S116. Wakizashi in shirasaya signed Satsuyoshi Oku Motohira and dated Tenmei Roku Nen Aki Hachi Gatsu (1781, August, 8th month).

Nagasa: 20 15/16″ 53 cm.

Sori: 1 cm.

Moto haba: 3.3 cm.

Moto kasane: .7 cm.

Saki haba: 2.9 cm.

Saki kasane: .6 cm.

Kissaki nagasa: 3.8 cm.

Overall length in mounts: 30 3/4″ 78 cm.

Shinogi-zukuri, mitsu-mune, tight ko-itame hada covered in ji-nie, gunome-midare with ko-notare, ko-choji forming profuse ashi, long nie-suji (sweet potato vine or imozuru), bright and deep nioi-guchi with crisp nie tending towards ara-nie, abundant sunagashi with a touch of kinsuji. The boshi is complex with gobs of nie. The nakago is ubu and the mei & date are cleanly and boldly cut.

The blade is mounted with a gold foil habaki and in shira-saya. It is perfectly flawless and perfectly in polish. With NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper issued in 1985 (very early TH paper). You also get a purple sword bag.

The polish doesn’t show the blade to its best advantage; I had a dfficult time taking photos that show much more than the hada so I’ve made an oshigata of the monouchi to give you a better idea what there is to be seen.

Motohira was born in 1737 and died in 1826. He was awarded the title Yamato no Kami in 1789 so we know this blade was made earlier. He is listed as Jojo Saku in Fujishiro. Motohira was one of the 2 big name smiths in Satsuma; he has always been important. Katana by Motohira have passed to Juyo paper (at least 37 times) and sell above $100,000. Then, this must be a bargain. 2 pounds, 2 ounces. $8,250.