AS17032-Katana: Kunitsugu (Uda school.)

Katana in Shirasaya with Shikomi-Tsue. (NBTHK Hozon)
Signature:　Kunitsugu (Uda school.)
AOI Bijyutasu Syosin Kanteisyo NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token
(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo saku, Jyo-jyo saku Jyo saku and regular saku)
This sword belongs to Jyo Saku ranking.
The blade was polished.

Habaki:　Wooden Habaki.
Blade length:６２．４　　cm or 24.5 inches.
Sori:１．５cm or 0.59 inches.
Mekugi: 　１
Width at the hamachi:2.625 cm or 1.03 inches.
Width at the Kissaki: 2.0 cm or 0.78 inches.
Kasane : 0.495 cm or 0.19 inches.
The weight of the sword 480 grams.

Era: Late Muromachi period, Bunmei era.
Shape : Katateuchi style Katana with Ubunakago.
Jigane: Itame-Hada well grained. Masame also mixed.
Hamon : Niedeki Niju-ba and also Sanju-ba. Sunagashi and Kinsuji, Ginsuji worked. Gunome-Midare mixed. Boshi is Midarekomi style and Kinsuji worked.

special feature: Katana in high-ranking Shikomi-tsue. When you draw the sword, 2 iron plates will exorbitant and will be the Tsuba for the sword. There are some sword smith name Kunitsugu, but from the signature, we think this Kunitsugu is Uda school’s swordsmith who worked around Muromachi period Bunmei Era.

From Aoi Art: at end of Edo period, swords was prohibited so Samurais was hidden their favorite swords into Shikomi-Tsue and bring it with them. This Shikomi-Tsue is a very rare and high-ranking one. If you keep a sword in Shikomi-Tsue for a long time, the sword will be rust but this sword has Shirasaya and also a wooden blade for the Shikomi-Tsue. It is very difficult to find high-ranking Shikomi-Tsue like this one. We strongly recommend this sword to you.

Aoi Art estimation paper
NBTHK Hozon Token
whole Oshigata.