AS23500 Wakizashi:Ushū Gassan(Yamagata, Akita)(NBTHK Hozon Token)(consignment sale)

Ordering number: AS23500
Wakizashi: In Shirasaya(NBTHK Hozon Token)(consignment sale)

Inscription: Ushū Gassan(Yamagata, Akita)
羽州月山（山形、秋田）

In our company, we classify swords as Jōjō-saku (highest quality), Jōsaku (high quality), Jō-saku (good quality), and Futsū-saku (ordinary quality) based on the craftsmanship of the swordsmith. This piece is ranked as Jō-saku, indicating it is of good quality.

Polished
Habaki (Collar): Double Copper Habaki
Blade Length: 38.1 centimeters (15 inches)
Curvature: 0.8 centimeters (0.31 inches)
Peg Hole: 2
Width at the Base: 3.14 centimeters (1.24 inches)
Width at the Tip: 2.25 centimeters (0.89 inches)
Thickness: 0.44 centimeters (0.17 inches)
Sword Weight: 265 grams
Era: Middle of the Muromachi period (approximately)
Shape: The blade is slightly wide with a moderately thin thickness, featuring bo-hi (grooves) on both sides. It has a moderate curvature and an extended kissaki (point).
Blade Surface Pattern: The blade exhibits a well-defined ayasugi-hada (cypress bark pattern) with clear hada-nagare (flowing grain) characteristics typical of Gassan.
Blade Pattern: It features a straight hamon (temper pattern) with small gunome-midare (irregular semicircles) and some small midare (irregularities) in the bōshi (temper pattern at the tip). The tempering on the heart area (mune) extends towards the tip.

Characteristics: Gassan blades are produced by swordsmiths from the Tohoku region, especially those near Mount Gassan. It is quite rare to see blades attributed to Ushū (modern-day Yamagata and Akita) in this context. The unique ayasugi-hada pattern, known as Gassan-hada, is achieved through a distinctive forging method.

From Aoi Art: Unfortunately, the art of creating this ayasugi-hada pattern was lost during the middle of the Muromachi period and was only revived in the late Edo period by Gassan Sadakazu. However, it is important to note that this method of forging was not exclusive to Gassan Sadakazu and had been practiced before his time. Nevertheless, Gassan Sadakazu’s systematic production was significant, and this technique became a closely guarded secret within the Gassan family, passed down to Gassan Sadakatsu. It is safe to say that no one else had produced such blade patterns in the past.

NBTHK Hozon Token paper
Aoi Art estimation paper: Whole Oshigata by Ayaka Tsuruta
*The price does not include international shipping fees.