An incredible sword that just became available. This blade has the attributes of the Sanjo and Bizen Yoshinori smiths.

A 1st generation  Yoshinori, signed and dated (1406) with Tokubetsu papers. A blade by Yoshinori have juyo potential. One of the most gorgeous blades we have had the opportunity to sell both blade and koshirae.  This swords hamon is a vibrant hitatsura, one of his specialties when producing Soshu pieces. The hitatsura is played against a fantastic erratic Gunome/Choji midare that comes at you from different angles jutting out with magnificent arms of temper. The blade smothered in ji-nie is also frosted in a combination of ara-nie.  Aside from the many splashes of nie there is kinsuji, chikei and a myriad of hataraki too long to list. There are many muneyaki dripping from the bohi.  We feel from the positioning of the mei that this blade is ubu with a kiri-jiri. There are clouds of nie exposions emanating from the hamon and just a joy to look at. This blade is in original edo period koshirae of Dragons. The black lacquered urushi finish is peppered with crushed seashell and a lacquered dragon of gold entwining the scabbard. The scabbard is signed by the lacquer artist, attesting to its high quality finish. The overall condition is excellent with very minor damage at the bottom. The fuchi/kashira,koigucchi, kurikata and kojiri are all of a matching shakudo and gold carving of dragons and waves and clouds. The menuki are gold dragons as well as and iron tsuba finished with shakdo dragon with gold highlights. The tsuka maki is purple and the sageo is a purplish maroon. A rare chance to own a 1st generation Sanjo Yoshinori signed and dated with Hozon Tokubetsu papers to the Bizen Yoshinori of the Yoshiie school. The mounts have tsunagi and the shirasaya has Tanobe sayagaki to Sanjo Yoshinori. We have provided a link to to the Bizen Yoshinori and Sanjo Yoshinori connection. This is a very rare example of this special circumstance where Tanobe appraises this sword to Sanjo and the Nbthk thinks the Bizen

This is also a link to Markus Sesko’s writings on Yoshinori.  Great history on this maker.

https://markussesko.com/2018/03/10/kantei-4-yamashiro-35-heianjo-and-go-sanjo-schools-2/