Q405. Osuriage katana with kin zogan mei: Sa.

Nagasa: 25″ 63.4 cm.

Sori: 1.1 cm.

Moto haba: 3.1 cm.

Moto kasane: .8 cm.

Saki haba: 2.7 cm.

Saki kasane: .6 cm.

Kissaki nagasa: 8 cm.

Nakago nagasa: 7 1/8″ 18.2 cm.

Overall in shirasaya: 35 3/8″ 90.4 cm.

Shinogi zukuri, iore mune, 0-kissaki, there are bo hi on both sides that run through the nakago. The hada is ko-itame ko-mokume with jinie & chikei. There are instances of coarse masame (tending towards tight ware’ above and inside the hamon, see my last picture). The hamon is ko notare suguba with ample variations showing sunagahi & kinsuji in fine ko nie. The boshi occupies most of the kissaki and is quite complex, but the polish of the kissaki leaves a lot to be desired and the boshi is hard to make out clearly. There is a short to medium length kaeri. The rest of the polish is quite nice. The blade is mounted with a copper habaki and in a well made shirasaya in good condition. There is a Tokubetsu Kicho paper from the NBTHK dated 1968 and giving this to Suye Sa (later Sa School).

O-Sa was one of the 10 students of Masamune; the work of his students is known as Sa School. This sword is broad and thick, and the o-kissaki is most impressive. There is a lot to like here. 2 pounds, 11 ounces. $4,875