AS21266 Katana: Echizen Kami Minamoto Sukehiro

Ordering number : AS21266

Katana in Shirasaya( NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Signature :　Echizen Kami Minamoto Sukehiro

(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo saku, Jyo-jyo saku Jyo saku and regular saku)
This sword belongs to Jyu Jyo saku ranking.
The blade was polished.
Habaki :　Gold foiled double habaki.
Blade length :　77.1　cm or 30.35 inches.
Sori :0.6 cm or 0.236 inches.
Mekugi : 　1
Width at the hamachi : 3.14 cm or 0.236 inches.
Width at the Kissaki : 2.07 cm or 0.81 inches.
Kasane : 0.77cm o0.3 inches.
The weight of the sword 856 grams.
Era : Edso period Kanbun era.
Shape : The blade is rather wide and thick with small sori and longer kissaki which was made at Kanei style.
Jigane :Koitame hada well grained with jinie attach beautiful oosaka jigane.
Hamon :Niedeki suguha , kuichigaiba, with Koashi appear.
From Monouchi area, rather deep nioikuchi and small ash work.

Special feature:The Second Sukehiro forged this katana. Both the First and the Second Sukehiros are ranked very important
position among the Osaka-Shinto swordsmiths. The Second Sukehiro, born in 1637, learned under the First Sukehiro,
got the title Echizen (No) Kami in 1658, served Aoyama Inaba (No) Suke Muneyoshi who was the lord of Komoro Castle
in Shinshu province since 1667. He was the Jodai of the Osaka Castle, a daimyo’s chief councilor
in charge of his master’s castle since 1667. Sukehiro started to inscribe the signature in the square style
of Chinese characters Tsuda Echizen (No) Kami Sukehiro in February 1667. He changed it to sosho;
the cursive style of writing Chinese characters in August 1674. Sukehiro the Sesond was a prolific swordsmith
who also created Toran-ba, out of accomplished style of Bizen-den
or Soshu-den that influenced greatly to Suiahinashi Masahide
in the late Edo period. The death of Second Sukehiro was indeed,
very sudden in 1682, aged 46.

From Aoi Art:This sword is second generation great Sukehiro
The blade is very rear suguha hamon Tegai Kanenaga style.
Sukehiro made Doranba Hamon and many sword smith imitated and adore his Doranba hamon.
But sometimes we get bored this gorgeous Doranba.
Suguha hamon is variety works in Hamon.
This sword has utsuri on the Ji.
Anyway Sukehiro was standing the summit of the shinto swords.
We recommend this high ranking sword fro you.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token
Aoi Art estimation paper: whole Oshigata.