Katanas signed Awadaguchi Omi no Kami Tadatsuna and on the ura: Azai Uji (Azai was Tadatsuna’s personal name and Uji denotes aristocratric lineage).

Nagasa:  27 7/8″  70.8 cm.

Sori:  .9 cm.

Moto haba:  3.2 cm.

Moto kasane:  .75 cm.

Saki haba:  1.85 cm.

Saki kasane:  .5 cm.

Nakago nagasa:  8″  20.2 cm.

Overall in koshirae:  41″  105 cm.

Shinogi zukuri, koshi zori, iore mune, chu kissaki. The hada is ko-itame in bright ji-nie. The hamon, a deep and wide nioi guchi covered in ko-nie, begins with sugu yakidashi and turns to toran style o-notare with ashinaga choji and very pronounced sunagashi cutting across the ashi. The boshi is suguba ending in a swept ko-maru and a short kaeri. All of this is exactly what is expected from the smith. With the exception of a couple pin pricks in insignificant areas the blade is flawless and it is in a professional (most likely Japanese) polish. There is a gilt copper habaki and a Hozon paper from the NBTHK in Tokyo, dated 1994, authenticating the work and signature.

This is mounted in a complete katana koshirae. The saya is black lacquer with horn at the koi-guchi, kurikata, and kojiri; the lacquer is in perferct condition. The tsuba is iron and Namban. The fuchi kashira are shakudo of waves with gold ten zogan droplets. The menuki are gilt dragons. The tsuka-ito is well done and in excellent condition over high end same”.

Ikkanshi Tadatsuna was the 2nd generation of his swordsmith family. Bucking the normal trend, he is considered to have been the better of the 2 Tadatsuna smiths. He is listed as Jo Jo Saku in Fujishiro and is placed among the very best of Osaka Shinto. Long, one hole, basicly flawless. spectacular (my pictures don’t begin to do justice), in polish, with koshirae, by a highly important smith: take me home please. 3 pounds, 3 ounces. $9,950