Echizen Yasutsugu (fss-855)

Echizen Yasutsugu (fss-855)

by | Jan 17, 2020

Echizen Yasutsugu (fss-855) New Item Available Sold On Hold Special Sale This is a good example of the 3rd generation Yasutsugu.  The quality of this sword is very good and has no flaws.  It was a family sword that was mounted in WWII for the war.  It was mounted with an antique tsuba and antique menuki.  This is not common and adds an interesting detention to the mounts.  The blade has good activity and the hada/grain is very rich and dark looking. This sword is in full polish and is in a shirasaya.  The mounts are held together with a wooden tsunagi.  The sword comes with papers from the Nihon Tōken Hozon Kai (日本刀剣保存会) ‒ NTHK from Japan (Japanese sword preservation society). Info on smith:YASUTSUGU (康継), 3rd gen., Kanbun (寛文, 1661-1673), Musashi – “Yasutsugu nanban-tetsu o motte Bushū Edo ni oite kore o saku” (康継以南蛮鉄於武州江戸作之, “made by Yasutsugu with nanban-tetsu in Edo in Musashi province”), real name Shimosaka Umanosuke (下坂右馬助), he adopted later the first name Ichinojō (市之丞), son of the 2nd gen. Yasutsugu, he was not of age when his father died and so a succession dispute arouse which resulted in the splitting to an Edo and an Echizen branch of the Yasutsugu school, it was settled that both were allowed to call themselves 3rd gen., according to tradition he was fully trained by his uncle and he worked later for the bakufu, we know date signatures from the third year of Kanbun (1663) to the third year of Enpō (延宝, 1675), he worked in the style of the 2nd gen. but did not reach his quality, he...
Exquisite Katana (fss 854)

Exquisite Katana (fss 854)

by | Jan 7, 2020

Exquisite Katana (fss-854) New Item Available Sold On Hold Special Sale Here we have a beautiful sword that that has been fully restored and is flawless. A bit shorter than the average katana but it is a katana. We feel that this length was made shorter intentionally with the suriage for quick slashing.  The sword is exceptional and is very tightly forged.  The hada is crystal clear and looks very deep and dark.  The hamon is very interesting and unique.  It has a mixture of nie and some nioi adding to its quality.  It has a very faint signature that is not legible but looks ok. The sword looks Mino school in style. The sword has not been submitted to shinsa yet so it would be interesting to find out what they would say about the sword. Mounts are fully restored and are in the same style as they originally came.  The saya is a satsuma red and a black tsukamaki.  The fittings are from the Edo era.  The saya is clean inside to preserve the polish for years to come. This is a flawless antique sword dating back to the (1600’s-1700’s) we feel. Mei: Mumei Date: approximately Momoyama era (1573-1599) Nagasa: 24-3/8 inches Sori: 13.0 mm Width at the ha-machi: 28.9 mm Width at the yokote: 21.1 mm Thickness at the mune-machi: 6.8 mm Construction: Shinogi zukuri Mune: Iori Nakago: O-suriage Kitae: Itame/mokume Hamon: Gunome mixed with suguba Boshi: Maru Condition: Good polish Click to Enlarge Image Click to Enlarge Image Click to Enlarge Image This sword is on consignment. Special Sale Price Sold On Hold Asking price: $6,200.00 (shipping and insurance included) Email us if your interested in this item and...
(Yasakuni) Yasunobu (fss-853)

(Yasakuni) Yasunobu (fss-853)

by | Dec 30, 2019

(Yasukuni) Yasunobu (fss-853) New Item Available Sold On Hold Special Sale An Impressive Yasukuni Shrine sword by the swordsmith Yasunobu. His full name Murakami Yasunobu and given name is Ensaku from Yamagata prefecture.According to the translation by Kenji Mishina for the JSS:He became a member of the NTKF ( Nihonto Tenren Kai Foundation ) 10/15/33 which made approx. 1000 swords.Given his Yasukuni smith name on 1/11/39 by War Minister, Itagaki Seishiro.Left 8/15/45 after the defeat by the Allied Forces.Donated a sword to the Yasakuni shrine 2/39.Donated a sword to the festival for the 700th anniversary of retired-Emporer Gotoba 3/39.Won the Chairman Award at the 2nd Gunto Tenran Kai 12/21/44His lineage: Ikeda Yasumitsu ( Ikko or Kazumitsu )He was making agricultural tools under the tutelage of Ikeda Ikko in Yamagata prefecture. This impressive blade is in pristine condition. The polish is outstanding and truly shows off the magnificence of the Yasukuni smiths workmanship. As most Yasukuni blades this is a brilliantly controlled Sugu-ha with a very tight Ko-Itame / Ko-Mokume Hada. The boshi is in Maru with no flaws to be found. The Habaki is finished in copper. And not to understate this completed with a wonderfully done Shira-saya of Honoki.Anyone interested in owning a truly perfect example of a Yasukuni Shrine blade by a noted Yasukuni Shrine Smith should own this sword or add it to their collection. This is a link to information about the Yasakuni shrine.  It has a long and extensive history and is a place that that the Japanese people visit regularly.   YASAKUNI SHRINE Mei: Yasunobu Date: Showa era Nagasa: 24-5/8 inches Sori: 15.0 mm Width at...
(Yasukuni) Yasumitsu (fss-852)

(Yasukuni) Yasumitsu (fss-852)

by | Dec 30, 2019

(Yasukuni) Yasumitsu (fss-852) New Item Available Sold On Hold Special Sale This is a very fine quality yasakuni sword made by one of the instructors of the Yasakuni shrine. Ikeda Yasumitsu, joined the NTK at its founding and left in Showa 15 (1940). He passed away in Showa 16 (1941). He made many fine blades and this is a great example of his work. This sword resembles the old koto era swords that were very desirable and the Yasakuni smiths made swords in this style. This sword has a well forged hada and a elegant hamon with good hataraki. The mounts are military and in very good shape.The swordsmith, Ikeda Yasumitsu, joined the NTK at its founding and left in Showa 15 (1940). He passed away in Showa 16 (1941).IKEDA YASUMITSU (BORN 2ND NOVEMBER 1879, DIED JANUARY 1941). Given name: Shuji.Originally from Yamagata Prefecture. Became a member of Nihonto Tanren Foundation as well as Sakite, Abe Shigeo and Murakami Ensaku.Given the Yasukuni smith name “ Yasumitsu “ by the war minister, Araki Sadeo on 15th of December 1933.Retired on 4th of October 1939. He was still in a position of leadership and made a small number of swords after his retirement.Left the foundation and went back to his hometown at the end of 1945.Number of swords produced at Nihonto Tanren Kai: Approx. 1,100 swords. MAIN WORKSDonated a sword to the Yasukuni Shrine in 1933.Made a sword for Prince Mikasa in the occasion of his coming-of-age celebration in 1934.Donated a sword to the festival of the 700th anniversary of the retired- Emperor Gotoba in March 1939.Had made uncertain number of...
Chikugo no Kami Kunifusa (fss-851)

Chikugo no Kami Kunifusa (fss-851)

by | Dec 11, 2019

Chikugo no Kami Kunifusa (fss-851) New Item Available Sold On Hold Special Sale This sword was made by the 2nd gen of a 9 generation lineage working in Iyo province for the “Date” who ruled the local Uwajima fief. Kunimori was his early mei. This fine sword boast an abundance of activity and workmanship. There’s a beautiful carving of a dragon on one side and bonji on the other that are well done. The sword is flawless and  has a beautiful hamon and with many hataraki, Its a mixture of nie and nioi.  The itame hada has a dark deep appearance and almost looks wet. Some ji-nie is also visible in the hada. This Sword has a very serene feel to it and although it has many find details it does not look flashy, instead it looks very elegant. The mounts accompany this sword are also in dragon motif.  They are in good condition but we would recommend a shirasaya and tsunagi be made some day for this sword.  It comes with papers authenticating the signature, age and quality.   KUNIFUSA (国房), 2nd gen., Kanbun (寛文, 1661-1673), Iyo – “Chikugo no Daijō Fujiwara Kunifusa” (筑後大掾藤原国房), “Chikugo no Kami Kunifusa” (筑後守国房), real name Kono Koichi (小野小市), he signed first with Kunimori (国林), he studied in Ōsaka under the 1st gen. Yamato no Kami Yoshimichi (大和守吉道), he died on the 13th day of the twelfth month Kyōhō 19 (享保, 1734), dense itame mixed with mokume, gunome-chōji in ko-nie-deki, compact nioiguchi, sugu-bōshi with a ko-maru-kaeri   Mei: Chikugo no Kami Kunifusa (筑後守国房) Date: Kanbun (寛文, 1661-1673) Nagasa: 18 inches Sori: 9.5 mm Width at...