O5384(S8914)

Katana signed Bishu Osafune-ju Yokoyama Toshi-saemon-no-joSUKEKANE In the 2nd month, the 4th year Keio A 58th-generation descendant of TOMONARI with)Byakudan-nuri style gold foil lacquered sandalwood scabbard UchikatanaKoshirae

Shin-shin-to the end of Edo period (Keiou 4 / 1868) Bizen
Length of cutting edge 66.0cm Curvature 1.8cm Width of base 29.6mm Width of Yokote 19.1mm Thickness of base 7.6mm

NBTHK(Tokubetsu Hozon Token) certificate
NBTHK(Tokubetsu Kicho Token) certificate

with)Byakudan-nuri style gold foil lacquered sandalwood scabbard Uchikatana Koshirae

NBTHK(Tokubetsu Kicho Kodougu) certificate

Blade construction: Well-proportioned Katana holding harmonized deep curvature appropriate tapering from base to point of medium Kissaki, Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune and Kasane is thick. There is round-end Bo-hi grooves on both sides.(click HERE for higher resolution image of the entire blade)
Forging(Hada): Forging mark is fine wooden grain mark of Itame-hada where large Itame-hada stands out mostly around base.
Temper(Hamon): Hamon is a bit on stronger side Ko-Nie base that forms Suguha starting from base then a bit on tighter based crystallized Nioi line of flamboyant tassel-shape Choji-ha and long footed Choji-midare to form over lapped Juka-Choji-midarte. The interior is filled with mist-like crystallize area that contains great deal of feet "Ashi"in different angles and plenty of floating YOU. The entire quenching scene is well-sofisticated under Bizen-den tradition and splendidly bright.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Temper of boshi forms a Gunome below Yokote, straight Suguha to form small circle that turns back gentlely with a bit on longer side.
Tang(Nakago): Nakago is UBU original a bit on longer side to the blade length, un-even U-shape "Ha- agari Kurijiri" heel on bottom. One peg hole of Mekugiana. Slightly slanting left "Katte-sagari" filemarks with horizontal "Kesho-yasuri". Back ridge of Nakago is flat where "O-sujikai" grealy slanting left file marks appears.
The signature in front starts with the place of work Bishu Osafune-ju 備州長船住, real name with title YOKOYAMA Toshi-saemon-no-jo 横山俊左衛門尉 and smith name SUKEKANE 祐包. The other side is inscribed with the date of year In the 2 nd month, Keiou 4 th 慶應四年二月日, then paragraphed A 58th-generation descendant of TOMONARI 友成五十八代孫.

Here is a typical Bizen-den traditionally made Katana by an accomplished sword artisan Yokoyama Toshi-saemon-no-jo SUKEKANE 横山俊左衛門尉祐包.
In the 8th month of Tensho 19 (1591) Koto Muromachi period, a flood struck Fukuoka-sho, Osafune area as a result of localized downpour, most of sword workshops were carried away by the flood and SUKESADA aterier 祐定 was no exception.
One of the founder Yokoyama Souzaemon SUKESADA 横山宗左衛門祐定 reconstructed SUKESADA 祐定 atelier in Shinto period along with his brothers Shichibei-no-jo SUKESADA 七兵衛尉家 and Genzaemon-no-jo 源左衛門尉家. Those three SUKESADA families had been prospered throuhgout Shinto Edo period.

The subject swordsmith Yokoyama Toshi-saemon-no-jo SUKEKANE 横山俊左衛門尉祐包 was an adopted son of 横山祐盛 who was a legitimate son of Yokoyama SUKEHIRA 横山祐平 who belonged to Yokoyama Souzaemon SUKESADA lineage 横山宗左衛門祐定.
He is distinguished as the final doyen of Bizen sword smiths in Shin-shin-to period along with his uncle SUKENAGA 祐永.
Both SUKENAGA 祐永 and SUKEKANE 祐包 were exclisively worked for Bizen domain and they sometimes inscribe proundly in Nakago as A 56th or 58th-generation descendant of TOMONARI.
His extant works with the date of year ranged from Tenpo 6 to Meiji 5 (1835-1872) in the last years of Edo period. He belonged to pure Bizen-den technique and devote himself to restore the antient work of founder in Osafune TOMONARI in kamakura period. He is very good at the hamon of "Jyuka-Choji midare" which looks like the row on row of clove flower buds and succesfully revived Bizen-den technique in Shin-shin-to period.

The subject katana is designed for suitabilily in shape and deep in Sori that reminds Tachi of ancient Kamakura Osafune works. Further flamboyant hamon nearly reaches to Shinogi-ridge and is superior to the other examples in abundant activity of hardening boundary line.

with) Byakudan-nuri style gold foil lacquered sandalwood scabbard Uchikatana Koshirae consists of : (click
HERE for entire Koshirae / HERE for each metal fitting)
  • Fuchi/Kashira : Noh theme "Takasago" Charm bamboo rake and broom/basket design, Shakudo Nanako-ji Gold Iroe, signed as Shoami KATSUYOSHI(seal) 正阿弥勝義(花押)
  • Menuki : Bunch of flowers design. Silver ground,Yobori carving, Gold Iroe
  • Tsuba : Botan Peony design, Iron grouond, Openwork, Nikubori carving, unsgined
  • Scabbard : Botan Peony flowers pattern Gold foil lacquered sandalwood scabbard
  • Hilt : White rayskin, deep blue silk cord lozenge wrap

Silver ground double layer Habaki collar, preserved in a Shirasaya plain wood mounting (Dr.Kanzan Sayagaki).
Old good polish/Condition scale: mint - excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor)
reference data :
Kashima Susumu, Osafune-cho-shi/Token-hen zuroku, Otsuka Kougei-sha, 1998
Honma Kunzan/Ishii Masakuni, Nihonto Taikan, Yuzankaku, 1975