A Kaneshige Katana in mounts

EDO PERIOD (17TH CENTURY), SIGNED KAZUSA SUKE FUJIWARA KANESHIGE AND INSCRIBED ITSUTSU GASANE DO OTOSHI DSUKUSHI DODAN KIRITE NAKANISHI JUROBEIJOKO AND KAO AND DATED ENPO KYUNEN NIGATSU NIJUHACHINICI (TWENTY-EIGHTH DAY OF THE SECOND MONTH OF THE NINTH YEAR OF EMPO [1681])

Details

A Kaneshige Katana in mounts
Edo period (17th century), signed Kazusa suke Fujiwara Kaneshige and inscribed Itsutsu gasane do otoshi dsukushi dodan kirite Nakanishi Jurobeijoko and kao and dated Enpo kyunen nigatsu nijuhachinici (twenty-eighth day of the second month of the ninth year of Empo [1681])
Sugata [configuration]: hon-zukuri, iori-mune, chu-kissaki, torii-zori
Kitae [forging pattern]: fine itame of jinie
Hamon [tempering pattern]: wide suguha with hints of choji and ashi, sunagashi and yo
Boshi [tip]: ko-maru
Nakago [tang]: ubu with sujikai file marks and one peg
Habaki [collar]: single, silver habaki
In a shirasaya [wood storage scabbard]
Nagasa [length from tip to beginning of tang]: 66.6cm.
Motohaba [width at start of tempered edge]: 3cm.
Sakihaba [width before tip]: 2cm.

Koshirae comprising a black-lacquer saya with a Soten school iron tsuba pierce-carved in the round with a scene from the battle of Yashima with gold and silver highlights; shakudo nanako-ji fuchi-kashira with warriors and rocks and pines in iroe taka-zogan, inscribed Goto Mitsuaki and kao; shakudo and gold menuki formed as warriors
With a Tokubetsu Hozon Token (Sword Especially Worthy of Preserving) certificate no. 151609 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword), dated 2004.9.1 (2)

Lot Essay

The inscription on this sword written by Nakanishi states that this sword was tested and succesfully cut through five torsos and the earth mound that supported them. Swords which were capable of cutting through five test corpses are exceptionally rare.

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