A Gassan School Katana
A Gassan School Katana

20TH CENTURY, SIGNED SHISON YOTETSU GASSAN SADAKAZU NANAJUISSAI OTOKO SADAKATSU KIN RYOSAKU AND KAO AND DATED MEIJI SANJUKYUNEN JUNIGATSU KICHIJUTSU (AN AUSPICIOUS DAY IN THE 12TH MONTH OF THE 39TH YEAR OF MEIJI [1907]) AND INSCRIBED MOTTE BIZEN ICHIMONJI DEN FUNKOTSU SAISHIN

Details
A Gassan School Katana
20th century, signed Shison yotetsu Gassan Sadakazu nanajuissai otoko Sadakatsu kin ryosaku and kao and dated Meiji sanjukyunen junigatsu kichijutsu (an auspicious day in the 12th month of the 39th year of Meiji [1907]) and inscribed Motte Bizen Ichimonji den funkotsu saishin
Sugata [configuration]: hon-zukuri, iori-mune, chu-kissaki, koshi-zori
Kitae [forging pattern]: fine ko-itame
Hamon [tempering pattern]: choji midare with tobiyaki of nie
Boshi [tip]: ko-maru becoming slightly midare near the yokote on the omote side
Horimono [carving]: dragon with a sacred jewel near the hamachi and futatsu-bi on the omote; Buddhist halberd and futatsu-bi on the ura
Nakago [tang]: ubu with sujikai file marks and one hole
Habaki [collar]: single, silver
Nagasa [length from tip to beginning of tang]: 71.1cm.
Motohaba [width at start of tempered edge]: 2.8cm.
Sakihaba [width before tip]: 1.7cm.
In shirasaya inscribed Soshin yosaku nari shison yotetsu Teishitsu gigeiin Gassan Sadakazu nanajuissai otoko Sadakatsu kin ryosaku kao and Meiji sanjukyunen junigatsu kichijutsu motte Bizen Ichimonji den funkotsu saishin and signed Soson Sadatoshi kan and kao

Lot Essay

The authentication and inscription on the saya is by Sadatoshi, the current head of the Gassan school of swordsmiths. He judges this blade to be a masterwork by Sadakazu and Sadakatsu. Sayagaki written by Sadatoshi are rare.

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