sugata of this sword is impressive and the hamon is loaded with activity. The hamon contains plentiful nie and a gunome / choji midare. Sunagashi, Kinsuji and Ji-nie can be found. The hada has an itame / mokume mix and with some areas of O- hada mixed in. The blade has some course areas that are common for swords of this age. This blade comes with mountings. The furniture of the koshirae are made of iron and in good condition. The Tsuba is an owari style with gold design and the fuchi and kashira are a matching koi motif and in iron. The tsuba is also iron and pierced as well. The menuki are of seashells. The Sageo and Ito are black and the saya lacquer is finished in red with a swirling style finish. Note the same with gold in the lacquer also. The blade is a long o-suriage sword and a shinto era piece. The kissaki is longish and ko-maru boshi not quite kaen. There is a gentle sori.
The saya is of a red lacquer and is completely restored to keep the polish of the sword in good condition. The blade is mumei and the habaki is a gold foil and in an arabesque finish pattern. This sword is a wonderful package by a great school.
Hojoji Sadakuni is listed as a 60 pt. smith in Hawley’s.
- Mei: Mumei, attributed to Hôjôji Sadakuni
- Date: Edo (1600’s-1700’s)
- Nagasa: 27-7/8 inches
- Sori: 6.2 mm
- Width at the ha-machi: 30.1 mm
- Width at the yokote: 21.5 mm
- Thickness at the mune-machi: 7.4 mm
- Construction: Shinogi zukuri
- Mune: Iori
- Nakago: suriage
- Kitae: Itame/mokume
- Hamon: Midare Gunome
- Boshi: Maru
- Condition: Good polish
Email us if your interested in this item and remember to include the order number for this item: fss-736.
kantei-sho (鑑定書) – Appraisal
katana (刀)
Den Edo, Tajima no Kami Hôjôji Sadakuni (伝江戸、但馬守法城寺貞国)
shôshin (正真) – Authentic
nagasa 2 shaku 3 sun 4 bu kore ari (長さ二尺三寸四分有之) – Blade length ~ 70.9 cm
Heisei 28 nen 2 gatsu 27 nichi (平成二十八年二月二十七日) – February 27th 2016
Non Profit Organization (特定非営利活動法人)
Nihon Tôken Hozon Kai (日本刀剣保存会) – NTHK
Board Chairman (理事長): Miyano Teiji (宮野貞司)
No T 1600269
meibun (銘文) – Signature: ô-suriage mumei
tsukurikomi (造り込み) – Shape: shinogi-zukuri, iori-mune
kitae (鍛) – Forging: rather dense itame
hamon (刃紋) – Hardening: medium wide suguha-chô mixed with ko-midare and ko-chôji
bôshi (鋩子) – Hardening in tip: sugu with a rather pointed kaeri
chôkoku (彫刻) – Engravings:
nakago (中心) – Tang: mekugi-ana (目釘穴) 2 (and 2 plugged), yasurime (鑢): katte-sagari
bikô (備考) – Remarks: around Manji (1658-1661)
shinsa’in natsu’in (審査員捺印) – Seals of Judges: 4 seals