AS19326 Katana: Bizen Suke Fujiwara Munetsugu

Ordering number : AS19326

Katana in Shirasaya(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper)

Signature : Bizen Suke Fujiwara Munetsugu.
Keio 4 Nen 5 Gatsuhi (May 1865)

Shin Shin To: Jyo Jyo Saku: Musashi
(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo saku, Jyojyo saku Jyo saku and regular saku)
This sword belongs to Jyo Jyo saku ranking.
The blade was polished.
Habaki :Syakudo gold color habaki.
Blade length : 72.88 cm or 28.7 inches.
Sori : 1.52cm or 0.6 inches.
Mekugi : 1
Width at the hamachi :3.17 cm or 1.25inches.
Width at the Kissaki : 2.37cm or 0.93 inches.
Kasane : 0.81 cm or 0.32 inches.
Weight of the blade: 935 grams
Era : Late Edo period Keio- 4th (1868)
Shape : The blade is wide and thick with rather deep sori
and longer kissaki gorgeous sword.
Jigane :Koitame hada well grained with jinie attach beautiful nice texture.
Hamon :Niedeki Gunome midare and Choji midair mixed
with ashi. Bo-shi is midarekomi style.

Special feature:First generation Bizen no suke Munetsugu (Koyama Munetugu )
was born at Mutsu Shirakawa province as a son of Koyama Munehira.
His name was Soubei.
He was working for Matudaira Daimyo family as a sword making Samurai.
He moved to Kuwana province with his master and then he moved to
Edo at Tenpo 2 nd year.At that time he was high reputation of cut well
swords maker. some times we found his swords which was done
Saidanmei and also possession name on the tang of the blade.
Generally speaking the quality of Munetsugu is one of the top sword
smith in late Edo period and without any faults among his swords.

From Aoi Art : Koyama Munetsugu of this work is a work that was registered
in June 1951 and is said to be a so-called Daimyo registration.
It can be said that the work is Wide thick and solid healthy blade
with long kissaki nice midarekomi style.

It is Chounsai Tsunatoshi that is often compared,
but the form in which the boshi is mostly Midarekomi style Cyounsai
Tsunatoshi has many round bo-shi.
There are many works in which the blade crest breaks the head part of each other’s eyes.
Anyway, this work is almost Jyuyo Token class,
so it can be challenged by polishing again. to submit the blade to Jyuyo shinsa.
It is a wonderful work with a weight of 935 grams, so I would definitely recommend it.

Historical background: The Meiji period was completed on September 8,
Keio 4 and this work is a work of swords from the end of the Edo period, May 4 of Keio.

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