Q664. Katana signed Oite Edo Kojimachi Unshu Han Fujiwara Naganobu Saku and dated Ansei Shichi Nen Ni Gatsu Ju Yon Hi (the 14th day of February, 1860).
Nagasa: 24 3/8″ 61.7 cm.
Sori: 1.1 cm.
Moto haba: 3.1 cm.
Moto kasane: .8 cm.
Saki haba: 2.3 cm.
Saki kasane: .5 cm.
Nakago Nagasa: 8 5/8″ 21.9 cm.
Overall in shirasaya: 35 1/2″ 90 cm.
Overall koshirae: 40″ 100.5 cm.
Ubu, one hole. Shinogi zukuri, koshi zori, iore mune, chu kissaki. The hada is finest ko-nuka or muji covered in the finest of ji-nie. The hamon begins with a short, straight yaki dashi and becomes gunome with pointed elements, sunagashi and ashi, in a consistent nioi guchi covered in finest ko-nie. The boshi is a continuation of the hamon, ending in ko-maru and a short kaeri. The blade is mounted with a double gold wash habaki in well made shirasaya. It is flawless, in high quality polish (most likely done in Japan), and comes with a Tokubetsu Kicho paper from the NBTHK, dated 1980 and attesting to the signature and work.
The koshirae is mounted with a full length, well made tsunagi and wood habaki. The saya is textured black lacquer. There are a few very shallow and tiny dents in the surface (nothing really) but no cracks and none of the lacquer is missing. Koi guchi, ko jiri, and kurikata are horn. The tsuba is iron, well made and in excellent condition (8.3 x 8.3 cm). The fuchi is shakudo with a copper moth; the kashira is horn. The menuki are shakudo with gold and silver inlay. The tsuka-ito, over decent quality same’, is, again, well done. I would say the koshirae is overall excellent condition.
Takahashi Naganobu came out of the Fuyuhiro Mon; he was the adopted son of the 17th Fuyuhiro. He traveled to Edo (Tokyo) and studied with the Chounsai Tsunatoshi group. Other than for his decidedly skillful work (ranked jo-saku), he is known for never having singed twice in the same way.
Flawless blade, ubu, signed & dated, in polish, papered, with shirasaya and koshirae: this one has a lot going for it. 3 pounds, 13 ounces. $6,250,