S137. Katana in nice koshirae.

Nagasa: 27 7/16″ 69.6 cm.

Sori: .6 cm.

Moto haba: 3 cm.

Moto kasane: .75 cm.

Saki haba: 2.2 cm.

Saki kasane: .55 cm.

Nakago nagasa: 21.6 cm.

Overall in koshirae: 40 1/2″ 103 cm.

Ubu, one hole, shinogi zukuri, iore mune, long chu-kissaki, unsigned. Fine itame with mokume. Gunome hamon in nioi guchi with fine ko-nie covering and sunagashi throughout. The boshi is shallow undulations ending in ko-maru and a short kaeri. There are a couple ware’ under the habaki and a small fukure just above the habaki on the omote (just to the left of the red asterisk in one of my pictures). Otherwise condition is excellent and the polish is intact. The blade comes mounted with a gold wash on copper habaki and en suite koshirae.

The saya is green lacquer with powdered abalone suspended (and flawless). The kojiri, kurikata, koi guchi, fuchi, and kashira are all of brass with 2 different designs divided by silver inlay, all matching. The tsuba is iron with brass inlay (works well with the other kodogu) and none of the brass is missing. Fine tekkotsu on the rim. I don’t know what the menuki represent; they are gold and shakudo and appear to be well made. The tsuka-ito is done tachi style and is in excellent condition (the sageo is tied tachi style and the mekugi-ana is in tachi position also). This sword will come with a silk (I assume) brocade bag in mint condition.

This will come with a 4 page photo and record sheet the former owner received from the last dealer to handle the sword. He gave the blade to Bizen and the kodogu to Higo; I see no reason to argue. Both he and I believe the sword to be Kanbun Shinto (1660) due to the shallow sori. I also believe this to be a nice package: in polish, nothing missing, all matching and in excellent condition, take it home at a very reasonable price and enjoy. 3 pounds, 9 ounces. $1,995.